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LAW-40003 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

LAW-40003 - Children looked after
Coordinator: Elizabeth Faulkner
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Children looked after by the local authority, who are unable to be cared for by their own parents or guardians may experience a range of different placements. Through the lens of social policy, social work practice and theory, this module will introduce you to the legal framework, the public-private crossover and special guardianship, fostering, and removal at birth. It is informed by policy including the Quality Protects initiative and new law in the form of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and associated regulations and guidance.

Aims
To introduce students to the key legal and practice frameworks around children who are looked after by local authorities including, for example, through mechanisms such as fostering or adoption, and the intersection between private and public law frameworks.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/law-40003/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically examine and develop a systematic knowledge of key statutory provisions governing the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the lives of looked after children: 1
Explore and explain the social context which frames the movement of children into care: 1
Critically evaluate the legal and policy issues involved in the care of looked after children, including an understanding of key case law: 1
Demonstrate a critical awareness of relevant research and policy literature on the legal frameworks around looked after children: 1

Study hours

20 x hours of classroom teaching
2 x hours of staff-student consultation on assignment writing
278 independent research and writing assignment

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 100%
5000 WORDS
A 5000 word research informed assignment from a selection of approved questions. In addition to this, all students will be able to submit a 500 word essay plan and obtain feedback on this plan before they submit their final assignment.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024