Foundation Degree in Working with Young People
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Foundation Degree
- Code
- G03
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 240 credit points
Description
The Open University’s Foundation Degree in Working with Young People has professional validation from the National Youth Agency (NYA) on behalf of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), so it is recognised as a professional qualification for those wishing to be employed in youth work in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The foundation degree is suitable for individuals with recent experience of working with young people in informal education settings such as detached youth work or youth work in clubs, youth organisations like the Guides or Scouts, or other groups working with young people aged 13–19 years old. By recent, we mean six months for one session (two/three hours) a week or the equivalent in an informal-education setting during the last three years. This experience will need to be confirmed towards the beginning of the foundation degree. The degree provides knowledge of ethics, values and purposes as well as the understanding required to work effectively with young people in these settings. In developing the skills expected of professional workers in this field, it also prepares students to engage with further study, enquiry and reflection on their practice.
This degree has been developed in close collaboration with employers and experienced workers from the statutory and voluntary sectors to ensure that it engages directly with the themes and issues relevant to work in this field.
You can ‘top up’ your foundation degree to a full honours degree by studying a further 120 points at Level 3. You can choose from either the BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies (B23) if suitable Level 3 courses are chosen, or the new BA (Honours) Working with Young People (B55) which has been specifically developed to follow on from the Foundation Degree in Working with Young People. This degree is available for the first time from 2009 and to obtain the additional 120 points required at Level 3, you need to study the 60-point Level 3 course Youth: perspectives and practice (KE308) and a new 60-point Level 3 course planned for February 2010.
From August 2010, anyone starting a professionally qualifying course of study will need an honours degree for professional youth work status and the ‘top up’ BA (Hons) Working with Young People route is therefore being introduced to address this change – however, those starting to study on one of the courses on the foundation degree before August 2010 will still achieve professional status with the Foundation Degree in Working with Young People.
If you are interested in obtaining a professional qualification for youth and community work in Scotland this foundation degree is offered as the Diploma of Higher Education in Working with Young People (E38) for students living and working in Scotland.
Planning your studies
The degree includes a specialist vocational component which is underpinned by broad-based academic learning. You should have some experience of working in the sector prior to starting. You will find all the courses and the assignments much easier and more fulfilling if you continue in employment (paid or unpaid) in the sector throughout your study. During the two work-based learning courses – Introduction to working with young people in practice (E118) and Leading work with young people in practice (E218) – you will have to have suitable face-to-face employment with young people (paid or unpaid) in an appropriate setting for a minimum of five hours a week. Confirmation of this will need to be provided. You will also need support and permission to study from your employer in the form of a number of key work-based learning support roles. Help in securing these roles is available should you experience difficulties in finding suitable individuals within your own organisation. In addition, the work setting for the second course will need to contrast with the first. Further help is available to assist you with this and you should contact the Working with Young People Award team for further advice and guidance on either 01908 858650 or 01908 653766.
In order to study the foundation degree, you will need to obtain the necessary clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau (for England and Wales) or have passed a Disclosure Scotland or Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) check, i.e. an appropriate check relevant to the country in which you are working. It is your responsibility and that of your employer to ensure that you meet these requirements, rather than the OU. A range of assessment methods will be used including written assignments and project work drawing on examples of practice from students’ work. There will also be compulsory use of ICT on some courses and day schools where appropriate.
You must include at least 90 points from OU courses that have not been counted in an OU diploma or other first degree you have been awarded.
This foundation degree will take you a minimum of two years and a maximum of eight years to complete.
Career relevance and employability
The Foundation Degree in Working with Young People (G03) is currently validated by the National Youth Agency (NYA) on behalf of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) as a professional qualification for youth workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. See the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) website for details. The foundation degree is also Sector Endorsed by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC). The foundation degree is available in Scotland as a Diploma of Higher Education in Working with Young People (E38) although this is not recognised as a professional qualification in Scotland. Professional recognition is currently being sought in Scotland.
Foundation degrees are level 5 qualifications and you may continue your studies to add to this qualification to achieve a BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies (B23) or a BA (Honours) Working with Young People (B55) (which will become the new professional qualification from 2010). For more about the foundation degree see our FAQs.
The Foundation Degree in Working with Young People will be suitable if you are interested in working with young people, aged 13-19, in a range of informal education settings such as:
- Youth clubs
- After school clubs
- Scout/Guide groups
- Detached/outreach work with young people
- Specialist/advisory/support work with young people e.g. information advice and guidance, sexual health, drug or alcohol awareness programmes.
For more about careers in this sector see the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) website.
For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.
On completion of the Foundation Degree there are several options available for you to top up to a bachelors degree. It is recommended that you discuss your intended study route and course choices with one of our advisers.
Courses
For this foundation degree you require
240 points from the following compulsory courses:
| Level 1 compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
| or | ||
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
| or | ||
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
| Level 2 compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
|
60 | Jan 2010 |
We strongly recommend that you study E131/EZL131 before starting E118 and that you study these courses and E132/EZL132 before starting E218. E118 (or equivalent study from another institution) is a pre-requisite for E218.
Completing E131/EZL131 and E118 will entitle you to a Certificate in Working with Young People (C54).
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Credit transfer details for this qualification:
On completion
On successful completion of the required courses you will be awarded a Foundation Degree in Working with Young People, which confers recognition as a professional youth worker in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and you will be entitled to use the letters FD (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
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An undergraduate qualification in Childhood and Youth, Education and Health and Social Care.
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