Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Youth worker standard?
Knowledge
K1: The importance of building trust and rapport, and methods for achieving this with diverse groups of young people.
K2: Effective written and oral communication strategies that are appropriate when working with young people.
K3: Barriers to communication, their causes, both personal and structural and ways to overcome them, drawing on research and theoretical understandings.
K4: Inter-disciplinary and collaborative working including the nature of applicable approaches and inter-professional approaches in youth work and multi-agency settings.
K5: A range of organisations where youth workers are employed including Third Sector, Statutory sector, faith-based, and social enterprise organisations together with understanding of practice in new and emergent sect
K6: Critical understanding of local, national and international policies and strategies that influence young people’s lives.
K7: Funding issues and strategies that affect partnership working.
K8: Self-awareness in promoting anti-oppressive practices.
K9: Professional approaches to informal education with individuals and groups, and understandings of pertinent factors on practice including group needs and dynamics, together with a critical appreciation of theoretical underpinnings and their application to practice.
K10: Informal education pedagogy, critical dialogue and experiential learning methodologies.
K11: The context, development and management of own role as a critical, autonomous and accountable professional.
K12: The development and evaluation of team work principles and practices and their application in planning implementing and reviewing effective informal education projects.
K13: The importance of negotiating and managing goals, boundaries and behaviours for youth workers and young people in collaborative
K14: Methods, strategies and interventions used to develop informal education through group activities and dialogue, and ways of working with others to evaluate and develop practice.
K15: Methods and tools of planning, monitoring and evaluating group work and the success of groups.
K16: Range of qualitative and quantitative research methods appropriate to evaluating the outcomes and success of youth work
K17: Current research on effective approaches to supporting young people to learn and develop theories of learning and development within an informal education setting.
K18: Research and best practice in relation to recording outcomes and measuring change in a youth work setting.
K19: The importance of the designing activities that take account of the preferred learning styles and diverse needs of those participating and how to apply this knowledge in practice.
K20: Range of models for encouraging and enabling young people to participate in an inclusive manner.
K21: Models of participation and engagement with young people, and how to overcome barriers to participation.
K22: Processes and techniques for designing and developing activities with young people.
K23: Local community and ways in which young people might become involved.
K24: Democratic structures, local elected members, potential partner organisations.
K25: National, international and local factors that impact on young people’s scope for engagement in decision making.
K26: Theories and models of informal and non-formal education and how they can be applied to youth work.
K27: Critical understanding of formal, informal and non-formal educational approaches to facilitate the learning and development needs of young people.
K28: Theories and models for programme planning and development.
K29: The key purpose and principles expressed in the theory of youth work and different models of youth work delivery.
K30: The wider social and political context for issues which impact young people and ways in which these might be included in curriculum.
K31: Social policy locally, nationally and globally that affects young people and their impact on current programme development.
K32: What is meant by values and beliefs and why it is important to encourage young people to explore their own values and beliefs.
K33: Different contexts, cultures and perspectives operating within young people’s communities, wider society, nationally and internationally.
K34: Key sociological and psychological concepts that impact on young people’s lives and development.
K35: Social policy and legislation locally, nationally, internationally that affects the lives of young people.
K36: How anti-oppressive practice relates to and impacts on the principles and delivery of youth work, and how to apply this knowledge in professional practice.
K37: A critical understanding of the rights and responsibilities of young people, including relevant legislation and codes of practice in the local, social and political context.
K38: The role of the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child.
K39: Models and meaning of development through adolescence and links between education and development, critique of normative and deficit models of development.
K40: Understanding of human growth and development theories relevant to youth work.
K41: Legal requirements and best practice in relation to confidentiality and safeguarding.
K42: Knowledge of current social, economic and political issues likely to impact on the well-being of young people.
K43: Knowledge of local plans and strategies to which this work may contribute.
K44: Understanding of contemporary issues and research regarding young people’s mental health, wellbeing and development.
K45: Safeguarding and information sharing procedures and duties for safeguarding young people across professional boundaries.
K46: Safeguarding leads within service/organisation, and when to involve them.
K47: Current legislation and guidance relevant to own role and those of team members regarding safeguarding and equal opportunities.
K48: Processes of early intervention work with young people including multi agency casework meetings; understanding assessments and thresholds; step up and step down processes.
K49: Understanding the indicators for abuse and exploitation and when to take appropriate action, utilising professional judgement.
K50: DBS procedure and requirements with regard to safe recruitment of staff and volunteers.
K51: Casework approaches underpinned by youth work in a range of settings.
K52: Recording and data protection legislation relevant to the setting and safeguarding procedures.
