Master of Child and Youth Care

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Child and Youth Care is to promote the career advancement of learners in the area of child and youth care work by enabling learners to conduct research and contribute to knowledge-generation and teaching excellence within the discipline.

It is intended that the learner will undertake research that will contribute to the knowledge and practice in the area of child and youth care work and will submit a thesis reporting the results of the research.

Rationale

There is a need for appropriately-trained people to work with South Africa's children many of whom live in contexts of poverty, HIV/AIDS, violence, unemployment and community disintegration. Furthermore, South Africa ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1995 signifying a commitment to ensure "the best interests of the child", and including the right of children to receive services from appropriately-educated people.

The White Paper for Social Welfare (Notice 1108 of 1997) identifies that "there is a need to expand human resource capacity through the employment of other categories of social service personnel, such as child and youth care workers", and the Social Service Professions Act provides for a range of social service professions to be regulated. Child and youth care work is recognised as a distinct profession within social services and practitioners may register with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). The importance of "the best interests of the child" is reflected further in the African Charter on the Rights and Well-Being of the Child (African Union, 1990), the South African Constitution (Act 108 of 1996) and various pieces of related legislation including the Child Justice Act (No. 75 of 2008) and the Children's Act (No. 38 of 2005) which specifically identifies child and youth care workers as significant in the workforce required for effective implementation. Child and youth care workers make a significant contribution to the realisation of children's rights and a human rights culture in democratic South Africa.

Postgraduate degrees are important in the development of knowledge societies where the creation and dissemination of knowledge are pivotal. The generation of new knowledge in child and youth care work will contribute to innovations in practice, and ultimately, to improvements in the lives of vulnerable young people, families and communities. South African research will also reflect indigenous knowledge to enhance the relevance of social services in an African context.

In July 2011, the national Minister of Social Development, Minister Bathabile Dlamini, announced publicly that the cadre of child and youth care workers would be doubled by training approximately 10,000 people at an auxiliary level over the next few years. Such workers require training, education, leadership, management and supervision which can be provided only by people trained as professionals at significantly higher levels. To date, more than 6,000 have participated in such training at an auxiliary level and it is anticipated that many of these will wish to continue their education through to a post-graduate level. As such, the introduction of the qualification will play a significant role in taking the field forward.

The Professional Board for Child and Youth Care (PBCYC) drafted regulations for the registration of child and youth care workers and these regulations were approved by the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) and gazetted in October 2014. More than 7000 people have registered to date. The regulations stipulate that child and youth care workers may be supervised only by registered child and youth care workers indicating the need for advanced knowledge and skills related to leadership in child and youth care works contexts.

For several years, members of the qualification's Advisory Board (including current learner representatives and alumni) have indicated their support for Postgraduate qualifications in child and youth care work including a Master's Degree qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners will be admitted into the qualification which will be assessed as per the institution's RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Child and Youth Care Degree, NQF Level 8.

Or

• A relevant Postgraduate Diploma, NQF Level 8.

Or

• A relevant Bachelor (Honours) Degree, NQF Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 180 Credits

• Research Dissertation, 180 Credits.

1. Critically review, analyse and apply the results of child and youth care and other social sciences related literature to their study.
2. Conduct independent research, the results of which contribute to the field of child and youth care.
3. Logically and critically analyse and draw conclusions from the findings of the research.
4. Communicate the results of the research acceptably.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate relevant knowledge in child and youth care.
• Conduct a literature review that reflects familiarity with relevant and recent findings in theories, models and conceptual frameworks in the area of investigation.
• Research professionally and ethically.
• Analyse and apply theories, models, conceptual frameworks, principles and methodologies that are critical to child and youth care research.
• Analyse and apply the results of child and youth care and other related social sciences literature relevant to the area of investigation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Select the appropriate research paradigm and method.
• Justify the use of the appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative research method.
• Apply the paradigm and method in the research process.
• Identify and discuss the research problem.
• Discuss the research aim, objectives and research questions.
• Plan, conduct and report following sound ethical principles.
• Plan and implement the sampling strategy in an appropriate manner.
• Apply the correct data analysis methods and evaluate the quality of data in terms of its validity and reliability.
• Apply research tools effectively and correctly in the research process.
• Apply information technology in information searches, data analyses, data presentation and the production of a dissertation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Analyse research data logically.
• Review the research findings concerning existing knowledge and draw critical conclusions.
• Verify the interpretations and conclusions from the analysis of data for logical consistency and coherence with relevant models, theories, conceptual frameworks and methodologies of the field of study.
• Critically interpret data to ensure that it informs/reflects the evaluation of findings of the study and challenge existing models, theories, conceptual frameworks and methodologies.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Apply relevant communication skills to disseminate the research findings in oral and written formats.
• Demonstrate the application of effective language skills in communicating and defending the research study.
• Discuss the findings of the research correctly to allow for it to be used in practice and to enable further research.

Integrated Assessment

Learners will be assessed using a dissertation that presents integrated research findings that are interpreted and linked to the existing literature. Assessment should ensure that all the outcomes are evaluated in an integrated manner. Assessment will be conducted following all relevant institution assessment policies, procedures and rules.