Safeguarding Adults: Law, Policy and Practice

Course Overview

Our MA is suitable for social care, healthcare, or legal professionals working with either children or adults who wish to improve their skills and knowledge base, or who want to study for continuing professional development purposes. Teaching takes place in blocks of study, enabling those in employment to study for an MA on a part time basis.

Jacqueline Thomas

"The course was immensely helpful in terms of expanding my expertise beyond the legal framework into social care" - read more about Jacqueline Thomas

Course structure

The programme is structured in a way that allows you to maintain full-time employment whilst studying, with teaching for each module taking place over an intensive 3 or 4-day period.

Students may choose to study from one to five modules per year and may complete the entire programme in one year or up to five years, depending on their preference and external commitments.

You will study four taught modules followed by a dissertation module. As an alternative, it is possible to exit the course with a Postgraduate Certificate (on satisfactory completion of 2 taught modules) or a Postgraduate Diploma (on satisfactory completion of 4 taught modules). All four taught modules must be completed before proceeding to the dissertation module.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment is based on coursework and a dissertation. There are no exams. Assessment of each taught module is by written assignment of approximately 5,000 words each. A choice of essay titles is provided for each module. The pass mark for all assessments is 50%.

The four taught modules are taught through 20 hours of contact time, delivered as an intensive 3 or 4-day block of teaching. During the module you will take part in tutor-led seminars and discussions, small group exercises, and case studies. Each module is accompanied by extensive independent study, and throughout the course students are encouraged and required to undertake independent reading to both supplement and consolidate the classes and to broaden individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.

You will receive initial guidance on how to identify, locate and use materials available in libraries and elsewhere (including electronic sources). Guidelines are provided for the production of coursework assignments and dissertations and these are reinforced by seminars and individual supervision, which focus specifically on essay planning and writing, and research methodology. Detailed written and, if requested, oral feedback is provided on all coursework.

While away from Keele, between teaching blocks, you will benefit from directed reading, additional resources posted on the KLE (Keele’s virtual learning environment), as well as the support of your personal tutor, the programme director, and the learning development support tutor, all of whom are based in the School of Law.

In the second taught module you will be required to commence work on your own reflective diary, to be maintained for the remainder of the taught modules and subject to regular review and discussion with the student's tutor. The reflective diary incorporates two key aspects:

1. A personal learning plan in which students review their achievements and update goals with a focus on development of a potential research topic for the dissertation.

2. A record of the application of knowledge developed through the course to the students own professional situation. The diary will be reviewed regularly in discussions with the personal tutor.

Core Taught Modules

The Emergence of Adult Safeguarding (30 credits)

Safeguarding Adults: Interventions (30 credits)

Optional Modules

Mental Capacity

Safeguarding and Carers

Students may also substitute either of these two electives for a module from another M level programme offered by the Law School. Availability of these elective modules will depend on timetabling but may include:

Equality, Discrimination, Minorities
Human Rights and Global Politics
Foundations and Principles of Child Care Law and Practice
Contemporary Issues in Child Care Law and Practice
Children and Medicine
Looked After Children
Education Law
Introduction to Moral and Legal Concepts (in Medical Ethics and Law)
Autonomy and Paternalism (in Medical Ethics and Law)
Life, Death and Human Body
Healthcare, Justice and Society

Dissertation

The Dissertation

As part of the programme, you will have the opportunity to study a particular area of personal or professional interest within the topic of adult safeguarding. These are just a few of the topics students have undertaken for their dissertations in the past:

• Domestic Homicide Reviews: Understanding why some victims are not identified as being at risk before their deaths.

• Drug and Alcohol’s role in domestic abuse: Is it a contributory cause or an excuse?

• Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty: What impact will the proposed legislative changes have on the NHS?

• To what extent does the CQC effectively use its powers to safeguard adults from abuse?