K53: Theories and models applicable to direct work with young people to enhance practice utilising a strengths based approach.
K54: How the code of youth work ethics impacts on youth work delivery and own practice.
K55: The importance of enabling and supporting work with young people in accordance with youth work values and principles.
K56: Ethical dilemmas in work with young people and how these can impact on individuals, teams and organisations (including appropriate ways to address and critically examine these).
K57: Legal, regulatory and ethical requirements impacting upon the provision of youth work activities.
K58: Methods of obtaining feedback from young people, relevant agencies and stakeholders.
K59: How to engage young people in communities in order to develop strategies for education and change including investigations of models of work with young people and practice such as: • Outreach • Detached • Project based work • Participatory practice
K60: The community and ways to make use of existing sources of information for profiling and planning purposes.
K61: Requirements to maintain a healthy and safe environment, including professional practice in relation to legal obligations, risk assessment and duties of care.
K62: Organisational written health and safety policy and own role and that of others with regard to monitoring, measuring and reporting health and safety concerns.
K63: Legal and organisational obligations regarding administration, recording and management of data.
K64: How to use sources of information to make a business case and demonstrate the impact and benefits of youth work.
K65: Organisational policies and procedures including any legislative, regulatory and ethical requirements for funding youth work.
K66: Local and national trends and developments affecting the demand for youth work activities.
K67: Theories of management and leadership in youth work projects to include: • inter-professional and interdisciplinary working • leadership of teams and individualsv
K68: Organisational policies and legal requirements for delivery or youth work.
K69: Types of management support that can be provided and how they differ.
K70: Organisation’s HR procedures e.g. professional development, disciplinary, grievance.
K71: Theories of mentoring and professional supervision of youth workers including a range of models.
K72: Importance of staff development, and how to identify training and development needs to support professional formation.
K73: Ways of reflecting on and critiquing youth work practice.
K74: Critical appreciation of theories, models and principles of reflective practice within youth work settings and contexts.
K75: Requirements of own work role and boundaries of autonomy, responsibility and authority.
K76: The importance of critical reflection and continuous professional development for youth work practice.
Skills
S1: Evaluate and utilise appropriate forms and styles of communication suited to the needs and abilities of a variety of young people.
S2: Recognise, manage and critically reflect upon appropriate relational boundaries in professional work with young people.
S3: Network and engage in multi-agency working and build partnerships with other professionals, community groups and young people’s projects.
S4: Seek, resource and maintain appropriate organisational relationships for the benefit of young people (and communities).
S5: Demonstrate and reflect upon effective communication with local community groups, colleagues and agencies who work with young people.
S6: Develop, initiate and evaluate programmes in partnership with other agencies.
S7: Promote collaboration with partners to challenge inequalities and encourage social transformation and advocate on behalf of young people.
S8: Facilitate the learning and development of young people in a range of suitable settings.
S9: Create and maintain a safe environment for group work, exploiting opportunities to enable young people to creatively build upon strengths in bring about transformation in their lives and communities.
S10: Work with young people to explore, challenge and transform discrimination and oppressive behaviours wherever manifest.
S11: Facilitate and evaluate effective leadership within groups in order to promote active participation, ownership and empowerment with young people.
S12: Draw upon differentiated approaches, methods and styles in meeting the needs of groups and in promoting their ongoing development.
S13: Encourage, acknowledge and value the ideas and input of all young people working with these to promote learning and change.
S14: Create and evaluate the effectiveness of inclusive and participatory learning environments.
S15: Motivate young people.
S16: Identify and agree with young people activities that are relevant to their interests and development.
S17: Support young people to participate in planning, organising and delivering youth work activities and programmes.
S18: Design evaluation frameworks that capture key outcomes and processes in youth work programmes/ projects and engage young people as evaluation partners.
S19: Involve young people and staff in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the activities and the impact on their own development or learning.
S20: Use the outcomes of evaluation to develop and enhance youth work practice
S21: Build trusting relationships and create inclusive environments.
S22: Create activities that enable young people to contribute to the planning and preparation of activities.
S23: Encourage and support young people to take the lead in services and projects.
S24: Support young people to plan, research, lead, resource and evaluate youth work activities and programmes through negotiation and democratic process.
S25: Use suitable methods to agree with young people criteria for evaluation of progress, monitoring and methodology.
S26: Raise awareness of the benefits of active participation and inclusive practice with colleagues and partner agencies.
S27: Select and use methods and tools suitable for planning youth work activities.
S28: Facilitate youth work programmes that are engaging, creative and contribute to the learning and development of young people.
S29: Enable young people to express their views, aspirations, needs and concerns.
