Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE YTH5007

 
TITLE Advanced Youth Work Practice

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Youth and Community Studies

 
DESCRIPTION To deliver the best possible youth work service it needs to be well managed. Building on the theoretical knowledge assimilated in the previous study-units, this ‘hands on’ module attempts to address salient issues relating to proactive planning and management approaches in the youth and community work sector. This study unit will focus on diverse aspects related to the management of interpersonal and organizational issues, including project management, conflict resolution and leadership styles conducive to the dynamic nature of contemporary youth and/or community work organizations. Course participants will also be expected to evaluate the on-going fieldwork they undertake as part of this unit with the purpose of gaining familiarization and critically appraising their youth work approach.

Study-unit Aims

Drawing from management and organizational theory, this unit is aimed at enabling course participants to build their understanding on the fundamental precepts and approaches to effective, efficient and professional youth work management practices and leading edge youth work services. Aimed at encouraging course participants to develop into reflective and reflexive youth workers/managers, students shall be encouraged and provided the opportunity to reflect critically on their own leadership and management styles and professional practice and how these may be improved and developed for the betterment of service users. Emphasis will thus be made on the requisite characteristics and skills required for sound professional judgements and leadership in youth work settings including, inter alia, financial management, budgeting, manpower planning and capacity building, supervision, appraisal and workforce development, conflict mediation and resolution, and effective project design and management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

(a) understand the opportunities for developing and managing community and youth work projects or services ;
(b) understand appropriate change intervention strategies according to the context, problem and change objectives; and,
(c) understand quality assurance methods and acquire an ability to use monitoring and evaluation techniques with a view to improving performance and quality of service delivery.

2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

(a) engage in joint planning and youth work management;
(b) engage holistically with the dynamics of youth work practice; and,
(c) identify alternative solutions and strategies to problems arising in youth work practice.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings

Main Texts:

- Tyler M. et al (2009). Managing Modern Youth Work. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. [unavailable].
- Donnelly, J.H.,Gibson, J.L and Ivancevich, J.M. (1998). Fundamentals of Management. Homewood, IL: Irwin/McGraw-Hill. [available].
- Mizen, P. (2004). The Changing State of Youth. London: Palgrave Macmillan. [available].


Supplementary Readings:

- Bradford, S. and Day, M. (1991). Youth Service Management. Leicester: Youth Work Press. [unavailable].
- Gibson, J.L, Ivancevich, J. M. and J.H. Donnelly. (1982). Organizations : Behavior, Structure, Processes. Homewood, IL: Irwin. [available].
- Mullins, L. J. (1999), Management and Organisational Behaviour 5th Ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall. [available].
- Mullins, L.J. (2008). Essentials of Organisational Behaviour. Harlow: Prentice Hall. [available].
- Nicholls, D. (1997). Health and Safety in Youth and Community Work. Lyme Regis: Russell House. [unavailable].
- Nicholls, D. (2002). Employment Practice and Policies in Youth Community and Play Work 2nd Ed. Lyme Regis: Russell House. [unavailable].
- Schein, E. H. (1997). Organisational Culture and Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.[unavailable]
- Storey L. (2004). Leadership in Organisations. London: Routledge. [unavailable].

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Fieldwork

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Portfolio SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Stephania Fenech

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit