BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work

with JNC Qualification

Outline of course: aims

Professionally educate to graduate level:

• academic development to BA (Hons)

• external fieldwork placements

• professional qualified status (JNC)

Outline of course: structure

• 3 years full time • 5 years part-time• 1 external fieldwork placement per year • Modular leading to 360 credits

Outline of course: learningLevel 4 / Yr. 1 • Theory & practice

youth work 1 • Working with

individuals• Youth in society

• Working with groups • Inclusion & Diversity• Professional Fieldwork 1 12 weeks

Level 5 / Yr. 2• Theory & practice

youth work 2 • Community

Development • Leadership and

Management

• Connecting Practice• Professional Fieldwork 2 15 weeks

Level 6 /3• Professional Fieldwork 3 15 weeks• Research Project

• Theory & practice youth work 3

• Young People, global and comparative studies

Placement requirements

• 888 hours minimum (890 hours)

• At least 50% direct face to face work• At least 50% time direct with 13’s–19’s

• Remainder of time – within organisation and Uni sessions

• Travel to/from placement additional• 2 or 3 different settings / organisations

Placement timing

Level 4 / Yr. 1• Theory & practice

youth work 1 • Sep - Dec ‘13

• Professional Fieldwork 1 12 weeks w/c 27 Jan ’14 100 hours @10 wks/ 30 x ½ days

Level 5 / Yr. 2• Theory & practice

youth work 2 • Sep – Dec ‘14

• Professional Fieldwork 2 15 weeks w/c 12 Jan ‘15 400 hours @15 wks/ 120 x ½ days

Level 6 /Yr. 3• Professional Fieldwork 3 15 weeks late Sep ’15 390 hours @15 wks/ 120 x ½ days

• Theory & practice youth work 3

• Jan – April ‘16

Key dates 2013 -14

• Oct/Nov ‘13 – identify placements• w/c 18 Nov ’13 → student visit to placement• Nov/Dec ‘13 - placement matching• mid Jan ‘14 – final placement details • w/c Mon 27 Jan ‘14 placement starts• w/c 24 Feb ‘14 interim sup & tutor report• w/e Sun 6 April ‘14 placement ends• Tue 6 May ‘14 – students’ hand in file & final supervisor report• 19 May ‘14 final tutor report

Roles

– Placement Fieldwork co-ordinator– Fieldwork supervisors– Fieldwork Tutor

Fieldwork Placement Co-ordinator

• Identify a range of appropriate placement opportunities

• Work with students to identify their learning needs• Work alongside placement agencies to set up

placements• Brief students on the expectations, assessment

requirements and resources for placements• Allocate, support and liaise with fieldwork tutors• Monitor and review the range of placement

opportunities

Fieldwork Supervisor

This is the supervisor from the host organisation• Be aware of the placement process and requirements• Negotiate the learning contract• Provide a welcoming environment• Provide opportunities where the student can learn• Provide time for supervision• Complete interim and final assessment• Complete the hours monitoring form• Provide constructive feedback on the placement

experience

Supervisor qualifications and experience

Because of the importance of this role in the success of a placement, all Fieldwork supervisors should be able to meet the following criteria:

• Hold an appropriate qualification (preferably JNC recognised)• Substantial experience in youth and community work or a related area• At least 1 years’ experience managing or supervising staff or volunteers• Committed to enabling the development of other practice• Understand context youth & community work e.g. changing local / national policy• Provide required level of formal supervision (1 hour per fortnight for level 1

placement and 1 hour per week for level 2 and 3)• Attend 3 way meetings with student and University tutor• Commitment to familiarising with the role of the fieldwork tutor• Attend briefing meetings, and training as appropriate

N.B Where the placement is taking place in the student’s place of work the fieldwork supervisor should not be the student’s line manager

Fieldwork Tutor

• Employed by the university on a casual basis • All JNC qualified• Provide a key point of contact between student,

placement and university throughout the placement• Provide individual tutorial support to the student

during placement• Guide the student in reflecting on their learning

throughout the placement and relating this to the NOS.• Support the student and fieldwork supervisor in

addressing any issues that arise

Assessment process

• Fieldwork supervisors report• Youth work values and principles• National Occupational Standards• Attendance• Academic work

Fieldwork supervisors reports

• There are 2: interim and final report. • The interim is due at the mid point of the

placement and should be used to identify areas of strength and areas of concern- so that these can be addressed.

• The final report assesses students against the National Occupational Standards and values of youth work.

• Each placement focuses on different areas of competence.

Youth work values and principles

• Fieldwork supervisors are asked to assess whether students are able to develop competence in delivering work in line with youth work values and principles at all placement levels

Youth work Values from NOS

•Participation and active involvement •Equity, diversity and inclusion

•Partnership with young people and others

•Personal, social and political development

These values underpin and are to be reflected within the

requirements of the relevant standards

National Occupational Standards

• The placements assess students against the NOS in youth work

• Each placement aims to allow students to focus on different areas

• The fieldwork supervisors report looks at additional competencies on placement 2 and 3 as student skills and experience develop

• Year 1 assesses 10 areas, • Year 2 assesses 16 and • Year 3 assesses all 19 areas

National Occupational Standards

Attendance• Students need to complete the required

number of hours to complete the placement• Field work supervisors monitor and sign off to ensure

they have done this• Students expected to contact the placement agency

and university if unable to attend work• Fieldwork supervisors should monitor attendance• Unauthorised absences are seen as professional

misconduct- fieldwork supervisors should inform the university of any unauthorised absences a.s.a.p.

Academic work

• Alongside the placement, students are expected to be completing academic work

• Developed to support the placement experience

• For all placements students are required to compile a practice file, including paperwork and a self assessment against the relevant NOS areas

• There is also an essay, the content varies each year• Year 1 - two case studies, one of a piece of work with a group,

and one with an individual• Year 2 - a funding application• Year 3 - an agency analysis

Forms!Fieldwork supervisors will need to provide input in to or complete some paperwork!

• Learning contract – student’s responsibility• Health and safety checklist - student’s responsibility• Three way meting checklist - student’s responsibility• Hours/ absence monitoring – fieldwork supervisors responsibility• Interim fieldwork supervisors report – fieldwork supervisors responsibility• Final fieldwork supervisors report – fieldwork supervisors responsibility• Fieldwork placement evaluation form – fieldwork supervisors responsibility• Fieldwork placement payment form – fieldwork supervisors responsibility• Fieldwork placement providers declaration – fieldwork supervisors

responsibility

Dealing with concerns• Where a placement provider has concerns regarding the

student’s suitability to practice, contact fieldwork tutor a.s.a.p.

• If student experiencing problems with placement, they should first discuss these with the fieldwork supervisor

• If this does not resolve it- supervisor should discuss with the fieldwork tutor. The fieldwork tutor may request a 3 way meeting to address the issue

• If the matter remains unresolved the fieldwork tutor may decide it is best if the student is placed elsewhere

• If the fieldwork supervisor is concerned the student at risk of failing placement, they should discuss the matter with the student and fieldwork tutor a.s.a.p. and agree remedial action

Supervision approachIn the context of the fieldwork placement supervision provides a regular, structured opportunity for the student to discuss their work; to analyse and reflect on issues that arise from it; and identify what they are learning, and area for further development.

• Supervision should take place in an quiet area.• Supervision should be uninterrupted• Students should prepare for supervision, identifying issues

they wish to examine• Supervision should take place for one hour per fortnight in

a level 1 placement and 1 hour per week at level 2 and 3