Workforce Development Advice
What does it mean?
‘Workforce development is the mechanism to equip volunteers (including trustees) and paid staff with skills and knowledge so that they can effectively deliver and improve services to children, young people and families. Workforce development can include: training; qualifications; induction; work shadowing; supervision; appraisals; reading and mentoring' (Source: NCVYS)
This is another complex operational area where there are competing interests and forces at work. One of the constant tensions is between those wishing to be useful volunteers in youth work, and the tendency to “professionalise” youth work into being a graduate profession. Central Government sees beyond even this, to the development of inter-connections between youth work and other professions, based on core skills common to all professions, so that an integrated 0-19 Children and Young People’s workforce is created.
Put simply, there are four broad perspectives from which youth work training might be approached:
• knowing enough to be a valued volunteer youth worker
• acquiring necessary skills for youth work,
• becoming a professional youth worker
• becoming part of an integrated children and young people workforce
Four perspectives
1) Introduction to Youth Work: The attached paper is an invaluable guide “Careers Guide”, and "Introduction to youth work and getting started” – both NCVYS.
NCVYS has also proposed to Government that rather than being compelled (in due course) into having a licence to practise, youth workers should simply be able to submit a portfolio demonstrating the value of their practical experience and any training. A response is awaited.
2) Necessary Skills for Youth Work : See the publication “Qualifications in Youth Work” from NCVYS. It explains how volunteer youth work could be accredited towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) or Vocationally Related Qualification (VRQ). Level 2 equates to GCSE level and Level 3 to A level. Most local authorities and many charities will expect paid youth workers to have Level 3 qualifications, but also see the advice at 3) below.
3) Professional youth worker: The Government, and the professional bodies are developing youth work into a graduate profession, with effect from 2010, (first degree, Masters or NVQ Level 4 for example) similar to social work or teaching. An explanation of the different professional qualifications can be found on the NYA website. This is only relevant to those wanting to make a professional a career in youth work.
4) Integrated Children and Young People Workforce: Following “Every Child Matters” the Government published non – statutory guidance about ensuring that the different professions working with children and young people should have shared skills and knowledge. This led to the publication in 2005 of “Common Core of skills and Knowledge for the Childrens workforce”, indentifying six shared areas of expertise.
Since then the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has been promoting programmes to develop integrated working, and published “Clear Progression 2008” about steps towards an integrated qualifications framework.
What’s happening in Surrey?
Well, quite a lot:
• “The Roadmap”: Surrey Youth Focus was successful in late December 2008 in attracting some £45,00 over two years from the CWDC to develop a roadmap of routes into youth work training. We will then commission the provision of basic training modules, which can form part of an accredited pathway, depending on the ambition of the volunteers involved. Kerry Evans is the CWDC Workforce Development Project Officer is working to produce a clear pathway of how and where to reach youth work training in Surrey.
Kerry says: "This project, that I’m working on for Surrey Youth Focus is beginning to highlight training needs and is bringing to light courses that exist already. Together they will be placed centrally and be reachable in a ‘roadmap’, a tool to bridge the gap and save the hours of investigation that is required currently.
Future success will mean a potential youth worker searching for training or a helper at a youth club needing more information will be presented with a website detailing where, how and when they can find a variety of youth work training courses, at which ever level is suitable for their personal or professional needs."
Introduction to working with young people courses: Modular courses were run successfully in October and November 2009 and further courses aimed at youth work volunteers of all ages are on offer for February and March 2010. The training is free and Surrey Youth Foucs is contracted to CWDC to train 100 people by March 2010. For further information contact Kerry Evans: kerry.evans@surreyyouthfocus.org.uk
• Conversion of Uniformed Training into NVQs: The uniformed organisations such as Surrey Scouts provide first class training to their volunteers. There are opportunities to convert this training into nationally accredited qualifications such as NVQs.
• Connexions Funding: Connexions has grant aided Surrey Youth Focus with £150,00 over three years so that training can be provided to people working in organisations that are trying to meet Connexions objectives. For example an NVQ level 3 course in youth work is currently (2009) being run by the Lifetrain Trust using this funding.
- Ongoing NVQ level 2 and 3 training courses - contact The Lifetrain Trust for details.
Want to know more?
There are several invaluable web sites:
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS): Workforce development, which has produced some excellent publications. For example 'Funding Guide to Workforce Development for the children, young people and families' VCS.
The National Youth Agency (NYA): the advisory body for professional youth workers.
Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) which is the sector skills body defining national occupational standards for youth work.
Childrens Workforce Development Council(CWDC).
Learning and Skills Council ( LSC South- East). The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding and planning further education and vocational training in England. With the exception of higher education, its responsibility covers all areas of adult (over 16) learning.
The Lifetrain Trust is the only nationally accredited youth work training body in Surrey.
