Adult Support and Protection

Practitioners and managers are required to deliver support and protection services to a varied population, in imaginative ways and within a challenging wider context.

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Key facts

  • Module codeAPSPG11
  • Start date 22 Sep 2025
  • Application deadline8 Sep 2025
  • Duration10 weeks
  • Credit value SCQF 40
  • SCQF level Level 11
  • Fees Home: £2,111; International: £4,578
  • Mode of study part time
  • Delivery blended

Overview

Adult Support and Protection is appropriate for practitioners and front-line managers working in diverse roles within adult social care. Students on the course may come from a health and social care, social work, occupational therapy or housing background and may be working in statutory services or the voluntary and independent sector. The pace of change in law, policy and service structures creates complexity. Our courses offer a valuable space where health and social care practitioners and managers can engage with that complexity; widen their knowledge of relevant theory and contemporary research and share practice experiences with professionals from across Scotland.

Entrance requirements

Working as a qualified practitioner in the third sector, social work or health sector with some experience of or interest in Adult Support and Protection.  Able to study at Postgraduate level.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

  • IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
  • IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Objectives

To explore the process and context of adult support and protection through  consideration of key concepts: harm, abuse and risk, vulnerability and resilience, multidisciplinary working, institutional harm, and power and participation.

Structure and content

Topics covered:

  • social, legal and political context of adult support and protection;
  • critical analysis of the impact of harm and abuse on people’s lives; decision-making theory and its application;
  • critical review of the concepts of risk, resilience, vulnerability, consent, capacity and choice;
  • service user and carer participation in support and protection processes;
  • partnership working and collaborative relationships in supporting and protecting adults.

Delivery and assessment

Mainly delivered online through a mixture of live and self-directed learning. Induction session is face-to-face and some other teaching sessions may be face to face after discussion with group.  Assessment is via a peer reviewed article analysis and a 4,000 word end of module assignment.

Module coordinator

Vicky Soutar, Lecturer in Social Work

Employability

Many NHS and local authority employers regularly sponsor practitioners to undertake this module, due to the skills development and growth it facilitates. Practitioners with this module will be able to evidence a high level of critical understanding in the ASP field.

What next?

Contact us

If you have any questions about entry requirements for our continuing professional development and short courses, contact our Admissions team.

For all other questions, please use our enquiry form.