Q2A
Got an enquiry ........
Please can you advise which Universities will accept me to go straight on to a youth &
communtiy degree, without having to do an access course. I have over a years
experience of working with young people in various strands within the Young Peoples
Service.
My qualificatons are:
NVQ level 3 in Childcare
NVQ Level 2 in Youth Work
Level 2 in Maths, English & ICT
First Aid
Health & Safety
Food Hygiene
This is our reply.......
Hi,
Thanks for emailing us about becoming a qualified youth worker.
There are currently a lot of ongoing developments concerning professional training for youth workers, the picture is evolving and changing. We will describe to you the situation as we understand it at the moment but we suggest you check out the National Youth Agency website (www.nya.org.uk) regularly for updates.
Since January 2011 revised qualifications at L2 and L3 have been available on the Qualifications and Credit Framework that replace the previously used L2 and L3 VRQs and NVQs which you hold.
At Level 2 there is now the Level 2 Award in Youth Work Practice (also suitable for young leaders, aged 14+) which is the only Level 2 Certificate which constitutes a 'full' qualification classifed as meeting the requirements to demonstrate occupational competence within the JNC framework for Youth Support Work roles.
At Level 3 there is the Level 3 Award in Youth Work Practice, the Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice and the Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice - Only the Level 3 Diploma constitutes a ‘full’ qualification classified as meeting the requirements for conferring occupational competence within the JNC framework for Youth Support Work roles.
A level 3 will enable learners to progress to a professional level qualification, leading to Professional Youth Worker Status. So at the moment we do not think you would not be able to progress directly to a professional level qualification because you have Level 2 in youth work, but we would suggest you contact NYA for direct advice as well as contact any of the institutions that we list below as they will have differing criteria.
Here is an explanation of the new pathway to professional status:
This change will not be implemented retrospectively and therefore all previously gained professional youth work qualifications at Foundation Degree and Diploma of Higher Education level will continue to confer qualified youth worker status.
All qualifications vary in length. Courses are available for both full and part time study and require completion of substantial field work placements. A few institutions offer distance learning programmes.
All the professional qualification programmes of study are offered by universities or colleges of higher education. The programmes of study will only offer professional qualification if they have first been professionally validated by the NYA. Professionally validated HE awards are currently offered by around 40 English universities and colleges of higher education.
Because Youth and Community workers work in a wide range of settings, Higher Education qualifications reflect different occupational needs, and have a range of titles, including youth and community, community and youth studies, childhood and youth studies, and informal and community education.
An employer may support you to undertake the Higher Education awards by giving financial assistance for payment of tuition fees, or time off for study, but you can also study for the qualification independently of full or part time employment. Current tuition fees for full time study are around £1100 per year.
Most universities have a minimum age for entry, varying from 18 to 21 depending on existing experience of paid or voluntary youth work. Whilst most universities stipulate minimum academic entry requirements, all institutions offering youth and community work qualifications welcome applications from those without academic qualifications providing they can show that they have relevant experience in youth work and have the intellectual ability to complete the course. It is for this reason that we suggest you contact the universities and colleges direct and sell yourself to them as being an excellent candidate! For most academic entry at HE level you do need Level 3 qualifications, so it could be that you will be unsuccessful in gaining a place without undertaking a Foundation course, but on the other hand in times of flux and with good experience and committment things might go your way. All universities will have support services for students with different learning needs, e.g. deafness or dyslexia.
We give below a list of all the accredited courses that there are in the North West:
BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work
University of Chester
www.chester.ac.uk
BA (Hons) in Christian Youth Work
Cumbria University
www.cumbria.ac.uk
BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work
BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work (Work Based)
Ba (Hons) Youth Work (In the Outdoors)
Graduate Diploma Youth and Community Work
Edgehill University
www.edgehill.ac.uk
MA in Youth and Community Work
Manchester Metropolitan University
www.mmu.ac.uk
BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work
PG Diploma/MA Youth and Community Work (Full-Time and Part-Time)
Nazarene Theological College
www.nazarene.ac.uk
BA (Hons) in Theology, Youth Work and Ministry
St Helens College
www.sthelens.ac.uk
BA (Hons) Part Time Youth and Community Work
As you can see this a developing area and so you might do well to contact NYA and talk through your situation with them. You can do this
* By post: Eastgate House, 19-23 Humberstone Road, Leicester, LE5 3GJ.
* By Telephone - NYA Switchboard: 0116 242 7350
We are sorry if you find this answer a bit confusing, but the whole process is quite confusing at the moment. Have a look at the details available on the different courses and then perhaps contact the institutions direct to see how they judge your application and experience as it stands at the moment.
We wish you lots of luck.
If we can help anymore with this, or anything else, please do email us again through Q2A.
Best wishes
Q2A
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