Level 3 Certificate in Working with Gangs and Youth Violence
Qualification Number: 601/8714/1
Becoming a qualified gang and youth violence specialist
ACT is now offering you the opportunity to become a qualified gangs and youth violence specialist via Aims Level 3 Certificate or Award in Working with Gangs and Youth Violence.
ACT has partnered up with some of the country’s leading specialists in education, criminal justice and health to deliver a unique programme around urban street gangs, youth violence, exploitation and radicalisation.
There has been a growing awareness of the significance of gangs and youth violence to young people in the UK. Gangs, youth violence and child criminal exploitation are prevalent enough in most cities and towns for it to be commonplace for public sector professionals and community-based volunteers to work with gangs and in gang impacted environments.
This is the only accredited course of its kind within the UK, Developed by Dr Sangeeta Soni (UCB), Gangs and Youth Violence Expert Craig Pinkney (SOLVE) & Teswal White (ACT).
This course is designed for those who wish to better understand the social and psychological aspects of youth violence & gang culture and to offer practical approaches which will result in improved interaction and engagement in this complex environment.
Who is the course suitable for?
and what options are available for study?
We are now offering two qualifications:
The Level 3 Award in Working with Gangs and Youth Violence (10+ credits / 4 Modules)
&
The Level 3 Certificate in Working with Gangs and Youth Violence (28 credits / 8 Modules)
You can now also choose the way you want to study the working with gangs and youth violence programme using a distance learning route or blended learning route, each way is designed to suit different learning styles and fit essential learning around you and your work. essentially making it easier for you to choose how you want to learn and achieve your qualifications with us.
Distance Learning
The distance learning route offers you the flexibility to study our Level 3 Award in Working with gangs and youth violence, giving you the opportunity to study the course on your own terms. You will be given access to our virtual learning portal, where you will gain access to our pre-recorded content, exercises and quizzes. You can achieve your qualification within 12 weeks (based on one day of study per week) or take up to 9 months to complete the course to fit around your busy work schedule. You will get access to your own personal tutor who will help guide you through the course and give you the support you need to keep you accountable and assist you throughout your learning journey.
The distance learning route is suitable for people who are already experienced professionals, who hold a level 3 or higher education qualification and/or have some theoretical understanding but want to specialise to improve their understanding and effectiveness in their professional role.
This course is suitable for practitioners that work within Education, Criminal Justice, Housing
Health & Social Care Services, or within the Community, Sports or Arts Sector.
Blended Learning.
Our blended learning route also gives you the flexibility to study either the Award or Certificate, combining live lectures, weekly online classes, and study groups, to create a supportive learning environment enriched with lively discussions and shared practice delivered 3-4hrs weekly over 15 sessions for the Award or 30 sessions for the certificate. Our blended learning course now gives you the option to complete the Award in 15 weeks or choose to continue your study for a further 15 weeks and gain the complete Certificate (see details below for our next start dates).
We also offer you the flexibility to study the full certificate in two stages enabling you to study the award first and then come back at a later date to study the certificate (see the details of each of the modules covered below).
The Certificate qualification doesn’t have any entry requirements, apart from being aged over 16, but you must show an interest in working with young people impacted by gangs, serious youth violence or child criminal exploitation and have the ability to study at level 3.
What You Will Learn
Units & Modules
- The root causes of gangs and youth violence
- Understanding the impact of trauma & mental health in youth violence
- The skills required to work with young people in gangs and gang impacted environments
- Working safely with young people at risk
- The social and psychological aspects of youth violence
- How the government, statutory and third sectors responds to youth violence
- How to effectively support young people to exit from gangs and criminal activity
In order to achieve the OCN level 3 Certificate or Award in Working with Gangs and Youth Violence. Learners must achieve 28 Credits for the certificate or 10 Credits for the award at level 3 or above.
The units covered within these qualifications are below (you can click on each unit to view the learning objectives)The Award Qualification will be made up of 4 main units more details will be available soon.
Blended Learning Level 3 Award Units
Unit 1
To understand how youth marginalisation may impact on communities
2 credits
Unit 2
To understand the impact of mental ill health & trauma on working with young people in gangs.
4 credits
Unit 3
To understand the social factors that affect behaviour and groups.
5 credits
Unit 4
To learn interpersonal skills required to work in complex youth environments.
3 credits
Blended Learning Level 3 Certificate Units
Unit 5
To understand how to keep oneself safe when working with young people in violent situations.
3 credits
Unit 6
To understand the social psychological theory and its applications to working in violent youth environments.
5 credits
Unit 7
To learn about national and local policies around working with youth violence and youth groups.
4 credits
Unit 8
Learners will learn about exit strategies and the implications when supporting young people to exit gangs.
2 credits
Blended Learning Approach
Our Blended Learning Course combines the best of human interaction and technology to deliver a unique learning experience. This means you will have access to study resources at your fingertips using technology giving you the flexibility to study the course, where you want, along with our weekly scheduled live online classes, which will still give you the learning in a classroom feel, studying with other people in small groups. Facilitated by our tutors and industry experts to help you gain a recognised level 3 Qualification. Blended learning combines the best of both worlds to give you a bespoke and tailored experience that is right for you.
Commitment expectations are online once per week, 3-hour live class sessions with an online tutor, alongside commitment outside the classroom to complete assignments, read, and review content provided via online portal etc.
As this is a blended learning programme some sessions may give you the option to attend face-to-face sessions.
