BA (Hons) Youth and
Community Work
Support for students: Preparation for
placement and process
© Sheffield Hallam University
Year 1 - overview of support - SHU
based
• Students are informed about the structure of
placements in induction week
• 4th November 1 x 2 hour placement workshop
• 9th December 1 x 2 hour placement workshop
• 17 and 20th January - 2 full days preparation for
placement block
• 24th January - students go out on placement and
attend SHU for 1 day per week for taught modules
and placement workshops
• From 24th Feb, Semester 2 - fortnightly SHU
based WBL workshops to support students with
portfolio development
Workshop 1: November content
Preparing for Placement topics:
• Complete relevant paperwork with
the placement team • CRB update
• Placement Expectations
• Portfolio Overview, Balanced
recordings, resources,
Expectations
• Professional National
Occupational Standards, SWOT
Analysis and supervision.
• Applying learning from across the
course.
• Introduction to SHU Placement
Website
http://www3.shu.ac.uk/HWB/place
ments/YouthandCommunityWork/
Overview.html
Self directed work post session:
• Prepare Placement Learning
Objectives based on
SWOT/PNOS Analysis
• Complete Individual Action Plan:
Application of Time management
techniques.
• Planning work/study life balance
for placement.
• Group exercise preparation
• Reading and reflective Exercises:
Kehily, Chapters1, 3, 4, 5
(Minimum)
• Reading: Davis: Youth Work
Manifesto
Workshop 2: December content
Preparation for placement
topics:
• Your first placement
Meeting - what to expect
• Developing learning
objectives
• Professionalism,
expectations and
boundaries
• NYA ethical conduct
guidance, SHU Policies.
• Youth work values/what is
youth work?
Self directed learning:
• Reading and reflective
exercises: Kehily,
Chapters 6, 10, Batsleer,
Part 1, Chapter 9
• Neugebauer and EvansBray, Making the most of
your placements, (2009)
chapters
2 day preparation for placement
block: January - day 1
AM session: Things you
need to know:
• Health and Safety,
Personal Safety,
Organisation Policies,
Induction, SHU policies,
Placement Support and
what do if…..
PM session:
• Applying Theory to
Practice Communication and
Groups.
Self directed learning
from day 1
• Read a selection of the
resources and policies for
Youth Work from the
placement website, start
to develop a 'toolbox' of
activities.
• Review Communications
and Groupwork theories.
Preparation for placement block day 2
AM:
• Activities for Youth
Work: Observation,
making contact,
building relationships,
getting stuck in.
Resources.
PM:
• Planning and keeping
up with your portfolio
• Completing Units 1&2
Self directed study:
• Complete activities
from the resources
section, and prepare
feedback.
• Bring SWOT Analysis
and PNOS self Assessment
Module teaching - 5 x 2 hour
sessions, semester 2
Session 1, 24 Feb:
• Understanding Young
People’s Challenges
• Portfolio units 3, 4:
Applying Anti –
Oppressive Practice
Self directed learning:
• Reading: Street Boys,
The Story of
Childhood.
• Reading: Batsleer
and Davies, What is
Youth Work
• Complete portfolio
units 3 and 4
Module teaching - 5 x 2 hour
sessions, semester 2
Session 2: 17 March
• Identifying need and
developing responses
• Unit 7 & 8 Planning,
Evaluation and
Groupwork
Self directed study:
Reading and reflective
exercises: Kehily,
Chapters 7, 8,9.
Batsleer, Part 2
• Cambridgeshire
planning and
Evaluation document.
• Reflective recording,
and planned piece of
work.
Module teaching - 5 x 2 hour
sessions, semester 2
Session 3: 31 March
• Transitions and Life
Histories
• Unit 5 – Life History
Self directed study:
• Read: Henderson et
al, Inventing
Adulthoods, Batsleer
Chapter 13
• Reflective recording
focussed on
implications for
practice.
Module teaching - 5 x 2 hour
sessions, semester 2
Session 4: 14 April
• Unit 6 & 9 Work
Themes,
• Self Assessment and
preparing for
Supervision
Self-directed learning:
• Reflective recording
on the session
• Batsleer, Parts 3 and
4
Module teaching - 5 x 2 hour
sessions, semester 2
Session 5: 12 May
Unit 10: reassessing
your beliefs and role
Self-directed study:
• Blackboard forum
discussion on your
practice, and how you
have changed.
Support in placement
• Students are allocated a professional and academic
tutor in the induction week. The tutor then visits the
student and supervisor on placement
Structure of 3 way visits:
• First 3-way placement visit Early Feb
• Mid way review 3 way meeting - April
• Final summative meeting at the end of
placement - May / June
Support for supervisors
• 8 supervisor training sessions are held per
academic year
• A dedicated supervisor handbook is made
available to supervisors and is available
on the External placement website.
• A database of trained supervisors is kept
up to date
Year 2: support for students
• Year 2 go on placement in semester 1
• They have a preparation for placement
workshop in the first week of term
• 10 x 1 hour weekly SHU based workshops
throughout semester 1 whilst on
placement