Youth and Community Work (JNC)

This exciting course is specially designed for those wanting to work positively with children, young people, marginalised groups and communities. It has been ranked first in Wales for learning community in the National Student Survey 2019 (WGU analysis of National Survey of Students 2019).

You will:
•learn youth work methods, values and engagement skills for working to support individuals and groups with their personal, social and political development
•gain a professional youth work qualification endorsed by Education Training Standards Wales
•spend over a third of your time in placement activities
•be able to register with the Education Workforce Council in Wales as a Youth Worker upon successful completion of the course
•have opportunities for a part-funded placement through the Erasmus programme
•enjoy the benefits of studying in a department with 43 years’ experience, links with employers across North Wales, North West England, and the Midlands, and partnerships with organisations across the statutory, voluntary and third sector
•have the option to study a faith-based route in the first year and exit with a Certificate in Higher Education Youth and Community Work (faith-based), or to top up to the full degree and JNC Qualification*.

*Students on the faith-based route that wish to gain the full JNC professional qualification will need to complete a further 20 credit module at level 4

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 with employers and local training providers.
•Learn and gain experience with 800 hours of supervised fieldwork practice, with a placement in each year of study. This can be in a variety of settings either in the UK or internationally.
•Start the academic year with a learning experience with a partner project to see youth work skills in action.
•*1st in Wales for learning community, (WGU analysis of National Survey of Students 2019)
•Option to study a faith-based route in the first year of study by completing an additional module
•Develop skills in team work, positive communication, working with groups and individuals, reflective practice and leading others.
•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.

Year 1 (Level 4)
Modules
•Placement 1 - Preparation for Professional Practice, the first fieldwork placement helps students to establish the basic foundations of good youth and community work practice and embed reflective thinking skills.
•Values and Principles of Youth and Community Work - Examine the core principles of youth and community work. Understand the values of informal education, in particular recognising and understanding anti-oppressive practice. students will start to explore and develop their professional identity.
•Working Creatively with Groups - An exciting module bringing together group work theory and creative practice.
•Working Together to Safeguard Others - Exploring the role of the youth and community worker in safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults, and how to work effectively within multi-agency settings.
• Theological Reflection (option) An opportunity for students to understand the central place of theological reflection in their learning and preparation for Christian youth work in a variety of settings. Whilst, developing skills in theological reflection to support practice.

Year 2 (Level 5)

Modules
•Placement 2 - Integrating Professional Practice - The second fieldwork placement is a block placement, allowing the student to be embedded within the field of youth and community work and develop their skills in practice. This could be a placement within Europe or further afield.
•Political and Sociological Perspectives in Youth and Community Work - Identify and analyse how political agendas and social policies can shape the context of practice, and recognise different political perspectives on welfare and social policy.
•International Youth Work – An opportunity to explore the benefits of international youth work and intercultural learning for young people. Identifying different youth work practices across the world, and the role of the youth and community worker in understanding their own, and helping others to understand their own cultural identity.
•Research Methods - Identify what is meant by social research, and how it can be applied to investigate an area of practice or a social issue within youth and community work.
Year 3 (Level 6)

Modules

•Placement 3 – Leading in Professional Practice – an opportunity for students to put leadership and supervisory skills into practice in a youth and community work setting.
•Research Project - Supported by a research project supervisor, students will conduct a piece of unique research into an area related to youth and community work that will positively impact on practice and policy.
•Leading in Contemporary Youth and Community Work Practice - Identify and critically evaluate models of leadership in youth and community work contexts, analysing the skills required to lead in contemporary practice and the demands of working within evidence-based practice environments.
•Professional Supervision - Students will understand the importance of professional supervision in supporting and developing staff and volunteers, and develop skills to implement this in practice.
•Critical Analysis of Education in Youth and Community Work - Set within the current youth and community work policy context this module is an in-depth exploration of the core values and principles of informal education, critically analysing the concepts of dialogue, participation, empowerment, partnership and anti-oppressive practice. Students will complete the module having developed their professional identity as an informal educator.

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.

Assessment methods include in-practice tasks, reports, essays and presentations. You will need to undertake a dissertation as part of your final assessment.

Teaching and learning

Wrexham Glyndŵr University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

The course is delivered using a range of inclusive and interactive methods that model the values and principles of the sector, these include face-to-face as well as online learning activities, lectures, small group work, individual tutorials and supervision sessions, online and blended learning, guided independent study, and work-based placement activities.

Throughout the duration of the full degree programme you will be involved with 3600 hours of learning (1200 per academic year for a full time student), this will normally include 800 placement hours in total over three years, and remaining hours will be distributed between scheduled learning activities and guided personal study.

Typically, taught sessions will be held over two week days each trimester, with remaining days set aside for placement work and/or personal study. There will be a block placement opportunity at Level 5. Assessment methods used across modules will include: essays, reflective writing tasks, individual and group presentations, practice-based portfolios, and project reports, research reports.