5YMF continues to develop the key foundational themes explored at Level 4, broadening students’ understanding, application and reflection on issues as they grow in their own practice.
The module aims to develop confidence in dealing effectively with the wide range of people that youth ministers will be relating to, including the recruitment and management of volunteers. The module seeks to recognise the growing responsibilities and issues relating to young people that students will face and provide reflective space and practical resources to grow in confidence and skills in their role.
Alongside their professional and personal development, this module will ensure that students have considered the impact of wider issues on the lives on young people, particularly in considering sociological perspectives, theories of adolescent development and understandings of mental health.
Learning Outcomes:
Students successfully completing this module will be able to:
1. Articulate and reflect the impact of sociological, psychological and other disciplines on current youth ministry understanding, practice, and legislation and how that might impact their work with young people (A2, B2, B3)
2. Understand and apply essential legal, ethical and good practice requirements related to working with others, in general and Christian youth ministry in particular. (C6, B3)
3. Engage and reflect on their developing experience and understanding of issues related to safeguarding and mental health issues with young people. (C2, C4, D1)
4. Reflect theologically on the impact of their learning and their core values in their engagement and support to young people and wider teams. (A2, A3, A4, B1, B4, C1, D1)
This module will call for the successful student to demonstrate:
1. ability to work individually (B1, D3, C5);
2. written presentation skills (B1, D3, C5);
3. individual initiative and research skills (B1, B4, D2)
Syllabus:
The module offers a focus on more advanced themes in safeguarding, considering key issues in managing and leading teams, understanding challenging behaviour and aiding conflict resolution. The module goes on to consider pastoral care as a foundation of safeguarding with a particular focus on mental health, anxiety and self-harm as well as considering wider thinking around identity and sexuality for young people. The second half of the module takes a sociological turn, with a consideration of the impact of society on young people’s understanding of self, adolescent development and their growing identity into adulthood. Adolescent development, brain development and faith development theories and parallels conclude the module.
Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy:
· 20 hours class contact;
· 40 hours directed private study
· 40 hours reading and other preparation
Teaching/learning approaches combine participative reflection in class, assessment arrangements, and direct input to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes identified for this module. Interactive and participative class-work is facilitated by staff members including group work tasks, offering appropriate input which may include the use of multimedia presentations.
Specified preparatory reading (maximum 4 hours per week) will introduce students to the topics covered in the syllabus. Interactive seminars will facilitate student interaction with and reflection upon this material, and will invite student questions and debate.
Assessment Scheme:
· Individual Essay (3000 words)
The individual essay will consider issues of personhood, identity and wider societal and cultural developments as they relate to and impact young people. Questions will offer a specific focus on issues around adolescent brain development and mental health. All essays should conclude with some reflections on how the student might respond in their youth ministry practice to the issues raised.
Assessment Weighting: