Kingston University

Graduate Diploma in Residential Work (Children's)

Kingston University

Course overview

Elevate your career in residential care Immerse yourself in a programme that will develop your leadership skills and therapeutic care expertise while you work in a residential setting Gain knowledge and skills grounded in evidence-based practices while developing your career working with young people. This employment-based course is aimed at those working in full-time or part-time roles with children in a residential settings looking to enhance their practice. To ensure this course reflects the most pressing needs of children in residential care, we engaged with broader stakeholder groups, getting input from local authorities, commissioning groups, government representatives, and those involved in children's social care.

Whether you’re a first-time practitioner or an aspiring manager, a Graduate Diploma in Residential Work is an important step in your career. We’ll focus on deepening your understanding of children’s needs and enhancing your practical skills to excel in your role. This is not a typical university course.

We know that practical and relational skills are pivotal for residential workers, so we’ve created a course that reflects this. You'll collaborate in vibrant spaces to connect, share knowledge, and learn from peers. Your assessments will reflect this approach, offering you opportunities to immerse yourself in virtual and augmented reality scenarios and have your skills evaluated in dynamic, real-world settings.

We are ambitious about improving quality in residential care by developing a highly-skilled workforce, equipped to support children with complex needs. By applying your learning to your day-to-day work, you will enhance your practice using social pedagogy. With a growing demand for specialist practitioners, this advanced qualification forms a valuable step towards furthering your career in residential care.

Key highlights

  • Employment-based study while working with children in residential settings
  • Develops leadership skills and therapeutic care expertise
  • Designed with input from local authorities and government representatives
  • Assessments use virtual and augmented reality scenarios
  • Applies social pedagogy and evidence-based practice to daily work
  • Prepares you to support children with complex needs

Entry requirements

  • GCSE: 4 or above — Open GCSE at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above for GCSEs taken before 2017) in English Language or equivalent qualification, e.g. Functional/Key skills Level 2 in literacy.

Scholarships

  • Alumni Discount

    Award: 10% discount on tuition fees.

    Up to 10% of fees

  • Chelsea Arts Club Trust MA Award

    The Chelsea Arts Club Trust MA Materials and Research Award is a £2,500 bursary, awarded each year to an MA Fashion or MA Sustainable Fashion student.

    Up to £2,500

  • Chevening Scholarships

    Award: Tuition fees, travel costs and living allowance subsidised.

  • International Merit-Based scholarships

    The scholarships are worth £5,000 towards your first year tuition fees.

    Up to £5,000

  • Niloufar Ebrahim Scholarship

    The scholarship will cover a portion of tuition fees for the applicant, up to the value of £1,000.

  • Postgraduate Progression Scholarship

    The Kingston University Postgraduate Progressions Scholarship offers a 15% reduction in postgraduate tuition fees.

  • The Kingston Impact Scholarship

    £5,000 tuition fee contribution to two MBA students.

    Up to £5,000

  • The Kingston MBA Scholarship

    Kingston University Business School is proud to offer a tuition fee scholarship of £5,000 to self-funded candidates.

    Up to £5,000

Careers this course leads to

  • Residential child care worker
  • Senior residential support worker
  • Residential children's home manager
  • Deputy manager, children's home
  • Therapeutic care practitioner

Cost of study

UK/Home: £7,438 per year | International: £16,600 per year

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Kingston University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.

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