About this course
Are you ready to take the first step towards making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families? On the FdA Working with Children, Young People and Families course, you’ll study a range of modules to help you become a confident, knowledgeable and effective practitioner.
Taught at NTU in Mansfield, you’ll cover topics and approaches relating to childhood and society. Developed with sector employers, this course is designed so that your academic study directly relates to your working environment.
Whether you plan to go straight into the world of work on completing your foundation degree, or this is your stepping stone to further study, you’ll gain the knowledge and transferable skills you need to progress in a diverse range of areas. You'll be prepared for a future in a variety of careers including education, social and health services, community work and other diverse support work.
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The course includes a placement alongside your studies, in areas such as family and youth support agencies, charities and local youth groups. -
NTU in Mansfield is your alternative route to higher education. We've built this qualification with the local job market in mind. Each of our higher education courses is relevant, hands-on and work-focused. -
On completing this foundation degree, you’ll be well-placed to go straight into the world of work and take up a variety of careers within the sector. -
You will also be eligible to top-up to degree-level study with the BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families (Level 6) or enter Year 2 of BA (Hons) Social Work.
What you’ll study
This course has been developed with sector employers and designed to help you meet this need. Academic study will be directly related to your working environment - this will enable you to become a confident, knowledgeable and effective practitioner.
Core modules
Childhood and Child Development (20 Credit Points)
This module provides the theoretical underpinning of various factors within the psychological, physiological and sociological development of children that may contribute to their current situation and behaviour. Within the module, key theories underpinning concepts of childhood and child development are examined and applied to practice. The impact of family, society and environments on childhoods is also examined. You will gain experience in assessing a child's developmental stage and the practitioners role in providing or supporting beneficial environments for healthy child development.
Rights, Ethics and Safeguarding (20 Credit Points)
An understanding of rights, ethics and safeguarding is essential for employment when working with children, young people and vulnerable adults in a range of settings. This module will provide knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework underpinning professional working practices with a focus upon child and adult safeguarding, offender rights and the potential conflict this may have with public protection. The concept of ethical practice is introduced, and conscious and unconscious bias is be examined. You are encouraged to reflect on your own ethical position in relation to the welfare/judicial paradigm.
Social Policy (20 Credit Points)
The purpose of this module is to introduce how the lives of children, young people and families are affected by social policy. You will explore a policy cycle that begins with understanding social problems and moves through applying social values, operating political processes, and evaluating sustainable social outcomes related to UN global sustainability goals. You'll appraise the main institutions of the British welfare state; and explore the operation of political processes by examining what is involved in the making and implementing of social policies. This is to help you understand how the way we respond to society’s issues is shaped by our understanding of people’s problems, the values we believe in, the processes by which decisions are made and implemented, the interests of key stakeholders in the decision-making process, and the body of past responses that constrain our choices.
Human Growth and Development from Adolescence (20 Credit Points)
The module aims to pick up the key themes in understanding growth and development from the earlier Childhood and Child Development module from the time of adolescence and into adulthood. Theories of development relevant to adolescence and adulthood, including transitions from childhood to adulthood are explored including the persisting importance of attachment and relationships with others. You will consider the importance of a young person or adults’ sense of self and identity within contemporary society, along with the circumstances and environments in which emotional and cognitive growth may be fostered.
Preparing for Professional Practice (20 Credit Points)
The aim of this module is to enable students to gain an understanding of the world of work by undertaking work experience with an organisation that provides a service working with children, young people and families. Through the context of work related and work-based learning, you will become familiar with key concepts associated with service delivery, explore the interrelationship between theoretical perspectives and practice, contextualise learning from other modules on the course, and engage in personal professional development planning.
Reflection, Assessment and Intervention Strategies in Social Work 1 (20 Credit Points)
This module builds on previous learning in the course to explore the role of social work, the problems encountered, and the assessment methods used in social work. Social workers play a key role in services for children, young people and families particularly where individualised supports is required. This module introduces key concepts of social work for those wishing to explore it as a potential career option and those who will work with social work professionals in other roles within the sector.
Core modules
Parenting Theory and Practice (20 Credit Points)
Having understood issues around child and adolescent development in Year 1, this module helps you consider some of the challenges that these present from a parents' perspective. Parenting is explored in culturally divergent settings, to parenting children with additional needs to looking at ways in which the wider community may be able to provide parenting support. Family units can be subjected to a range of internal and external pressures, which can affect parents’ ability to manage or create negative or destructive patterns of behaviour. In this module interventions and approaches to support parents and maintain the family unit are explored. Therapeutic parenting as a way of addressing behavioural issues stemming from trauma or neurodiversity (e.g. ADHD or sensory issues) is explored along with techniques for de-escalation and reconciliation.