Distance Learning Approach
Our distance learning award enables participants to manage the demands of work and family while studying when and where you want.
You can study in your own time as there are no face to face or live online classes for you to attend; all your classes are pre-recorded so you can watch them whenever you want.
Unlike scheduled classes, which can confine you, you can fit your learning around your busy schedule, without having to miss a single class.
Our virtual portal will provide you with everything you need:
Our Distance Learning Award course can be completed within 12 weeks. You will be granted 9 months access to the portal initially from your first log in, but you can be granted additional time if needed. When booking the course you will be assigned a tutor who will help you to think about your schedule, level of commitment and the length of time you would like to complete the course within, so they can help keep you on track.
Assessment
You will build up a portfolio of evidence. This will be in the form of written statements or ‘Reflective Accounts’, along with supporting work products you have produced. You will be continuously assessed whilst on the programme through:
- Assignments
- Workbooks
- Quizzes
- Presentations
- Scenario based reports
- Self-reflective work
Blended Learning Certificate
The next course date is starting in
January 2023
Format: Blended Learning (Weekly Live Classes) via our Online Portal
Certificate Qualification:
This course now offers you the flexibility to study the full certificate in two stages giving you the flexibility to study the award first and then come back at a later date to study the certificate, you choose! It also means that you can study the full course with no gaps or breaks in the curriculum, whichever way is suited to your circumstances.
Payment Plan also available – Subject to terms and conditions
Express an Interest here by hitting the Apply Now button and someone from the team will contact you
For more information please contact us on 0121 356 1944 or email training@actcic.org.uk
Distance Learning Award
The next course date is starting in
Next course is available Now!
Format: Distance Learning via our Online Portal
Payment Plans: Available
See how you can purchase your course
For more information please contact the ACT office on 0121 356 1944 or email training@actcic.org.uk
Organisations that have attended the course previously includes:
- West Midlands Fire Service
- West Midland Police
- Nottingham Social Services
- Youth Offending Service
- Birmingham City Council
- Kirklees Council
- Victims Support
- Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Children’s Society
- Violence Reduction Units
- Youth Workers
- Probation
- Social workers
- PCSO’s
- Mental health workers
- Heads & Deputy Teachers
- Teachers
- Pastoral managers
- Sporting industries
- Victim support workers
- Religious leaders
- Victims families
- Prison officers
- Prison based Educational workers
- Ex-offenders
- People with Lived experience
What our attendees are saying
I have waited over 4 years to enrol on this course, once the opportunity arrived I was committed to travel from Leeds to Birmingham one day per week. Only missing one lecture, commitment to this course is paramount.
The course is captivating and the delivery of the lectures by one of the UK’s leading gangs and youth violence specialist (Craig Pinkney) was a no brainier along with Teswal White, Dr Sangeeta Soni and Dr Martin Glynn
The course has endorsed my learning and journey from theory to practice and the underlying issues that are not regularly highlighted about gangs and youth violence.
It has enabled me to develop a non judgemental understanding of the epidemic youth violence, but apply approach and methods working with our youth of today.
Working in a young offenders YOI, I have been able to design youth work programme and activities that are more tailored to the needs and wants of the young people that has seen improved engagement and participation by our young men
Raphael Primus From Leeds
Specialist Youth Work Supervisor & Informal Educator
After I attended a gangs & youth violence conference at UCB in October 2017 I decided I wanted to attend the course, especially after I knew Craig Pinkney would be delivering on it as he is a highly respected & regarded gang specialist in the UK. The course did not disappoint. It was very deep & delved into the psychology of gangs & the effects of youth marginalisation, mental health, father deficit, trauma & adverse childhood experiences on young people who are often marginalised. My knowledge, skills & passion in this field of work has developed & increased immensely from attending this course & I now plan on being a social worker specialising in gangs & youth violence.
Maria Rooney from Nottingham
Social Worker
Case Studies
In this case study, Ray Walters describes a situation he has found himself in as a youth worker, and reflects on what was happening in that situation in the light of what he has learned about emotional intelligence on the course.
In this case study, James and Chris respond to an assignment scenario, deploying former knowledge about safe working, along with what they have learned from trainers and fellow students.
This case study illustrates how Eve Phillips, a domestic abuse education advisor with Sandwell Women’s Aid, made the link between social theories covered on the course and her understanding of gang behaviour.
In this case study, Anne Rossof the West Midlands Police describes a series of raps posted by a local gang in Sandwell.
Watch Jason Sylvester previous participant journey through education which began with this course.
What is RQF?
You will build up a portfolio of evidence. This will be in the form of written statements or ‘Reflective Accounts’ along with supporting work products you have produced. You will be continuously assessed whilst on the programme through:
- Assignments
- Presentations
- Scenario based reports
- Self-reflective work
Progress
As a level 3 Qualification, we have had many of our students progress onto higher education to study youth, community and families and other social work courses.
A number of past students have been able to secure jobs working with young people involved in violence and become recognised as the youth violence and gangs specialist within their organisation.
How to apply
Blended Learning Certificate
The next course date is starting in
January 2023
Format: Blended Learning (Weekly Live Classes) via our Online Portal
Certificate Qualification:
Distance Learning Award
The next course date is starting in
Next course is available Now!
Format: Distance Learning via our Online Portal
Payment Plans: Yes
See how you can Purchase your course
For more information please contact the ACT office on 0121 356 1944 or email training@actcic.org.uk