New Forest Academy BTEC Level 3 National in Public Services

New Forest Academy BTEC Level 3 National in Public Services

Unit 3: Citizenship, Diversity and the Public Services

Faculty of Business & Vocational Studies

BTEC Level 3 National in Public Services

Assignment Briefing Document

Unit 3: Citizenship, Diversity and the Public Services

(15 Credits)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LEARNERS

1.  Your teacher(s) will tell you how long you have to complete the assignment and the access you may have to resources.

2.  Read the Assignment carefully and make sure that you understand the work you should hand in and what is required of you. If you are uncertain, discuss it with your teacher(s).

3.  The ASSIGNMENT requires you to work by yourself and to produce original work. You should not share your work with any other learners. For example, if you produce an illustration diagram electronically, you should not give it to another learner. Similarly, you should not accept and use such information from others. You are required to sign that the work submitted is your own.

4.  If you work in a group at any stage, you must present your own responses to each task for assessment.

5.  Information taken from sources for research, e.g. Internet and textbooks, must be identified and not presented as your own work. You should list the sources used.

6.  Some tasks may require Observation Records/Witness Statements. Your teacher(s) will organise for these to be completed and you must attach these to your submitted work.

7.  In presenting your final work, you should not include draft work or reference materials such as handouts, notes and leaflets, unless the tasks specifically ask you to do so.

8.  Presentation of your work:

·  Check that you have completed all tasks.

·  Label work with the appropriate task/sub task number.

·  Present tasks in the correct order.

·  Label each page with your name and page number.

·  Submit all electronic materials in paper format

·  Clearly label video or audiotapes submitted as part of your assignment.

·  All papers should be securely bound.

·  The completed ASSIGNMENT should NOT be presented in plastic envelopes, a box file or a lever arch file.

BTEC Level 3 National in Public Services

Unit 3: Citizenship, Diversity and the Public Services

The concepts of citizenship and diversity are very important in modern society and are particularly relevant for employees within the public services. This unit will develop learners’ understanding of the meanings behind these concepts and provide an opportunity to investigate the benefits that public services gain from good citizens both as employees and members of society. The underlying theme of respecting equality will be enforced throughout.

Learners will explore the legal and humanitarian rights that citizens are given by legislation within the UK and from other sources. The protection provided by the legislation against the many aspects of discrimination such as age, race, gender and disability will also be considered. Relevant theory and strategies to combat discrimination within the public services sector and society will be related to the work that different services do. This will involve the enforcement of equal opportunities within society as well as within the services themselves. This enforcement relies on the good citizenship of members of society as well as public service employees.

This unit will investigate current affairs that involve citizenship and diversity within UK society. Learners will be encouraged to research case studies and examples that have been reported by the media. The manner of reporting the example and the effect that this type of reporting may have is important when considering the impact of the media on issues such as citizenship and diversity.

The case studies will illustrate the problems that exist within current society and will lead into investigation of the work of different types of public services, such as the statutory agencies and voluntary groups, to support citizens when dealing with these problems.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit a learner should:

1 Understand the meaning and benefits of citizenship and diversity

2 Know the legal and humanitarian rights that protect citizens and promote diversity

3 Understand the role of public services in enforcing diversity and providing equality of service

4 Be able to investigate current affairs, media and support.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT TASKS

Assignment 1: Meaning and Benefits of Citizenship and Diversity

Scenario

As part of your training you have been chosen to help raise awareness of citizenship and diversity issues. The first part of this initiative will be to make people aware of the definition of citizenship and diversity and the importance of good citizens.

Task 1 P1, P2, P3, M1, D1

You have been asked to produce an electronic display on raising awareness of citizenship and diversity issues. You will need to choose an application that best fits the information you need to get across. Your electronic display must include the following;

·  a definition of citizen and citizenship as used in general terms

·  public service view of citizenship

·  legal view of citizenship

·  qualities of good citizens

·  attitudes to other people

·  participation in community activities

·  awareness of needs of others

·  definition of diversity as used in general terms and by public services and local communities

·  composition of the local and national community within the borough/local authority area (ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability)

·  meaning of different words used racism, racist, institutionalised racism, multiculturalism, ethnocentricity, sexism, heterosexist, homophobia, equal opportunity, equality, prejudice, harassment, victimisation, disability, direct and indirect discrimination

·  explain the concepts of integration, tolerance and multiculturalism; the rights and responsibilities of individuals in society as citizens

·  explain what equal opportunities and positive action to find solutions for greater social inclusion and representation without changing standards in favour of race or gender or disability; corporate social responsibility

·  describe the benefits of a ‘good citizen’

On completion of your display you will need to write a short evaluation to state your role in the process.

Presentation Guidelines

Your display must be visual, imaginative and interactive with facts, pictures and questions. You will need to decide on rolls at an early stage and write your role in the process in your evaluation.

This task will provide evidence for P1, P2, P3, M1, D1

Grading Criteria

Deadline:

Assignment 2: Legal and Humanitarian Rights (P4, M2)

Scenario

Before the initiative continues further your supervisor wants to be sure that you know about the rights that protect citizens in UK society.

Task 1 P4, M2

You have been called to an interview on the rights that protect citizens in UK society. You will need to carry out some background research and make notes, which you are able to take to your interview.

You will be questioned on the following:

Human rights:

·  United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

·  Geneva Convention

·  European Convention on Human Rights

·  Human Rights Act 1998

·  individual and group beliefs/values

·  the social structure

·  asylum seekers and foreign nationals

Legal rights:

·  relevant immigration acts

·  The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (including any subsequent amendments of legislation

·  documentary records such as passports, birth certificates, national insurance numbers, visas and work permits

·  data protection

·  current UK and EU Equal Opportunities legislation – Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Equal Pay Act 1970, Human Rights Act 1998, Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 , Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Employment Equality Regulations 2003 & 2006 and any amendments and new legislation/ directives/measures to eliminate discrimination

Presentation Guidelines

You will be expected to provide accurate answers on the questions asked in a small group interview. You are allowed to bring notes with you and you will submit these as part of your evidence. You can make reference to your notes during the interview but must not be reliant on them and read word for word.

These tasks will provide evidence for P4, M2

Grading Criteria

N/A

Deadline:

Assignment 3: Diversity and Equality of Services

Scenario

The next stage of the initiative requires you to help raise awareness of the ways that public services try to implement equality and diversity within the services and in society.

Task 1 (P5, P6, M3, D2)

You are required to write a report that looks specifically at the recruitment policies that are used to combat under representation of specific groups within public services. You should consider how equality and diversity are promoted within the services in order to help retain recruits from diverse backgrounds.

You need to explain the methods used by public services to ensure that all members of society can access their services as well as receive protection from discrimination within society.

You should analysis how well the methods chosen by public services to promote equality and diversity work both in society and within the services, why these methods work so well (or not) with further comment in terms of the advantages and disadvantages, recommendations for change and your own opinions will be evaluative comment.

Presentation Guidelines

Your report should be presented in a word document and cover all the points outlined in Task 1. You need to make sure you have incorporated your own views on this topic.

These tasks will provide evidence for (P5, P6, M3, D2)

Grading Criteria

Assignment 4 Current Affairs, Media and Support from Public Services

Scenario

The final part of this initiative requires you to demonstrate how media reporting can impact on citizens and public services by using examples of

current affairs.

Task 1 (P7, P8, P9, M4, M5, D3)

You should have a class discussion on a wide range of current affairs before choosing three to focus on for this assessment (P7).

For your chosen three issues, you need to discuss examples of media reports – in particular the ways that different media might report the same issue. In your presentation you should use information gathered and then analyse the effects of media reporting (P8, M4)

You must also consider examples of statutory and non-statutory services and the work that they do to support citizens who might be involved in issues raised by the current affairs that are under discussion (P9). And by extending your answer by justifying why both types of public services are needed to deal with these issues (M5).

To achieve D3, you will need to combine all your findings and consider the positive and negative aspects of the media reporting in terms of the influence that it has on citizens and on the support provided by public services. Recommendations for change or improvement should be considered along with your own views of the situation.

These tasks will provide evidence for

Grading Criteria

Deadline:

Unit resource list

Textbooks

Cullingworth N – BTEC National Public Services Third Edition: Book 1 (Nelson Thornes, 2007) ISBN 0748781900/9780748781904

Daniels K and Macdonald L – Equality, Diversity and Discrimination – A Student Text (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2005) ISBN 1843981122/9781843981121

Desmoyers-Davis T – Citizenship in Modern Britain (Routledge-Cavendish, 2003) ISBN 1859418082/9781859418086

Stockbridge D, Vause J and Gray D – BTEC National Public Services: Student Book, Book 1 (Heinemann Educational, 2007) ISBN 0435499459/9780435499457

Journals

Fire

Police Review

Prison News

Soldier

Magazines

The Economist

The Spectator

The Week

Websites

Army – has diversity and equality directives for the army

www.army.mod.uk

BBC News news.bbc.co.uk

BBC: Being a Citizen www.bbc.co.uk/schools/citizenx

Citizenship Foundation www.citfou.org.uk

Communities and Local Government www.communities.gov.uk

Disability Discrimination Act www.disability.gov.uk

Equality and Human Rights Commission www.equalityhumanrights.com

Home Office www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Independence Educational Publishers: Committed to provoking debate on today’s social issues www.independence.co.uk

Information about public services www.direct.gov.uk

Links to many citizenship sites www.whatsitgonnabe.org.uk

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