Best in the South West for employability
UCP Marjon outperformed all other South West institutions with over 93% of its graduates either in employment or continuing in higher education. In addition to other South West universities, this percentage also means that UCP Marjon are in the top 20 institutions throughout England for graduate employability.
Matrix Accreditation
UCP Marjon is the only University in Devon whose Student Support services have received the coveted Matrix Accreditation, the national quality standard for organisations delivering information, advice and guidance.
FdA Integrated Working: Children, Young People and Families
Introduction
This is a newly validated programme that has been developed through collaboration with Plymouth City Council (PCC). It has been designed to meet the needs of practitioners working with children, young people and their families within the wide remit of integrated services. This programme provides an excellent grounding for integrated working in, and with, children’s services (being closely linked to national policy, guidance and strategies for workforce development), and offers progression routes onto programmes at UCP Marjon:
BA (Hons) Education Studies
BA (Hons) Working with Children and Young People (direct entry into final year)
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
The programme will appeal to those:
- seeking a work-based/supported route through to Foundation degree
- unsure, as yet, of a profession-specific vocation and wanting to explore options within the wider footprint of children’s services
- new to the children’s workforce
- for those who do not (yet) meet academic or other requirements for entry onto a professionally qualifying programme and, importantly
- for those wishing to professionally qualify at Masters level eg through an MA Social Work, MA Youth and Community Work, PGCE, PG Certficate Early Years (EYPS full route) – all of these are offered at UCP Marjon, bar social work. Alternative progression routes (not incorporating a professional qualification) are offered by the MA Professional Practice at UCP Marjon.
This is a modular programme that can be taken as a 2 year full time programme or part-time over a longer period (usually 3 or 4 years).
This programme provides a framework for academic study alongside work-based learning. It is suitable for people employed (for 10 hours a week or more), in the wider children's workforce in support and assistant roles as well as new (emergent) roles in the workforce. It corporates employer delivery through the structured provisions of work-based learning opportunities and the support of a work-based mentor. There is a practice development focus throughout with an emphasis on critical thinking and reflection for, and within, work contexts.
Course Code / Duration
UCAS Code
L500
Duration
2 years full-time, or part-time over 3 or 4 years.
Entry Requirements
Applicants will normally have:
- Recognition of the importance of integrity in all personal and social interactions
- Commitment to own personal and professional development
- Commitment to working collaboratively
- Commitment to equality and to developing anti-discriminatory approaches in practice
- A-level 3 qualification e.g. Access, GNVQ Advanced, BTEC or A level(s), preferably in a relevant subject area eg social sciences/education/health and social care/children and young people (or equivalent experience of practice at that level for mature entrants)
- Circumstances enabling the demands of the programme to be met (including 10 hours/week paid or voluntary employment in services for/work with children, young people and/or families, and the support and involvement of the employer in undertaking the programme)
- Proof of CRB processed by employer
Module Information
At Level 4, module focus and content aligns broadly with the Every Child Matters (DCSF 2003) outcomes revised 2008 (DCSF 2008), and the concomitant Common Core of Skills and Knowledge (CWDC 2005). Usually every student begins with the employer delivered module Introduction to Integrated Working, this has been developed from the Children's Workforce development Council (CWDC) induction programme, which is taken by all new (and existing) employees in children's services in Plymouth (alternative arrangements will be in place for those who wish to undertake the programme from outside PCC).
The other modules are:
- Childhood in Context
- Child and Young Person Development
- Communication, Engagement and Relationships
- Safegarding and working together
- Inclusive Transitions
- Equality and Diversity
- Practice Learning (sector specific)
At Level 5, students build on the foundation in critical thinking and reflection and begin to make more extensive connections from their learning-in-practice, and from knowledge gained - with abstract concepts. Students will be actively encouraged to take increased responsibility for their own learning and gain increasing independence as befitting the development of a critically reflective practitioner.They will become increasingly responsible for their personal and professional development as they move from level four to five of the programme. Learning for leadership and management (a key cross-sector theme in children’s workforce development) and for (their own) professional futures is highlighted here. Alongside this, students are able to deepen their own sector-specific understanding and knowledge at this level, through a sector specific module (in education, health, social, family and community support, youth, justice and crime prevention, sports and culture, or early years) and an independent inquiry ‘double module’.
Each module will allow you to undertake work which is specific and relevant to your own work context e.g. in a school setting.
How will it work?
There will be range of learning and teaching approaches to enable flexible, student-centred learning and considerable emphasis is placed on working in small groups, starting from strengths and encouraging active participation including: lectures; work based learning; seminars; action learning sets; peer presentations; independent study and tutorials. Students will also experience blended and e-learning through the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). Modules that require attendance will usually be delivered in short blocks rather than standard weekly delivery.
Practice-based learning is central to the programme and this is integrated throughoutthe programme. Employers are central to students’ learning and professional development and commit to ensuring a work-based (learning) mentor is in place (who assists the student in their task of relating and integrating theory and practice); work-based mentors provide a minimum of 3 hours dedicated time per 20 credit module for this purpose. Employers are also directly involved in delivering sessions (and notably module CWFC01), and as guest lecturers.
A wide range of assessment methods are used on the programme in recognition of the impact assessment has on student learning and approaches to learning. These include: essays; presentations; reflective learning accounts; research journal/proposal; structured assignments; reports; case studies; reflective analysis and self-assessment.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for 2010/2011 are £2,250 for full time students.
For part-time students the tuition fees are £375 per 20 credit module - this rate applies only to those part-time students not in receipt of any publicly funded student support.
Course Tutors
Andrea Collins E-mail: acollins@marjon.ac.uk
To discuss the programme further, please contact Carol Fields, Faculty Administrator on 01752 636700 ext. 6513.
Career Opportunities
The programme intends to provide an excellent grounding for integrated working in, and with, children’s services (being closely linked to national policy, guidance and strategies for workforce development here), and offers progression routes onto programmes at UCP Marjon: BA (Hons) Education Studies, BA (Hons) Working with Children and Young People.
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