module specification

This module provides an opportunity for you to develop your previously learned work-based skills and gain valuable experience of a working environment either in the
criminal justice sector or in a private, statutory or voluntary organisation related to criminal justice and criminology.  From this experience, the objective is for you to reflect and develop new capacities and skills in the context of your future goals.  This objective also applies if you are currently in the workplace, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity.

The module aims to:

1. develop key skills and knowledge for you to understand your abilities in relation to your career values and goals
2. practically apply the knowledge gained through the course programme to a work environment
3. give you an in-depth insight of a work environment
4. provide an opportunity for you to reflect on the culture and structure of a working environment, your activity within it and to demonstrate inclusive workplace practice
5. 5. give you the ability to recognise your personal and professional development learning to apply to your future goals.

Please note:

• You will be contacted prior to the semester to provide support in securing a work based placement in good time. 
• You are responsible for applying for opportunities and to engage with the Module Leader/Work Based Learning teams to assist you. 
• The suitability of any opportunities will be assessed by the Module Leader and all placements must meet Health and Safety requirements for Higher Education Work Placements.
• If you are studying on a Student Visa, you will only be able to complete a work placement if it meets UKVI monitoring requirements including: approval of the placement dates and hours by the Placement Officer prior to starting the placement, submission of weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken, signed by your line manager/supervisor and continued engagement with the Placement Officer as well as the International Student Support and Compliance Team.

Available for Study Abroad? NO

Interactive workshops will guide you through the work-based learning process, from finding a suitable placement (if you have not secured one) to enabling you to reflect on your experience once the placement has been completed. 

The early workshop sessions develop key communication skills to help you successfully search and secure a work placement with group discussions about the processes involved (LO1).

During your work placement which is required to be a total of 70 hours, you will keep a log specifying the tasks you are set and your effectiveness in undertaking these tasks as well as noting key characteristics of the organisation and its procedures.  Later workshop sessions, involving group discussions, focus on developing your reflective learning practices to successfully complete a report of your experiences in a working environment (LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6).

Scheduled teaching and discussion workshops (10%) are provided to offer guidance to help you to:

● understand the requirements and demands of a work experience placement
● assess your abilities, your strengths and weaknesses
● make decisions about suitable work areas and design a suitable CV 
● develop interviewing skills
● review what you learned from your work experience
● develop reflective learning and writing practices skills
● produce a reflective account of your work experience

Researching, applying for and completing a work experience placement together with the research required to complete a reflective report requires you to undertake a high degree of independent study (90%).

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Understand the research and preparation processes involved in applying for work

2. Describe and evaluate the structure, major activities and responsibilities of a particular organisation

3. Communicate appropriately with colleagues and superiors

4. Consider how you have operated effectively, both independently and with others, in a structured and routinely supervised work environment

5. Consider how you have problem-solved and implemented inclusive approaches

6. Reflect on your own performance and professional abilities in a working environment and evaluate how you can further develop your abilities to meet future career goals

70 hours of experience in a workplace are required and may be undertaken in a private, statutory or voluntary organisation relevant to the criminal justice sector or criminology. The work experience placement (if not already being undertaken) should be organised to commence at any point from the end of the second year of the relevant degree programme. The module leader will approve your work experience placement. Some existing relevant placements (such as work as a special constable) will meet the assessment requirement. There are two assessment items:

• Official confirmation of relevant work experience completion such as time sheets and placement summary or similar official recognition signed off by a supervisor (LO1).

• A 3000 word coursework reflective report which will include a background to the organisation, details of the role you fulfilled (or currently fulfil) within the organisation, how the placement links to criminology and your reflections on what you have learned and how you have personally developed from this work experience (LO2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Key reading:

https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/lists/622C166B-8449-20EB-00CC-81293B01F3CE.html