module specification

This is an Honours level core module and is based on a supported and self-managed work experience. The work placement provides an opportunity for students to gain in depth knowledge of an area of interest which could form the basis of the subject Project module.
This module is designed to enable students to undertake a work placement in an organisational setting relevant to community development/anthropology and to utilise this experience to develop and reflect on:
• The understanding of the academic discipline of the degrees
• The National Occupational Standards for Community Development Work
• The range of generic and specific skills a student will need in their future career/area of employment, and
• A student’s own learning and performance.
 

The module aims to enable students to:
Extend and evaluate an understanding of community development
Develop job-search skills
Apply research skills by conducting a small-scale organisational study
Review understanding of the research process
Broaden awareness of work culture, organisational processes and policies, social issues and the occupational standards for community development work.
Identify generic/transferable skills for development/improvement
Extend and assess competence in these skills
Reflect on how these skills are appropriate to community development work and possible future careers
Review personal development/training needs
Enhance analytic and presentational skills through producing an extensive report written to a specific brief.
 

This placement is a requirement for the professional endorsement of the degree.
Students will undertake a work placement normally for 30 to 60 days duration. In preparation for the placement students will draw on their skills and knowledge for finding an appropriate organisation, negotiating work role and other relevant support. Once they find an organisation they will negotiate their role, find a supervisor and complete a provisional learning agreement.

Students will then complete the Work Placement Approval Form. This provides information on the placement organisation, and the student’s role. This will be returned either with approval or for further information/amendment. Once this has been received, a university representative will visit the placement to establish a learning agreement and complete health and safety checks.

Students will be encouraged to be reflective and analytical with regard to their attainment of their learning objectives and their performance on the placement

Workshops & Supervision
During the Autumn semester there will be workshops. These will take place on Thursdays (to check) between 3 and 5pm. For Spring entry students, the workshops are likely to be on Monday (check) 11-1pm
Individual supervision is available by appointment.

In the second semester the focus will move to the completion of the report and students should attend at least 4 workshop or supervision sessions.
A visit to the students’ chosen organisation by a university representative will be arranged, to meet with the person who will supervise the student and so that a Learning agreement can be completed.

As soon as students have obtained a work placement, they should complete the Work placement Approval Form. This provides information on the placement organisation, and students’ role. This will be returned either with approval or for further information/amendment. Once this has been received, a university representative will visit the placement to establish a learning agreement and complete health and safety checks.
Students would be encouraged to reflect on their contribution to work, interpersonal skills, capability to work independently and as part of a team and so on. They will research the organisation, its structure, culture and management and reflect on their academic knowledge and the NOS. They will also prepare a personal development action plan.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Reflect self-critically on their workplace learning
• Undertake a small-scale organisational study
• Identify and utilise of appropriate methods of data collection
• Produce an analytical account of an organisational context, structure, policies and processes
• Carry out job-search strategies
• Transfer academic learning to a place of work
• Draw up plans for their continuous professional development
 

There are two pieces of assessed work, a Work placement Report, (80% of the total mark) (LO01-07) and a reflective Work placement log/diary, (20% of the total mark) (LO1) (LO6)
The report should be 4500 words long (excluding the bibliography and appendices) which should include an introduction, aims and objectives, the evidence base, a section on preparation, search for finding  organisation/work, a section on the Organisation: Its management, context, related social issues; work role and skills review, analysis of a theme, conclusion & evaluation. The maximum word limit for the reflective activity log is 1500.

 Harris, V (ed.)(2009) Community Work Skills Manual, Sheffield:Federation for Community Development Learning(FCDL)
Hawtin, M. et al (1994) Community Profiling, Buckingham: Open University Press
Ledwith, M (2005) Community Development: A critical Approach, Bristol: Policy Press
Popple, K. (1995) Analysing Community Work: Its Theory and Practice, Buckingham: Open University Press
Butcher, H. et al. (Eds) (1993) Community and Public Policy, London: Pluto Press
Cookle, I. and Shaw (1997) Radical Community Work: Perspective from Practice, Edinburgh: Moray House
Eade, D. (1997) Capacity Building: An approach to people-centred development, Oxford: Oxfam
Freire, P. (1996) The Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Harmondsworth/: Penguin
Hogget, P. (ed.) (1997) Contested Communities: Experiences, Struggles, and Policies, Bristol: Policy Press
Skinner, S (1997) Building Community Strengths: A Source Book on Capacity Building, London: Community Development Foundation
Twelvetrees,A.(2002) Community Work, London: Palgrave/Community Development Association
Websites:
Community Development Foundation: www.cdf.org.uk; 
www.infed.org.uk;
Federation for Community Development Learning: www.fcdl.org.uk
Local Authority websites (usually have ward based data)