How the course is taught

Core Taught Modules:

LAW-40033 The Emergence of Adult Safeguarding (30 credits)

LAW-40032 Safeguarding Adults: Interventions (30 credits)

LAW-40029 Mental Capacity (30 credits)

LAW-40031 Safeguarding and Carers (30 credits)

Students may also substitute either LAW-40029 or LAW-40031 for a module from another Masters level programme offered by the Law School. Availability of these elective modules will depend on timetabling but may include:

Equality, Discrimination, Minorities
Human Rights and Global Politics
Foundations and Principles of Child Care Law and Practice
Contemporary Issues in Child Care Law and Practice
Children and Medicine
Looked After Children

The Dissertation

As part of the programme, you will have the opportunity to study a particular area of personal or professional interest within the topic of adult safeguarding. For the dissertation, the emphasis is on independent research on a topic of academic or professional interest. During the dissertation year you will complete an initial planner, an annotated table of contents, and a final dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words, as well as having the support of a dedicated supervisor. These are just a few of the topics students have undertaken for their dissertations in the past:

Domestic Homicide Reviews: Understanding why some victims are not identified as being at risk before their deaths.
Drug and Alcohol’s role in domestic abuse: Is it a contributory cause or an excuse?
Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty: What impact will the proposed legislative changes have on the NHS?
The Impact of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards on Policy and Practice in Adult Social Care: A Systematic Review of Local Government Ombudsman Decisions
Exploring the ethical implications of discharging people experiencing multiple exclusion and homelessness back on to the streets.
To what extent do the police, health, and social care providers in England and Wales adequately address the safeguarding needs of same sex domestic abuse survivors/victims?
Exploring relational autonomy: A study on its potential to better protect autonomy in the sexual lives of people with intellectual disabilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

What our students say

Lindsey Bampton (Current student):

“I'd definitely recommend this course. I'm learning so much and it fits well with full time employment. The staff in the School of Law have been amazing. I am so glad I waited for the right MA to come along."

Philippa Uren (2017-2019):

“The MA Safeguarding Adults: Law, Policy and Practice has been challenging and thought provoking. It has challenged me on a professional and personal level and taught me to challenge my own decisions and those of others involved in adult safeguarding. It has given me the knowledge of the legal aspects of safeguarding that I have used to underpin my professional decisions. The lectures and seminars were well presented and allowed the group to have debates and express very different views on the topics delivered. This debate allowed challenge of each other and tutors in a safe environment where everyone felt valued. The assignments were well spaced out throughout the year and the support and feedback was well structured allowing for constant reflection and improvement. The dissertation module was very tough (when working full time) but taught me how to manage my time in a structured way. I have enjoyed all aspects of the course and have recommended to peers.”

Kelly McAleese (2016-2018):
“When I enrolled on the course in 2016, I had no idea how valuable I would find the experience. I already had an interest in Social Care law but my time at Keele significantly broadened the scope of my awareness and understanding in this area of practice. I met so many likeminded people, who alongside the staff at Keele, challenged my thinking and most definitely helped me to grow as a professional working in adult social care. The teaching and course structure were excellent; a real mixture of law, theory and practice with experienced guest speakers and helpful interactive seminars. Whilst working full time and completing my dissertation was a challenge, I focussed on a topic I was passionate about and that, alongside supportive and responsive staff, helped to make the experience less daunting. The course definitely gave me confidence as a manager within a local authority, it reaffirmed my enthusiasm for this area of practice and has inspired me to continue developing my interest in social care law and share that commitment to it with the practitioners I now support.”

Bruno Ornelas (2016-2018):

“I enrolled on the MA Safeguarding Adults programme with a professional background in supporting adults with needs linked to multiple exclusion and homelessness. For years I worked in the homelessness sector as an outreach worker, including homeless hostels, tenancy support projects and in a variety of management roles. As an experienced professional I found that there was little research or training around adult safeguarding to draw on, in particular to understand what constitutes ‘positive practice’ and the services and support that are needed to address these problems, particularly where they intersect with substance misuse and other extreme forms of deep social exclusion such as ‘rough sleeping’.

The MA was very challenging but highly insightful on an intellectual level as well as being practically useful from a casework perspective, which is not always an easy combination to strike. The staff at Keele are genuinely interested in your development and potential to contribute to the growing body of evidence surrounding adult safeguarding. There’s lots of opportunity for debate with other students and staff which makes for a stimulating and vibrant learning environment. I particularly took a lot of learning from discussions surrounding the relationship between individual autonomy and protection. The support I got from the School of Law was first class, the staff completely understand that students may be returning to academia after a period away from learning and understand that students will have other commitments around work or family and will do what they can to support you.

Since the course I have been promoted to Head of Service and appointed Safeguarding Lead for a large voluntary sector organisation. I have also done several talks and delivered training at local, regional and national conferences, contributed to research and worked with government to produce a series of good practice briefings around homelessness and safeguarding.

I’d highly recommend this course if you’re up for a positive challenge and want to enhance your knowledge base to make you even better at what you already do.”

