module specification

This module develops students’ understanding of the nature and practice of youth work and the position of young people in society. It examines key concepts, policies, theories and practices in relation to professional occupational standards, ethics and equality and diversity perspectives.

The module aims are to:
• explore key concepts of values, ethics , theory, policy , principles and  practice in relation to  youth work
• introduce students to the sector professional occupational standards and the notion of an informed  reflective practitioner
• examine  issues of identity, discrimination and oppression and the effect on young people’s lives
• develop students’  skills in self-management, group work, oral presentation and academic writing

• an introduction to youth work  policy and practice, concepts of informal and formal education, the “voluntary” principle, ethics and values in youth work
• examining principles and policies and governance of youth work in relation to professional occupational standards and the common core framework and  government policy
• evaluating the changing role of the youth worker and the significance of reflective practice
• exploring equality and diversity perspectives in youth work and anti-oppressive work
• evaluating the process and impact of youth work
• introducing youth as a concept and representations of young  people in the media
• examining the construction of social identities
• reviewing  service provision for young people
• examining examples of young people’s participation and rights

Students’ learning will be developed through their engagement with a range of individual and group-based learning and teaching methods including group action learning sets, personal reflection and reflective writing, interactive workshops, lectures and seminars, group work activities, case study scenarios, using DVD resources, Weblearn and on-line educational resources. There will also be self-directed learning based on tutor guidance. There will also be workshops to support personal and professional development employability skills.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Identify key concepts relating to youth work policy, ethics and practice and to young people within a broad social context
2. Give examples of the function of youth work and the role of a youth work professional
3. Identify examples of oppressive practice in working with young people and apply anti-oppressive principles and practice in youth work and in learning settings  
4. Practise a range of self-management  and inter-personal skills in relation to  group work, oral presentation skills and writing for academic purposes

The purpose of the assessment strategy is to reinforce students’ learning through a structured and time-bound process of reflection, presentation and writing. Students’ understanding of the module aims and learning outcomes will be assessed throughout the module through course work. There will be no examination. Assessment will be spread over the 30 weeks of the teaching cycle. A range of assessment methods will be used for formative and summative assessment. The forms of assessment as set out in section 19 have been designed to test students’ knowledge of the key module concepts and issues and to develop group work presentation skills. The teaching team will be responsible for marking.

• Banks, S (ed) (2010) Ethical Issues in Youth Work (2nd Edition).  Routledge

• Batsteer, J & Davis, B (2010) What is Youth Work.  Learning Matters
• Ciesik & Donald (2013) Key Concepts in Youth Studies.  SAGE Publications: London
• Davies, B (1999) From Voluntaryism to Welfare State.  A History of the Youth Service in England. NYA Website.
• Factor, Fiona, Chauhan,Vipin, Pitts,John (eds) (2001) The RHP companion to Working with Young People Lyme Regis RHP
• Furlong, A (2009) Handbook of Youth and Young Adulthood. London. Routledge.http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1511468-S1
• Garratt, Daren, Roche, Jeremy and Tucker, Stanley (eds) (1997) Changing Experiences of Youth, Sage.
• Griffin, C. (1993) Representations of Youth.  Polity Press
• Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. (eds) (2010) Youth Work Practice. Palgrave Macmillan.
• National Youth Agency (1999) Ethical Issues in Youth Work
• National Youth Agency (2000) National Occupational Standards for Youth Work
• Roche, Jeremy, Tucker, Stanley, Thomson, Rachel and Flynn, Ronny (eds) (2004) Youth in Society, London: Sage
• Sapin, K (2013) Essential Skills for Youth Work Practice (2nd Edition).  SAGE Publications: London
• Soni, S (2011) Working with Diversity in Youth and Community Work. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd
• Thompson, N (2012) Anti-Discriminatory Practice: equality, diversity and social justice (5th Edition).  Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Websites:
• http://infed.org.uk
• http://nya.org.uk

Journals/ Magazine
• Children and Young People
• Youth and Policy