Since 2010, the minimum professional qualification for youth work has been a BA (Hons) degree – there are also postgraduate programmes that confer professionally qualified status on completion.
The work of validating youth work degrees and postgraduate courses is progressed and overseen by the NYA's education training standards committee (ETS) – a sub-committee of the NYA trustee board whose members play an active role, including conducting validation visits.
Based on the recommendations of the ETS committee, courses are endorsed by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Workers (JNC). This means that people who want to pursue a professional career in youth work can ensure the course they select is fit for purpose and is designed to meet the needs of the profession by checking that it is recognised by the JNC.
Around 60 higher education programmes are professionally validated by the NYA, delivered through approximately 40 universities and higher education colleges. Requirements for professional validations are set through wide consultation with the field. In order to meet these requirements, programmes have to develop strong working partnerships with youth work employers.
The NYA publishes the requirements, describing the process through which higher education institutions can seek formal professional validation of their programmes of education and training in youth work. Such programmes, once validated by the ETS committee and endorsed by the JNC, would then confer professionally qualified status for youth workers in England.
The JNC qualification structure, and the approach to monitoring and maintaining standards is a strong example of sector-led activity, still highly regarded in the youth work sector and beyond in the wider young people's workforce.
Further details on professional qualifications can be found at: www.nya.org.uk/workforce-and-training.
Youth work still career of choice for young people
For the second year running, the National Youth Agency's annual monitoring of validated higher education programmes has identified that young people are choosing youth work as an initial career path and seeking professional training to support them in achieving their goal.
Of the 1,152 youth work course entrants in 2009/10, more than 51 per cent were aged between 18 and 24 years old – the same number as in 2008/09 and a 20 per cent increase since 2002.
The data provided during monitoring also identified a further increase in the number of black, Asian and ethnic minority youth work practitioners supporting their career with professional qualifications - although students of white ethnic origin continue to form the majority (57.8 per cent). The gender profile of new students remains in line with previous years, with 63 per cent of students being female.
Amanda Fearn, National Youth Agency development officer, commented: "The youth sector is shifting and changing and it is always interesting to see how this is represented through our monitoring of professional programmes.
"An emerging issue is the impact that sector reductions and restructures are starting to have on professional programmes".
"This shift is likely to be seen more deeply in the 2010/11 monitoring. Programmes are reporting difficulties in securing both placements and JNC-qualified supervisors as organisations change and staff members are lost. There are also reports of placement disruptions due to students losing their jobs.
"However, from discussions in a number of moderation visits, students continue to be very positive about the value of their learning and their chosen profession, and they are committed to being ambassadors for youth work in non-traditional environments."
From the information provided, 762 students have graduated from professional programmes with qualified status as youth workers.
The range of destinations for those students continues to be broad, however the highest percentage continue to work within statutory and voluntary youth services although this has dipped in relation to last year. Interestingly, there is a growth in further study or those whose destinations are not known, potentially reflecting difficulties in securing posts at the point of graduation and choosing to continue in education.
The National Youth Agency's annual monitoring report is part of the process for ensuring good practice within programmes for JNC-recognised professional qualifications. Each institution is monitored annually by the NYA to ensure that its programme remains within the requirements.
As well as quality checking programmes, monitoring builds a picture of the developing workforce and highlights shifts, trends and challenges within recruitment, programme delivery and destinations.
To read the report's findings in full, please visit www.nya.org.uk/workforce-and-training/professional-validation.
The real value of youth work qualifications - an insight from universities, students and practitioners
For students and practitioners, there are clear rewards gained by undertaking a higher education programme validated by the education training standards committee and endorsed by the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC). For universities and higher education colleges, there are also significant advantages. Lecturers in the field report that students are motivated by courses that are seen as the gateway to improving their career. Here, students, lecturers and graduates provide their views on why gaining a professionally validated youth work qualification is important.
Jean Harris-Evans, programme lead at Sheffield Hallam and an advocate for professionally validated courses, says: "Many of our students see the JNC route as a springboard to a better career. It is a way of developing and enhancing their existing youth work careers. The students can see the advantages of improving their academic and professional skills."
Dr Richard Davies, senior lecturer at De Montfort University, adds: "Higher education transforms students and enables them to think more critically and carefully about what they ought to do and how they are doing it.
"It broadens their knowledge base and gives them space to think about what they want to do with their careers. It is an opportunity to embrace a vocation and not just a job.
"The work-based learning is not an option but a professional requirement because it maintains a working relationship with the professional bodies and offers an external review by the field. So it encourages placements to take it seriously. There are two additional benefits: employment-ready skills; and a foundation for thinking and acting ethically in the interests of young people."
Student Shaz Ali, who is studying a Level 3 diploma at Leeds, agrees: "Studying has increased my understanding and skills in youth work practice. My course is also a forum where we can share opinions on current issues. It's important for youth workers to have a clear understanding of the issues when they have to rationalise with young people who often form views without being aware of the fuller picture."
But, not everyone was an immediate fan of the qualifications. As a youth worker, already Jon Jolly was doubtful of the need to become professionally qualified. However, after taking up the opportunity to study and gain his degree from the YMCA, he concludes: "It really helped me to understand the work I was doing and critically reflect on my actions. It enabled me to plan and organise my work in ways I was not able to previously. I would always encourage youth workers to gain professional training whenever possible."
Opportunities to be involved in education training standards activity
The National Youth Agency is seeking suitably experienced youth work professionals to get involved in its education training standards (ETS) work through two exciting opportunities.
The first is for a representative of the wider youth work field to join the NYA's education standards committee. The successful candidate will have significant knowledge and experience of youth work qualifications and training, and workforce development issues.
The role will require attendance at three meetings each year, joining colleagues from across the sector.
These meetings usually fall in March, June and October.
The second opportunity is for qualified and experienced youth work professionals to join the professional validation panels that provide peer scrutiny and recommendations to ETS on the professional validation of higher education youth and community work programmes.
The role will involve participation in a two-day visit, alongside three colleagues, to a programme seeking validation.
The frequency of involvement is flexible, based on successful applicants' availability.
These opportunities are voluntary posts, with colleagues contributing their knowledge and experience to these important functions to ensure continued good practice within workforce development. Those involved in ETS activity often find that their involvement brings additional perspectives and learning for their own work. All expenses will be covered.
For more information, copies of the person specification and application forms please email Debbie Simms, senior administrator: debbiesi@nya.org.uk.
Closing date for applications is Friday 14 October.
Latest recognised qualifications now live
The National Youth Agency has launched its up-to-date list of JNC-recognised youth work qualifications.
Available for download from the National Youth Agency website, the list details the different routes to professional qualifications, from full-time to part-time courses, including degrees and postgraduate diplomas or masters degrees.
Re-validation takes place over a five-year cycle.
Detailed course information can be accessed directly from the training institutions listed.
For further qualification information visit: www.nya.org.uk/getting-qualified.
