Offender Management

Full-time or part-time (for those in relevant employment subject to admissions checks).

The course aims to equip students with the range of skills and competencies required to work effectively in their chosen area of work. A wide range of modules are available to provide progression of learning and confidence. Work-based learning and placements are a key feature of this FdA to enable students to develop and reflect on their professional practice. For those already in employment, the FdA aims to broaden one's skill base and provide an academic foundation to inform practice. For students who are not employed, this FdA will provide opportunities to evidence performance in the work place and increase future prospects.

Modules will be short and intensive with delivery being two per term. Content will be varied and attractive to a range of students and their interests.

Students will take compulsory interdisciplinary modules from the fields of sociology, psychology, criminology and law which have been tailored in their application to meet the demands of the probation service and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). There will be a total of 12 modules for the FdA and 18 for students progressing to the third stage of study; this will be complimented with opportunities for work-based learning in stages one and two to develop professional skills. 

The FdA is designed to ensure that relevant occupational standards for staff working in the criminal justice sector are met to increase employability and career prospects. By progressing to the third stage of study, students will graduate with a degree.

Stage one

Stage one represents a critical opportunity for all students to become familiar with a range of areas to enhance their knowledge and confidence. All students will study the same modules to provide a skills escalator approach to learning and development.

Stage two

This provides opportunity for students to choose specific modules of interest to them which relate to their chosen area of employment or area of personal interest.

Stage three

All students post-FdA have the opportunity to engage in a third year of study to achieve a degree.

• Work-based learning
• Blended and distance learning
• Multi-agency attendance by students from various sectors and interests (for example, probation service, prison service, police, mental health)
• Opportunity to progress to third year of study to achieve an honours degree

• Crime and Society
• Equality and Diversity
• Key Tools for the Workplace- Work-based learning
• Law and Justice
• Managing Mentally Dis-ordered Offenders
• The Management of Offenders
• The Role of Prisons
• Youth Crime and the Media

The Foundation Degree Award (FdA) is a two year award designed to be of interest to those who aspire to employment with the criminal justice service. Achievement of the Foundation Degree award will also be very attractive to potential employers in the criminal justice system, such as youth offending teams, the prison service, police and voluntary sector organisations.

This exciting and innovative award will provide students with the key skills they will need to be competent and confident in the dynamic and interesting arena of criminal justice.

Students who complete the FdA and pass the required modules to a satisfactory standard can choose to progress to the third stage of study and if successful will graduate with a BA (Hons) Applied Criminal Justice Studies.

Key modules

Stage one

Crime and Society

This is designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge and understanding of the how the wider criminal justice service functions, the role of key players in dealing with offenders and the impact of crime on society.

The Psychology of Crime and Criminal Behaviour

This examines the contribution of psychology to issues of crime and criminal behaviour. It provides a general introduction to psychology and the theoretical approaches that can lead to an understanding of the development of crime and criminal behaviour.

Equality and Diversity

Here we will explore the need to be responsive in practice when working with offenders to support them in the change process and manage the risks they present.

Law and the Criminal Justice System

This module will cover aspects of the criminal justice system, criminal procedure and criminal law and will provide insight into the working of the criminal justice system in the UK.

Youth Crime and the Media

The focus will be on exploring how young people are presented by the media and managed by the criminal justice system and youth offending teams in particular. A particular theme will be on restorative justice.

Professional Practice 1

This module seeks to prepare students for the complex challenges they will face in the work place. Opportunities will be provided to test out their newly acquired knowledge in a safe setting through the use of role plays, scenarios, case studies and observational practice.

Stage two

Managing Risk

This is at the heart of the work of the probation service and not only will you look at the key tools used and the theories behind them but there will be a strong focus on examining the working relationship with agencies in managing risk and protecting the public.

Organised Crime 

Here we will examine the nature and impact of criminal behaviour within the fields of drugs and arms trafficking, terrorism and organised crime. You will explore the issues relating to these areas and the difficulties which ensue in relation to investigation and prosecution.

Professional Practice 2

This module builds on stage one and seeks to develop further skills in preparation for the work placement. The scenarios and simulations will be more challenging to develop skills and confidence.  

Work-based learning

This module enables the student to undertake practice with a chosen employer to gain real insight into work within the criminal justice field. The module is supported by a Placement Handbook to record and identify learning needs, outcomes and achievements as well as offering guidance.

Victims of Crime and Restorative Justice

This module will assess the roles and responsibilities of key players in the criminal justice sector in relation to promoting the rights of victims and engaging in critical work with them. Students will examine various approaches of working with victims and the impact of these for the victims themselves.

Dealing with Substance Misuse and Mental Heath Issues

This module introduces students to the issues of working with offenders who have substance misuse and mental health issues; such areas are of significant concern for key agencies.

Students on the FdA may go on to secure posts in the probation service as probation service officers and in the prison service. The University of Northampton has excellent links with many criminal justice and voluntary sector organisations such as Ryehill (G4S).