S30: Use techniques and activities that encourage young people to become more self-aware, and recognise how their values and beliefs impact upon their lives and those of others.
S31: Enable young people to think critically within a safe environment that supports their feelings, values and beliefs.
S32: Facilitate activities and techniques to use with young people that promote self-confidence and build self-esteem and resilience.
S33: Design a learning environment which both supports young people and enables them to confront and challenge new ideas.
S34: Foster democratic and inclusive practice through building trusting relationships, support for young people and creating inclusive environments.
S35: Support young people in making their voices heard and creating change on issues that affect them.
S36: Identify and counter oppressive attitudes, behaviours and situations at interpersonal and systemic levels.
S37: Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to the rights of young people.
S38: Use appropriate forms and styles of communication suited to the needs and abilities of a variety of young people.
S39: Demonstrate empathy when working with young people to explore their wellbeing, and encourage this in others, including young people.
S40: Identify appropriate partners whose involvement may enhance the work e.g. CAMHS, drugs services, sexual health.
S41: Engage young people to discuss openly and honestly their concerns, choices and behaviour.
S42: Engage young people in strategies to enhance their well-being and decision- making.
S43: Know limits of own role and when to seek advice from others.
S44: Implement effective safeguarding practices.
S45: Work within the parameters of organisational, local and national safeguarding policies and procedures.
S46: Work within the parameters of organisational, local and national equality and diversity policies and procedures.
S47: Promote good mental and emotional health for young people.
S48: Assess the needs of individual young people to locally agreed thresholds guidance.
S49: Involve young people in identifying their own needs and strengths and seek solutions.
S50: Develop action plans with young people to achieve individual goals.
S51: Record and monitor individual casework with young people.
S52: Monitor and review the progress of individual young people and effectiveness of approaches to support.
S53: Maintain professional boundaries, make informed judgements of complex ethical and professional issues and operate as a reflective practitioner.
S54: Agree ground-rules and codes of conduct with young people.
S55: IIdentify any unacceptable behaviour and address this appropriately and fairly within the boundaries of role and organisational procedures.
S56: Carry out needs analysis / SWOT, review and evaluate a range of sources of information.
S57: Present information in a range of formats supported by a coherent argument that articulates assumptions, risks and likely outcomes.
S58: Develop coherent project/ action plans and strategies, which demonstrates an understanding of resourcing, outputs, outcomes and evaluation.
S59: Respond to identified needs and opportunities using innovative and creative responses.
S60: Ensure regular review of systems and continuous improvement in relation to health and safety performance.
S61: Keep detailed and accurate records of all health and safety risks and actions.
S62: Carry out risk assessments and take appropriate actions to manage risk within the workplace.
S63: Manage financial records in line with role and organisational requirements.
S64: Budget management at appropriate level.
S65: Demonstrate accurate budget and resource management skills.
S66: Evidence strong written and oral communication skills.
S67: Present information clearly and concisely in a range of formats.
S68: Evidence application of work objectives and confirm the work required of team to complete these.
S69: Allocate work to team members, taking account of their skills, knowledge and understanding.
S70: Identify any poor performance and agree ways to improve with team members.
S71: Carry out regular supervision and appraisal with colleagues.
S72: Provide other workers with youth work support, mentoring, informal supervision and advice when they need it.
S73: Encourage, motivate and support others to achieve their work and development objectives.
S74: Use a range of leadership styles appropriate to colleagues and their needs.
S75: Monitor the outcomes of own practice and identify areas for development and improvement.
S76: Critically reflect on continuing personal and professional development and evolution of own practice.
S77: Record, disseminate and share own practice in a form which enables an understanding of issues and effectiveness.
Behaviour
B1: Treat young people with respect.B2: Take a positive interest in young people’s concerns, ideas and interests.B3: Work in an anti-oppressive manner.B4: Proactive commitment to partnership working to enhance opportunities for young people.B5: Positive engagement in appropriate professional relationships for the benefit of young people.B6: Promote acceptance and understanding of others.B7: Stimulate understanding of issues, impact of behaviours, alternative behaviours.B8: Operate as a critically reflective practitioner and informal educator, demonstrating a high level of autonomy and professional judgement in planning, delivering and evaluating educational programmes across a range of settings.B9: Uphold principles and values of youth work practice.B10: Stimulate reflection as a tool for development of self and others.B11: Embed critical reflection and formative evaluation into work with young people.
B2: Celebrate success and the journey of young people individually and collectively
B3: Value young people as partners.
