BA (Hons) Working in integrated services for children and young people • Stanmore College

Qualification	BA (Hons) Working in integrated services for children and young people
Subject Area	Higher Education
Attendance	Full Time, Course fee £4,950 per year. You will pay the University of West London £6,165 as the College will reimburse you £1,215 towards the end of the academic year.
Age Group(s)	Adults

Course Content

This course is a one year progression course validated by the University of West London. It is for learners who have already successfully completed a Foundation Degree in subjects related to the children and young people’s workforce in the education or healthcare sectors. The course covers the 0 to 18 years age range and will promote the development of research skills to enable you to investigate and explore contemporary issues related to working with children and young people and the integrated services that support them.

This course is run on one day a week at Stanmore College from 9am to 4:30pm, following the standard college timetable. You will also access blended learning via the internet and have access to the college Virtual Learning Environment – Study Space. The teaching and learning strategies for this course will reflect a range of approaches in response to different learning styles and your experience. It is recognised that although you will have already attained a Level 5 qualification before starting the course your previous experience of academic study and all professional context is personal to you. The intention of the course of study will be to encourage you to develop your individual knowledge through an active, student centred approach, which draws on the resource of your own experiences in line with individual research and study. You will be expected to carry out independent study preparing for seminars and assignments by doing background reading from recommended texts and personal Internet research. Teaching strategies include the following:

Tutor-led learning (taught sessions, workshops, directed e-learning)
Group learning (group work, seminars)
Self-directed learning
E-learning (online resources and access to electronic resources)

There is only one pathway through the Course. All modules are core, and you will be working with or have recent experience of working with children and young people.

Safeguarding children (20 credits) This module contains an overview of the issues relating to safeguarding children and young people. It will allow you to examine the current legislative requirements at a local and national level, with the opportunity to explore how it applies to your own practice and work setting.

Provision of Services (20 credits) This module outlines how practitioners can work effectively to promote services for children and young people within the current policy and statutory framework. It will examine the concept of multi-agency working and the development of skills in managing the processes within the new framework, for the benefit of children, young people and their families.

Research Methods (20 credits) The overall aims of this module is to enable you to clearly differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, strengthen your knowledge and experience of information retrieval systems, improve your ability to think critically, use skills for critical appraisal to evaluate scientific data, and develop your ability to plan and design a scheme of project in health and social care. You will also develop the practice of interpreting scientific data in a logical and conclusive manner, develop your ability to write and disseminate data according to scientific conventions.

Working with Young People (20 credits) The module aims to provide opportunities to explore contemporary issues in working with young people. You will critically examine adolescent development and appropriate communication skills relevant to working with young people and their families. You will also examine the role of the professional in promoting and developing autonomy for young people whilst addressing their needs and rights.

Dissertation (40 credits) This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake an extended literature review of one clearly defined topic of relevance to current practice as a childcare practitioner. You will search, access and critically appraise literature relevant to the defined topic and evaluate the relevance and significance of the literature, in order to make recommendations for future childcare practice, within your own practice and work setting.

Course Outcomes

In achieving the course outcomes you will have gained qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment and progression to other qualifications and the ability to utilise opportunities for lifelong learning

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical principles related to contemporary issues in integrated services
To be able to use investigative skills to explore, define and solve complex problems with their own area of work
To identify appropriate techniques to critically analyse the concept of multi-agency working
To be able to interpret data from a range of sources with reference to reliability, significance, and validity
To be able to analyse, debate and synthesise contemporary issues in theory and legislation relating to working with children and young people and families
To be able to critically analyse and evaluate academic literature to support the development of new working practice
To be able to challenge perceived ideas and take personal responsibility for professional judgement and decision making
To be able to critically challenge and debate contradictory information to inform professional practice
To be able to critically investigate legislation in flexible contexts to support inclusivity

Progression

Higher level academic study such as a Master degree or a PhD
Teacher training (providing you meet the GCSE minimal requirements)
Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing pathways
Leadership roles in Children’s Centres, Private and Voluntary Sector Early Years Provision, out of school and day care provision
Support and development roles
Advisory Workers

Entry Requirements

Foundation Degree in childcare related area i.e. Early Years Care and Education, Learning Support, Play work, Healthcare Play Specialism
GCSE Maths and English or equivalent Level 2 or above qualifications in Literacy and Numeracy
Good communication skills
Recent experience of working with children and young people

Assessment

All assessment is based on coursework, which includes essays, reports and a dissertation. Formative assessment also includes oral and poster presentations, as well as annotated essay plans and mind mapping.