Youth and Community Work is facing the challenge of constant change, responding to the needs of policymakers, funders and increasingly disparate and diverse communities. This module will provide a critical understanding of the social and political changes that are taking place in post-Brexit Britain, the rise of populist politics, and a range of tensions and concerns that exist in an increasingly uncertain world.

You will synthesise the complex relationship between personal and professional values and practice within National Occupational Standards, approaches and interventions to Youth and Community Work, government agendas and protocols for work with children, young people and wider communities, key thinkers and theorists, challenges of multi professional and partnership working and explore the shifts taking place in a rapidly changing sector.

Gain practice-based experience as you begin your journey into a career in youth work. You'll complete a range of tasks and reflect on your practice as you receive feedback on your skills as a youth worker. You'll deliver a programme of intervention – a piece of work that you've created through your work with young people.

Select, devise, analyse and synthesise research and evidence-based practice findings in an inter-professional environment. You will develop an advanced understanding of selected research methods and have opportunities for acquiring appropriate research skills through study and application to their own sphere of professional practical experience.

Youth workers need to be adaptable and multi-skilled to deliver a high-quality youth work service, as well as leading others and managing the organisation. This module will teach you how to deploy a range of management skills and techniques. You'll contribute to key tasks such as the pursuit of funding, writing commissioning documents, providing strong leadership, and identifying development opportunities for your organisation.

This module includes a minimum of 200 hours assessed professional practice. You'll learn about the placement process and will be introduced to the knowledge and skills needed for leading and managing youth work practice. You'll be encouraged to take on a leadership role and begin to liaise with outside agencies. This will enable you to recognise the importance of inter-professional working and the different roles external organisations play.

This module will introduce you to contemporary practice in a global context and the impact of globalisation on local youth work practice. Building on shared experiences, you'll examine the effect of issues such as climate change, poverty, conflict, health and migration on young people and their communities.

Undertake an independent piece of original advanced research that you will be expected to plan, implement and report with guidance from a supervisor. This can take the form of a traditional dissertation or a practice-based enquiry. Working with a named supervisor, you will be expected to show initiative and responsibility in this process as well as the capacity to reflect on evidence and make links with research theory and practice.