Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 240 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
This practice-based diploma course is the qualification for you if you’re living and working in Scotland and have recent experience of working with young people in an informal education setting. Your experience could include detached youth work or Community Learning and Development (CLD) work with young people in clubs, youth organisations like the Guides or Scouts, or other groups working with young people aged 13–19 years old. You may also be studying for general interest or to find out if youth work is the career for you. The DipHE in Working with Young People provides you with the knowledge of ethics, values and purposes as well as the understanding required to work effectively with teenagers in these settings. In developing the skills expected of professional workers in this field, it also prepares you to engage with further study, enquiry and reflection on your practice.
By successfully completing the first two modules of the diploma – Introduction to working with young people (E131) or the supported APEL version of this module (EZL131) (both now discontinued) and Introduction to working with young people in practice (E118) – you can gain a Certificate in Working with Young People (C54). This certificate is recognised as a pre-professional qualification in Scotland by the CLD Standards Council.
You can ‘top up’ your diploma to a full honours degree by studying a further 120 credits at Level 3. You can choose from either the BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies (B23) if suitable Level 3 modules are chosen, or the BA (Hons) Youth Work (B55) which has been specifically developed to follow on from the Diploma of Higher Education in Working with Young People. To obtain the additional 120 credits required at Level 3, you need to study the two 60-credit Level 3 modules Issues in research with children and young people (EK313) and Youth: policy in practice (E318).
The BA (Hons) Youth Work (B55) is validated as a professional youth work qualification by the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for England, the ETS Advisory Committee for Wales, the Standards Council for CLD for Scotland and the North/South Education and Training Standards Committee for Youth Work in Ireland. It is therefore now recognised as a professional qualification in Scotland.
This Diploma of Higher Education is for those living and working in Scotland. For students living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland we offer the Foundation Degree in Working with Young People (G03).
Planning your studies
Please note that there are strict time limits for completing this qualification.
In order to complete this qualification you should have completed Introduction to working with young people (E131) or the fast track Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) version of this module – (EZL131) (both now discontinued)
If you would like further information or advice please contact the Working with Young People Team on (01908) 654218, or email.
Entry requirements – The diploma includes a specialist vocational component which is underpinned by broad-based academic learning.
During the two work-based learning modules – Introduction to working with young people in practice (E118) and (Leading work with young people in practice (E218) – you will need to have suitable face-to-face employment with young people (paid or unpaid) in an appropriate setting for a minimum of five hours a week. Confirmation of this will need to be provided as part of the registration procedures for the module. You will also need support and permission to study from your employer in the form of a number of key work-based learning support roles. Help in securing these roles may be available should you experience difficulties in finding suitable individuals within your own organisation.
In addition, you need to undertake work in the second module in a contrasting setting to the one in which you worked in the first. Further help is available to assist you with this and you should contact the Working with Young People Qualification team for further advice and guidance on either 01908 654218 or email.
To study this diploma you must also:
- undergo the relevant criminal record checks via application to Disclosure Scotland and it is your responsibility and that of your employer to ensure that you do this, rather than the OU
- be living in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland or have a British Forces Post Office (BFPO) address outside the UK.
General rules
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 80 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you. Before being awarded any intermediate qualifications, we advise you to check that you’ll have sufficient new credits to qualify for your diploma of higher education.
There is a time limit for obtaining the required credits for this diploma. It will take you a minimum of two years and a maximum of eight years to complete, and you must obtain the total credits by 31 December 2017.
Career relevance and employability
The DipHE in Working with Young People will prepare you to work with young people in a wide range of roles and settings, including in youth and community education services, voluntary and community organisations, schools and colleges, and youth participation projects. It is mapped to the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work, and involves work-based study and practice, including in an alternative setting at Level 2. Students wanting to achieve a professional qualification recognised by the Standards Council for Community Learning and Development for Scotland will need to go on to complete the honours degree in youth work. By studying a further 120 credits at Level 3 you can ‘top up’ your diploma to the BA (Hons) Youth Work which has been specifically developed to follow on from this diploma. The honours degree is recognised as a professional qualification in Scotland.
This diploma course will develop your skills across the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work, including:
- assessing young people’s needs
- working with young people in groups
- designing learning activities
- planning and evaluating projects
- working in teams
- working in community-based organisations.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
For this diploma you require
240 credits from the following compulsory modules:
| Level 1 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
| The discontinued modules E131 or supported APEL version EZL131 |
30 |
|
| The discontinued modules E132 or supported APEL version EZL132 |
30 |
|
- Introduction to working with young people in practice (E118)
|
60 |
|
| Level 2 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Leading work with young people in practice (E218)
|
60 |
|
- Childhood (E212)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, at Level 2 the discontinued module U212
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of modules so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Working with Young People.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification