PP0542 - Professional Practice and Career Development

You will attend a series of lectures and seminars to explore key concepts relating to professional practice (such as models of reflective practice, ethics / codes of conduct, professional boundaries, safeguarding) and to support career development learning (career choice and decision making, employability and entrepreneurship).
You will develop research and employability skills by being introduced to a range of careers resources (available through the Careers and Employment Service), job search and networking strategies (through a range of methods from face to face to LinkedIn). These are supported by the e-learning portal.
Much of the learning on this module will be experiential and you will spend 50 hours in employability activities, practice or through meeting professionals (including alumni). Seminars, peer led workshops and tutorials (in which you will receive regular formative feedback) will help you to prepare for the employability activities, support reflection and consolidate learning.

Module tutors will support you to identify employability opportunities and provide verbal formative feedback on your developing employability skills/graduate attributes. Resources will be available via the e-learning portal and additional workshops will be held to help you to explore a range of potential graduate employment pathways, self-employment and further study options.
This module builds on the first year ‘Approaches to Learning’ module in developing and reflecting upon your evolving graduate skills and attributes, and, with the support of your module tutors, you will and recording key experiences and reflections which will support the final assessment.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of how the day to day realities of professional practice link to key concepts in Childhood and Early Years studies.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of the employment and study routes in to your chosen area(s) of career interest.

Intellectual / Professional skills & Abilities:
3. Develop and articulate employability skills and graduate attributes (networking, presentation, problem solving, communication, self-efficacy, adaptability) through hands on experience in the workplace and direct contact with professionals.

4. Develop inquiry and research skills through engagement with a variety of information sources.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Reflect upon ethical issues in practice in relation to children and young people and upon your own values, attributes and interests in relation to your future career.

Formative assessment:
Completed CV or personal statement and opportunity to take part in a mock interview. MLO 3.
Diary of key experiences and reflection on your contribution to the work setting and /or developing employability skills. MLO 1, 3
Verbal and written peer and tutor feedback will be provided.
Summative assessment:
Portfolio
All MLO’s will be addressed
• Routes into chosen occupation(s). eg. how and when to apply, what employers are looking for, how competitive is it?
• Reflective Summary of key learning experiences from the employability activities and how issues of professional practice relate to key concepts within Childhood and Early Years Studies.
• How the module has informed your career plans (including areas for development and key actions).
Written feedback will be given.

None

None

This ‘hands on’ module allows to you gain experience with real work settings, gaining valuable insight into the roles of professionals and the day to day realities of working within the children’s workforce. In addition you’ll have the opportunity to explore a range of career areas to help you to decide on your future career. Much of the learning on this module will be in employability activities such as in the workplace or in conversations with professionals giving you the opportunity to develop essential networks and employability skills. You will also be supported to undertake a series of practical yet challenging activities to prepare you for life as a Childhood and Early Years graduate such as making job applications and preparing for job interviews. A particular advantage of this module is that you are able to tailor the employability activities to suit your own career interests and aspirations.