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.
How can we improve the lives of children and young people who are ‘in trouble’? For professionals and volunteers working within a criminal justice framework where the focus is on stopping young people causing trouble, this is an extremely challenging issue. This foundation degree in youth justice is designed for those employed in all parts of the youth justice system (including the secure estate), volunteers working in the field, and anyone planning to join the youth justice sector in these capacities. The foundation degree course will give you the necessary knowledge and skills for effective practice in youth justice and make a substantial contribution to your professional and personal development. It will also support you in developing as an autonomous learner.
Planning your studies
There is no formal entry requirement to study this foundation degree but for two of the modules you must be working in a professional or voluntary capacity with young people who are within the youth justice system.
Whether or not you’re new to study with the OU we recommend that you start with a module at Level 1 and that you complete your Level 1 study before going on to Level 2.
For this foundation degree that would mean starting with Foundations for effective practice in youth justice (K115), either together with or followed by the now discontinued Working with children and young people in trouble (K116).
On completion of this foundation degree, you can continue your studies to achieve the BA (Hons) Youth Justice Studies (England and Wales) (B63) by studying an additional 120 points from specified Level 3 modules.
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 foundation degree.
Career relevance and employability
The foundation degree is the result of an exclusive and unique collaboration with the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. The Board has statutory responsibility for monitoring standards in the youth justice system, with the aim of preventing offending by children and young people. It also has responsibility for advising the government on youth crime issues.
This foundation degree course will:
- provide you with the skills, values and understanding needed to be an effective practitioner with children and young people who offend or are at risk of offending
- help you progress your professional and personal development
- develop work-based experiences enabling you to explore and evaluate your practice
- build your understanding of how you learn, and how to continue with learning throughout your career.
On completion, opportunities for continued professional development include the chance to extend your study to an honours degree.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
For this foundation degree you require:
240 credits from the following compulsory modules:
Level 1 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Foundations for effective practice in youth justice [K115)
|
60 |
|
and the discontinued module: |
|
|
- Working with children and young people in trouble (K116)
|
60 |
|
Level 2 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Youth justice: theory, research and practice (K209)
|
60 |
|
and the discontinued module: |
|
|
- Effective practice in youth justice (K208)*
|
60 |
|
* Successful completion of K208 leads to the award of our Professional Certificate in Effective Practice (Youth Justice) (C80).
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 Foundation Degree in Youth Justice (England and Wales) and will be entitled to use the letters FD (Open) after your name.
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