Postgraduate Certificate in Integrated Practice in Childhood and Youth

This postgraduate certificate is designed for graduates from any discipline who have either a professional or personal interest in the area of childhood and youth studies. It would suit both those who already work with children and young people and who wish to enhance their knowledge as well as those who wish to enter this field. The postgraduate certificate requires you to study either one of the two 60-credit modules which are compulsory modules in both the Postgraduate Diploma in Integrated Practice in Childhood and Youth (E78) and the MA in Childhood and Youth (F55).

The research project option in Children and young people's worlds: frameworks for integrated practice(E807) is only available if you are a UK resident as you will need to have successfully obtained an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance check (or equivalent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Students in Scotland will also need to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme. Further details can be found at www.pvgschemescotland.org. The criminal record check must be appropriate for the setting in which you intend to carry out your research. The DBS (or equivalent) must bear the same name as given in your post-registration agreement form. You also need permission from your employer to undertake this work. If these conditions cannot be fulfilled, and/or you live overseas, then you must choose the E807 literature review option.

Please note: it is a legal, rather than an Open University requirement, that you must obtain Enhanced DBS clearance in order to work with children on E807. This is the responsibility of you and your employer and not The Open University. If you are in doubt about your eligibility, or to find out more, you should contact the relevant agency in your region for more information.

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 20 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Career relevance and employability

This qualification will be attractive to anyone with a personal or professional interest in exploring different aspects of children and young people’s worlds. It is aimed at those who are graduates and seeking to advance academically and professionally, as well as those with a related degree but not currently working with children and young people. It also enables those with a related degree but not currently working with children and young people to move into the profession and will help those people considering a move between professions within the sector. The content of the qualification will be particularly relevant to graduates working with children or young people, for example in early years provision, education, social work, nursing, healthcare, youth work, youth justice or the voluntary sector.

You should be prepared for study at postgraduate level and have the minimum of a bachelors degree (in any subject) from a UK University (or equivalent)