B4: Start with young people where they are at in relation to their own vision and values.B15: Seek opportunities to widen young people’s horizons and increase active involvement.B16: Encourage young people to take the lead in their individual and collective youth work journey.B17: Demonstrate democratic and inclusive practice.B18: Enthusiasm to work with young people and recognise their ideas and contribution.B19: Work in an inclusive manner and challenge oppressive behaviour.B20: Foster creativity and innovation in self and others.B21: Encourage young people to express how they feel and accept their view of themselves.B22: Demonstrate inclusivity, challenge oppression and celebrate diversity.B23: Implement ethical practice that supports and challenges young people.B24: Respect young people’s rights to make their own decision about involvement with youth work.B25: Uphold the values and principles underpinning youth work.B26: Uphold the values of justice, fairness and equality.B27: Respect young people’s rights to make their own decision about how and why they get involved with youth work.B28: Modelling best practice in safeguarding, equality and diversity.B29: Being aware of the requirements to safeguard young people, and exercise professional judgement in responses.B30: Promote respect for diversity and equality.B31: Challenges inappropriate language and behaviours.B32: Work with colleagues to secure the best outcomes for young people.B33: Advocate on behalf of young people to represent their needs and wishes.B34: Behave in accordance with the legal, ethical and contractual requirements of youth work.B35: Show consistency and fairness in decision-making and involve young people.B36: Commitment to empowerment of young people to present their views and ideas.B37: Actively involve young people in the planning process.B38: Communicate with, and involve other staff in planning as appropriate.B39: Be reliable, honest and to work with integrity at all times.B40: Model behaviour that demonstrates a commitment to the effective protection of young people.B41: Systematic approach to administration.B42: Show integrity, fairness and consistency in assessment of youth work activity.
B5: Approach colleagues with respect and foster trust.B44: Commitment to team working.B45: Demonstrate professional conduct, approachability and leadership qualities.B46: Demonstrate leadership and ability to form positive relationships with colleagues.B47: Commitment to the development and support of colleagues.B48: Commitment to personal learning development and critical reflection.B49: Uphold the values and principles of youth work.
Duty 1
DUTY: Effectively engage and develop informal relationships with young people.
K1
K2
K3
S1
S2
B1
B2
B3
Duty 2
DUTY: Lead on partnership work with other agencies to promote services for young people.
K4
K5
K6
K7
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
B4
B5
Duty 3
DUTY: Act as an informal education practitioner and lead work with young people.
K8
K9
K10
K11
K12
K13
K14
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
B1
B6
B7
B8
Duty 4
DUTY: Effectively plan for and evaluate high quality youth work experiences.
K15
K16
K17
K18
K19
K20
S16
S17
S18
S19
S20
B1
B9
B10
B11
B12
Duty 5
DUTY: Facilitate active participation in service development by young people.
K21
K22
K23
K24
K25
S21
S22
S23
S24
S25
S26
B13
B14
B15
B16
B17
Duty 6
DUTY: Design, lead and implement youth work curriculum programmes.
K26
K27
K28
K29
K30
K31
S27
S28
B1
B18
B19
B20
Duty 7
DUTY: Provide a safe and stimulating environment for young people to explore and challenge their values, beliefs, ideas and issues.
K32
K33
K34
K35
S29
S30
S31
S32
S33
B1
B21
B22
B23
Duty 8
DUTY: Work with young people in promoting their rights.
K36
K37
K38
S34
S35
S36
S37
B3
B24
B25
B26
Duty 9
DUTY: Lead on work that enables young people to explore their wellbeing.
K39
K40
K41
K42
K43
K44
S38
S39
S40
S41
S42
S43
B25
B27
Duty 10
DUTY: Implement safeguarding duties and equal opportunities policies as required in the organisation.
K45
K46
K47
K48
K49
K50
S44
S45
S46
S47
B28
B29
B30
B31
Duty 11
DUTY: Work with young people individually.
K51
K52
K53
S48
S49
S50
S51
S52
B1
B32
B33
Duty 12
DUTY: Work within the ethical professional boundaries of youth work.
K54
K55
K56
S53
S54
S55
B34
B35
Duty 13
DUTY: Develop youth work strategies and plans.
K57
K58
K59
K60
S36
S37
S38
S56
S57
S58
S59
Duty 14
DUTY: Carry out administrative duties and health and safety requirements in line with role and organisational requirements.
K61
K62
K63
S60
S61
S62
S63
S64
B39
B40
B41
Duty 15
DUTY: Produce reports, evaluations and summary data for commissioners, funders, senior managers and other stakeholders.
K64
K65
K66
S65
S66
S67
B42
Duty 16
DUTY: Lead a team of staff and complete associated duties (such as recruitment, professional development and supervision).
