The Association of Principal Youth and Community Officers will use its revamped web site to gather evidence on how the role is being affected.
Committee members are concerned that in some local authorities, principal youth officers are being sidelined by heads of integrated services, leading to the role being deleted. In other authorities, the role has broadened.
The association's chair John Appleton said there was evidence of confusion: "Local authorities are appointing people from outside the youth service to lead on the integration of services, which is having an effect on the head of services."
Mark Vernon, principal youth officer for West Berkshire, said: "From my contacts in the Southeast, I'm aware of principal youth officer colleagues who are either having their posts deleted or whose posts are changing.
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