module specification

This module will embrace the notion of social justice, compassion, and inclusion. This is key to our Education for Social Justice Framework at London Metropolitan University

The rationale of this module is to prepare students for the requirements of fieldwork practice and to emphasise safe working practice especially with young people.

● Students will be contacted prior to the semester to provide support in securing work based activity in good time. 
● Students are responsible for applying for opportunities and to engage with the Module and Work Based Learning teams to assist them. 
● The suitability of any opportunities will be assessed by the Module Team/Work Based Learning Team and all roles must meet the Health and Safety requirements for Higher Education Work Placements. 
● Those studying on a Student Visa will be required to submit weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken for the work based learning activity to meet Visa requirements. These will need to be signed by their line manager/supervisor.

This module will enable students to be able to reflect upon the different settings in which youth work takes place and to determine where they want to do their placement.  The 200 hrs of experience will offer the opportunity to develop their critical skills and personal development through a process of reflection and supervision. This forms the initial part of the Fieldwork Practice of 800 hours of which 400 hours is face to face work with young people in the 13-19 age group over the time of the programme.
Partnership working and multi-agency working will be an area that students will be introduced to as students will need to liaise with other agencies to work in a sector that they may not have had any previous experience. An appropriate DBS will be required but specific Safeguarding and Risk assessments will also need to be completed to ensure a professional safe working environment with appropriate training and supervision are in place.
It aims to:
● introduce students to the requirements of the NYA with regards to fieldwork practice
● enable students to complete their DBS and determine what type of placement they want to start.
● Familiarise students with key issues that have practical importance in the lives of young people today, and assist students to reflect upon differences in fieldwork settings from centre-based to detached work and the importance of partnership and multi-agency working in a collaborative manner.
● To identify how power operates with groups of young people and how it is maintained and implemented through normalising issues of compulsory heterosexuality, whiteness, religion and ‘ableism’. Issues of bullying, harassment, consent, race, gender and sexuality and other forms of oppression will also be analysed and reflected upon to create a learning environment from which students can learn effective ways of addressing issues.

The syllabus will encourage students to understand issues affecting oppression in contemporary contexts and introduce theory, practice and applied youth work principles in relation to the following themes:
1. Identify and discuss socio-cultural dimension of oppression, exclusion and marginalisation of groups and communities, collective responses to oppression
2. Engage with the work of people such as; Chauhan, Batsleer, Sapin, Khan, Davies and other writers and practitioners.
3. The values, principles, ethics and practice of  Youth Work In relation to racism, classism, sexism, homophobia and disablism.
4. The historical and contemporary perspectives on gender and sexuality
5. Identity issues - Androgyny, Transexuals, Heterosexuals, Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals
6. Masculinity - theories, research and approaches relating to men’s role in society, lifestyle and behaviour
7. The importance of anti-oppressive practice in Youth Work

Learning Outcomes LO1 - LO5

The module will be taught in the first semester by a blended learning approach to lecture and critical discussion. There will be a focus on group work and how to work with and in groups.

The preparation is to ensure all aspects of working with young people are considered including how to engage with young people through to making risk assessments prior to going out on practice.

1. Recognition that work with young people remains within the professional boundaries of a youth worker's role and the core values of youth work and the wider context in which they operate, and understanding of meaningful professional relationships with young people (LO1).
2. Identify and understand organisational policies, procedures and legislation relating to equal opportunities, discrimination and oppression, as well as Safeguarding, H&S, any other policies that may apply such as lone working (LO2).
3. Demonstrate an awareness of anti-oppressive practice and behaviour in ways which promote youth work values. Identify the connection between personal values, youth work values, NOS and behaviour in practice and analyse the use and abuse of power in micro and macro contexts (LO3).
4. Awareness of Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) and the principles and values of Counselling and youth work (LO4).
5. Ability to work effectively as a youth worker awareness of the role of counselling skills in enhancing practice (LO5)

Formative assessment, and draft work is considered and commented on. Comments on draft work are provided a week before the final hand in date, so that students have opportunities to amend their work.

The learning of the module will be assessed through one 4000 word Portfolio. Where the notion of self and peer assessment will be introduced and implemented. Elements of the portfolio will be developed and completed throughout the year

The reading list for this module can be found:

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/40853F67-58D6-436A-FA32-F9859926F40B.html?lang=en-US