Reflection Assessment and Intervention Strategies in Social Work 2 (20 Credit Points)
This module builds on the introduction to social work practice, in the Reflection, Intervention and Assessment Strategies in Social Work 1 module in Year 1. It focuses on different approaches to intervention in social work, including underpinning theories and their application in practice: the latter leads us into considering interventions in the light of agency policy, professional values and evidence of effectiveness.
Residential Care and Social Pedagogy (20 Credit Points)
Within the children, young people and families sector there has been a significant shift in working practices to ensure there is a holistic approach to delivering services. Drawing from international perspectives, contemporary practices in residential care have started to introduce Social Pedagogy as an approach to corporate parenting. Social pedagogy draws on core theories from education, sociology, psychology and philosophy to interpret how children and young people interact with society and its impact on well-being, learning and growth. It is about meeting the holistic needs of children, young people and their families. This module aims to introduce you to the principles and practice of social pedagogy, the psychological, education, social and philosophical theories behind the approach, and the skills needed to develop effective relationship with children, young people, their families and the multi-agencies supporting them.
Developing Skills for Professional Practice (20 Credit Points)
Building on your work experience, the aim of this module is to provide a more in depth work-based experience, in an area of practice that you would like work in the future. The module will be predominantly experiential in nature to include 150 hours of work placement, where you will collect and build a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your skills development. Reflective practice, professional values, interpersonal and communication skills will feature highly in this module.
Social Inclusion (20 Credit Points)
This module will build on knowledge of social policy relating to marginalised groups of people investigated at level 4; this includes, but is not limited to young offenders, BAME, disabled and people experiencing mental ill-health. The module will develop knowledge and understanding of social inclusion and citizenship. You will explore contemporary social divisions in society, the processes by which these develop into patterns of social exclusion and the policies which have attempted to promote social inclusion. The module also enables the exploration of a range of personal, social and economic barriers which contribute to the ongoing social exclusion of young people. Education exclusion will be investigated, and you will identify and evaluate a range of policies designed to address the needs of particular groups of young people.
Working with SEN and Vulnerable Individuals (20 Credit Points)
This module is designed to help you to develop your knowledge regarding specific SEN, disabilities and vulnerabilities. Concepts of empowerment and constraint in relation to social and medical models of disability and vulnerability are explored and related to practice.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you're taught
Teaching, learning and assessment will be varied, appealing to a diverse range of learners, and make use of technology in the form of electronic portfolios, blogs, and simulation suites.
You will develop essential transferable skills such as effective communication skills; analysing information; problem solving and decision making. You will have the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge through a variety of activities including classroom based, simulated and work-related activities.
You will also undertake valuable work experience in both years of study and plan for your own personal career development.
Careers and employability
Your future career
Upon completion of the FdA Working with Children, Young People and Families, you can study for an additional year to top up to a full degree with the BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families (Top-Up), or apply to join the professionally qualifying BA (Hons) Social Work in Year 2.
Graduates from this course are well-placed to take up a variety of careers within the industry and students can go straight into work after their foundation degree.
This course prepares you for careers in the public, private and third sector such as:
- family support and community development, including outreach and projects to support families in need in social care, education and health organisations
- non-teaching roles in schools, alternative provision and informal education settings including pastoral care, transition and attendance officers
- Youth Work roles (further study is required to gain professional status in this area).
This course also provides an excellent foundation into further study to gain a social work qualification.
Excellent placement opportunities
The course includes a placement alongside your studies. You can develop your skills and experience in a working environment which is highly valued by future employers. We offer placement opportunities in areas such as family and youth support agencies (youth work, education, social care), charities and local youth groups in the Mansfield area. You can also use your own work opportunity if suitable.
Why undertake a placement?
- You will gain vital experience in a vocational position.
- It will boost your CV and build useful contacts for your future career.
- There are some exciting and challenging opportunities available.
Employability Team
At NTU in Mansfield, our award-winning Employability team is here to inspire and enhance your career planning, whichever path you choose. Whether you wish to go on to further study or to look for job opportunities, we can guide you to be a successful candidate.
Campus and facilities
As an NTU Mansfield student, you’ll benefit from the latest facilities and modern technology to support your studies and help you get the most out of student life.
We are continually investing in our facilities and enhancing our learning and teaching environment to make it an inspiring place for students.
Facilities and services include:
- University Centre
- Teaching and Learning Centre
- Library
- Dedicated study zones, including PC suites
- On-site café
- Social spaces
- Sports facilities
- Student Support Services
- Nottingham Trent Students Union (NTSU) drop-in events.
Entry requirements
UK students
Standard offer: 64 UCAS Tariff points from up to three qualifications
Other requirements: GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
Additional requirements for UK students
You may also need to complete:
- an enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service check; and
- a Prohibition Order check; and
- a satisfactory placement suitability check.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to three different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
This course is not suitable for tier 4 visa applicants.
We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.
Additional requirements for international students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