Jacqui Thomas QC (2015-2017):

“The course widened the scope of my knowledge base in adult social care cases. I found it immensely helpful in terms of expanding my expertise beyond the legal framework into social care. As a result I have a greater understanding of wider concepts in which the legal framework sits. The course has significantly assisted my practice to become more specialised into cases which cross the boundaries between family and COP cases, including complex matters involving teenagers transitioning from child to adult social care. I now deal with complex matters involving adult safeguarding and best interests.”

What our students say

Chelle Farnan:

“I’m a bit of a legal geekgirl and I can get a bit carried away by the intricacies of the safeguarding legal landscape. The MA in Safeguarding Adults: Law, Policy and Practice absolutely triggered this almost anorak level of love for the law and the experience of completing the qualification was hugely rewarding, tough at times and yet enjoyable. I have made life-long friends and I believe holding this MA has been an accelerant to my career. At the time of writing, 1^st November 2019, I am on my first day in a new role in the NHS England and NHS Improvement National Safeguarding team as ‘Mental Capacity Act / Liberty Protection Safeguards Programme Manager’ to lead on the NHS implementation of the Mentals Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019. The interview for this post was one of the most difficult I have ever been through, so you can imagine my feelings when the panel reacted favourably to me talking about the MA, the grounding in law it has given me and the tools for understanding legal mechanisms and language in order to interpret emergent statute and case law. “

Zoe Batesmith:

"I would like to thank you (Professor Alison Brammer) for the excellent teaching on the first year of the course; plainly a great deal of effort and care has gone into ensuring that the content is both stimulating and comprehensive. Your knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject was obvious. I have been left with a very favourable impression of Keele and the quality of teaching, especially in the interactive methods which enabled me to gain so much from the knowledge and experience of my co-students."

Vanessa Davies:

"Having worked with vulnerable adults for about 20 years, qualifying as a nurse 25 years ago, I've seen practices change and very often helped to influence those changes. I didn't really think I needed any other qualifications to help my career and then I saw the advert for the MA safeguarding adults, law, policy and practice, in the Community Care magazine. With no degree but years of experience I wasn't sure I'd be accepted or even, that I could do it, but I went for it anyway. Managing a very large nursing home, supporting a teenager through A Levels and doing the MA was very difficult, but I had lots of support both at home and at Keele.

The MA has had a huge effect on my career. Since graduating I've been appointed Safeguarding Lead for a large care provider, I've written and had published an article in Nursing and Residential Care magazine, I've been asked to write a further article and invited to sit on the advisory board for International Dementia Conference, I am convinced that none of this would have been possible without my MA. With the focus more and more on protecting vulnerable adults, I cannot recommend this course enough."

This is a sample of comments from other students on the programme across the years:

“Variety of subjects covered, excellent contributions from colleagues, interesting guest speakers, very professional co-ordination.”
“This was a well put together MA, the combination of elements, ethics, law, social policy etc was such a strength- I know I have gained so much from the first year professionally and personally.”
“Course leader has been excellently supportive - I can't fault her.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it highly relevant to my area of practice.”
“The MA was very challenging but highly insightful on an intellectual level as well as being practically useful from a casework perspective, which is not always an easy combination to strike. The staff at Keele are genuinely interested in your development and potential to contribute to the growing body of evidence surrounding adult safeguarding. There’s lots of opportunity for debate with other students and staff which makes for a stimulating and vibrant learning environment. I particularly took a lot of learning from discussions surrounding the relationship between individual autonomy and protection. The support I got from the School of Law was first class, the staff completely understand that students may be returning to academia after a period away from learning and understand that students will have other commitments around work or family and will do what they can to support you.”
“Since the course I have been promoted to Head of Service and appointed Safeguarding Lead for a large voluntary sector organisation. I have also done several talks and delivered training at local, regional and national conferences, contributed to research and worked with government to produce a series of good practice briefings around homelessness and safeguarding.”
“I’d highly recommend this course if you’re up for a positive challenge and want to enhance your knowledge base to make you even better at what you already do.”
“I am very proud to be in the first cohort of the first MA of its kind in England.”
“In general the course has been stimulating and thought provoking.”
“Course content useful and very interesting, excellent handouts. Again lecture vs discussion good and the knowledge within the group assisted with learning.”
“Great to examine and learn how to start critically analysing policy and again see how it links with legislation and practice.”
“There has been some utterly fascinating discussion and debate, sharing practice experiences that I have totally enjoyed.”