Youth and Community Work (JNC) (with Foundation Year)

Why choose this course?
This is an exciting degree programme, specially designed for those wanting to work positively with children, young people, marginalised groups and communities.

You can gain a professional Youth Work qualification endorsed by Education Training Standards Wales which will allow you to register with the Education Workforce Council in Wales as a Youth Worker in the UK and further afield.

This course:
Has flexible study options to join the class using Hyflex and online learning to study from wherever you are
Is hands-on, with over 50% of the course involving placement, allowing you to gain practical experience to support your studies
Leads to registration with the Education Workforce Council in Wales upon successful completion
Gives you the opportunity to do a placement internationally
Has graduates that are employed in a range of settings from the local authority, voluntary and community sector, and education providers across England, Wales and internationally
Will enhance your employability due to the experience, contacts and opportunities provided by undertaking fieldwork placements

Key Course Features:
A degree programme with professional endorsement, and course content aligned with National Occupational and Professional Standards in the sector
Opportunities for continuing professional development through additional training opportunities and professional networking on a course with strong links to employers and local training providers
Learn and gain experience with over 50% of your degree in supervised fieldwork practice, and a placement in each year of study. This can be in a variety of settings either in the UK or abroad
Develop skills in teamwork, positive communication, working with groups and individuals, reflective practice and leadership
Develop knowledge and core skills for Youth Work practice and informal education that are transferable to work with children, young people and adults in a range of different settings

This is a course for those wanting to work within informal education, examining youth and community theory and developing your practice in working with young people and communities through participation, empowerment and partnership working.
There are opportunities to develop youth and community work skills internationally both in Europe and further afield; taking into account the impact of emerging trends in Welsh, UK, European and global youth policy and practice.

YEAR 1 (FOUNDATION YEAR)
The Foundation Year is an integrated year where you will study core modules with a broad range of students from across the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, giving you access to different perspectives and networking opportunities.
The modules will equip you with key skills needed for Higher Education and beyond. They will give you the chance to explore your subject area and available careers, allowing you to adapt your reading and assessments to be relevant to your degree pathway.
Alongside teaching from the broader faculty staff, you will be able to meet with staff and other students from your main degree pathway and get involved with events and opportunities that they are running.
• Study Skills for Success (Core)
• Resilience in Higher Education and Beyond (Core)
• A Day in the Life (Core)
• Life and Work in the Welsh Context (Core)
• Welsh for First Time Learners (Optional)
• Numeracy (Optional)
• Professional Communication in the Workplace (Optional)
• Maths and Experimental Design (Optional)

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 4)
In year two, you will study the values and principles of youth and community work, creative skills and group work, and develop a knowledge of safeguarding and multi-agency working.

MODULES
• Placement 1
• Values and Principles of Youth and Community Work
• Working Creatively with Groups
• Working Together to Safeguard Others

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 5)
In years three and four, you will build upon this learning, exploring politics and social policy, analysing informal education and developing skills in social research, international youth work, leadership and supervising others.

MODULES
• Placement 2 - Integrating Professional Practice
• Political and Sociological Perspectives in Youth and Community Work
• International Youth Work
• Research Methods

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6)
In your final year, you will also undertake a research project, and develop skills and values that demonstrate your ability to become a professional practitioner.

MODULES
• Placement 3 – Leading in Professional Practice
• Research Project
• Leading in Contemporary Youth and Community Work Practice
• Professional Supervision
• Critical Analysis of Education in Youth and Community Work

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Teaching and learning
The degree is delivered using a unique Hy-Flex approach to learning. This means that students can join the classroom in person or join synchronously online to engage in the learning activities. Sessions are also recorded for students to engage with alongside asynchronous online learning activities to scaffold the learning from the module.

Assessments are designed with the dual aims of supporting a student’s professional development and their academic understanding. This builds knowledge and skill from a belief that being an excellent practitioner means not only working with people, but also being able to express yourself in a range of ways that includes writing reports, documents and essays based on the collection and analysis of evidence to build an argument.

Throughout the programme, and within individual modules, a variety of assessment methods are employed which seek to demonstrate equity with respect to the individual needs, learning styles and interests of students. The forms of assessment are selected to ensure that they characterise the academic level of the modules, and are designed to enable students to explore the philosophies, concepts and theories underpinning youth work and community work, through the exploration and analysis of issues pertinent to these areas of social provision.

The transference of learning from one module to another is encouraged, and the core modules provide a focus for this. As such, assessment methods on this programme are used to develop a student’s confidence and ability to carry out a range of transferable skills, which are considered useful in both academic work and professional practice.

Assessments on this programme will take on a variety of forms, including essays, presentations, reflections, portfolios and contributing to online forums.