- To engage you in an extended placement and self-directed learning in partnership with VCO, in which you will complete an agreed project with the external organisation;
- To allow you on the basis of this placement experience to describe and analyse connections between theory, research, social policy and practice;
- To foster experiential learning by requiring you to reflect on your placement experience and learning;  
- To assist you to further develop your understanding of the workplace and bridge the gap between their academic studies and future employment.

(LO1) Negotiating a learning agreement;

(LO2) Developing a structured approach to research ethics and risk assessment;

(LO3) Producing a Client Report for the host VCO;

(LO4) Understanding the project within other academic work and literature

(LO5) Understanding the nature of VCOs within the local and national policy context

(LO6) Reflecting on the practical problems which arose during the course of the project, and outlining the solutions adopted for them. You will be able to demonstrate how decisions were revised in the light of these experiences, alongside alternative strategies, and show an understanding of your own role in the project and how it affected others

(LO7) Understanding methodology by demonstrating awareness of current debates in sociological methodology and where appropriate being able to apply this to the project

(S1) Working in groups and teams - Negotiation skills

(S2) Research skills - All Information skills

(S3) Research skills - Ethical awareness

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S5) Personal attributes and qualities - Resilience

(S6) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

The syllabus for this module contains three key elements: (i) methods and practice (ii) policy and sociological literature relevant to conducting research and organisational support work within the voluntary sector; and (iii) reflexive learning. These elements are brought together in the workshops and placements where students are encouraged to take a participatory/collaborative approach; an action research orientation whereby they engage in a way that involves action and reflection in a cyclical process. This of necessity involves students beginning to understanding how practice, policy and theory coalesce in the workplace.

Methods and practice:

· Adopting an action research orientation

· A review of methods and skills appropriate to producing a project for the organisation.

Relevant Policy and sociological literature

· The history and current state of the local community and non-profit organisations i n Liverpool.

· The nature of the non-profit organisations within the local and national policy context.

Reflexive learning

· Introduction to reflexivity and reflective learning

· Introduction to concepts of critical and radical pedagogy

· Thinking and working ethically

Teaching Method 1 - Tutorial
Description: You will be offered regular times for 1: 1 supervision to discuss specific issues relating to you project and essay.
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided

Teaching Method 2 - Work Placement
Description: You will be able to choose to collaborate with a VCO that has identified a problem/issue or activity. The aim is to generate new knowledge in situ. The project can take the form of a piece of applied social research or work project.
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided

Teaching Method 3 - Workshop
Description: Initially the workshops will assist you in negotiating with the VCO on the project. Workshops will then move on to exploring appropriate research methods or work activities alongside the policy and literature context related to the projects.
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided

Teaching Method 4 - Other
Description: You will be submitting an ethics application to either the School or Unive rsity Ethics Committee.
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided