Rachel Johnson, development officer at The NYA, explains how and why the agency is supporting the development of a Level 4 NVQ in youth work

Currently the only way to become a professionally qualified youth worker is to undertake a higher education course that has been validated by The National Youth Agency. The minimum professional qualification required is a Diploma in Higher Education or a Foundation Degree. Some programmes offer the professional programme through an honours degree or at postgraduate level.

Not every potential student is able to follow a Higher Education programme of study. The geographical spread of professionally validated courses is limited. Full or part-time attendance at a HE institution is not attractive to some because of personal circumstances or preferences. In addition, many employers find it difficult to meet the fee and day-release costs of supporting candidates through a HE programme.

For many youth workers eligible for entry on a professional qualifying programme, a work-based higher level NVQ (Level 4 and above) could be a preferable alternative to the existing routes to professional qualification.

PAULO, the National Training Organisation for community-based learning and development - which covers youth work - and The National Youth Agency are keen to work together with a wide range of colleagues in the field in order to develop an NVQ Level 4 qualification in youth work.

The work will start with an open meeting on Friday 5 March 2004 at The National Youth Agency's offices in Leicester starting at 11am and ending at 3pm. Who is invited to the meeting? Principal youth officers, anyone with responsibility for recruitment, training and development of youth workers in the voluntary or maintained sectors, awarding bodies' advisers or development officers, colleagues from professionally validated youth work programmes in HE, FE training providers, government offices and trades union learning representatives.

Volunteers will be sought on 5 March to form a working group to progress the development of a Level 4 NVQ. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting on Friday 5 March should contact Kerry Harrison (email: kerryh@nya.org.uk) or Acomo Olule (email: acomoo@nya.org.uk) at The National Youth Agency, or alternatively call 0116 285 3730.