- 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 will combine online and face-to-face engagement.
Workshops will be synchronous. Whether online or face-to-face will be determined by an ongoing assessment of the teaching/learning context in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Individual supervision with academic supervisors will be with online or face-to-face again, depending on the teaching/learning context.
Weekly Interchange drop-ins with Claudette Graham will be held online.

The workshops will be supported by resources on Canvas and a short recording of key information covered in the workshop.