Youth Work Qualifications

Our Youth Work qualifications embrace the National Occupational Standards for youth work. They support the skills and knowledge learners need to become a competent Youth Support Worker.

These qualifications are designed for people who are already working or volunteering in a youth work environment. Significant commitment is required for these qualifications as you will need to undertake and lead on a youth work project.

All delivery is lead by a JNC Qualified Youth Work who will support the learners through their journey on the qualification. Our trained assessors and Internal Quality Assessors (IQA) are an important part of the assessment process. A sample of work is then External Quality Assessed (EQA) by the Skills and Education Group.

This qualification is an ideal way for new volunteers, part time youth workers, or individuals who are relatively new to working with young people, have the basics to ensure safe and effective practice.

Learners will complete units in:

  • Theory of Youth Work
  • Engaging and Communicating
  • Safeguarding
  • Young Person’s Development

 

In order to achieve this qualification you will need to submit 2 risk assessments, community profile, a personal development plan and workbooks for each unit.

This course is for those who have been working with young people for over a year, and want to become a JNC qualified Youth Support Worker. If you already hold a Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles, you may be able to start this course from unit 5.

Learners will complete units in:

  • Theory of Youth Work
  • Engaging and Communicating
  • Safeguarding
  • Young Person’s Development
  • Group Work
  • Reflective Practice
  • Work Based Practice
  • Working with Challenging Behaviour
  • Anti-Discriminatory Practice

 

In order to achieve this qualification you will need to evidence at least 60 hours of youth work delivery with young people, submit 4 session plans, 2 risk assessments, a reflective journal, a community profile, personal development plans, witness testimonies and workbooks for each unit. Learners are required to have a supervisor who will support them while on the course, and provide 6 supervisions over the duration of the course.

This course is for those who have been working with young people for over a year, and want to become a JNC qualified Youth Support Worker. If you already hold a Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles, you may be able to start this course from unit 5.

Learners will complete units in:

  • Theory of Youth Work
  • Engaging and Communicating
  • Safeguarding
  • Young Person’s Development
  • Group Work
  • Reflective Practice
  • Work Based Practice
  • Working with Challenging Behaviour
  • Anti-Discriminatory Practice
  • Working with Challenging Behaviour
  • Effective Outcomes
  • Managing a Budget
  • Youth Violence, Criminal Activity and Exploitation
  • Young People’s Participation

 

In order to achieve this qualification you will need to evidence at least 80 hours of youth work delivery with young people, submit 5 session plans, 2 risk assessments, a reflective journal, 2 community profiles, personal development plans, witness testimonies and workbooks for each unit. Learners are required to have a supervisor who will support them while on the course, and provide 6 supervisions over the duration of the course.

Which qualification is right for me?

Those with the Level 2 or 3 certificate or Diploma in Youth Work Practice are recognised by the JNC at Youth Support Worker level. These qualifications are aimed at people working with or volunteering in a youth work setting.

With the Level 6 qualification – either a traditional degree in youth work or the new Level 6 Youth Worker Apprenticeship – you will be recognised by JNC at Professional Youth Worker level. For those wishing to progress their careers further, a Level 7 qualification such as a PG Diploma or Masters degree is an option.

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2022

We became a training centre with Skills and Education Group, and developed the training and consultancy centre called Engage.

2025

We will be launching more qualifications and CPD opportunities, including Level 1 Certificate in Youth Work in Exploring Youth Work and an accredited course in Participation in the Capacity Building Training in Youth Work and Working with Visually Impaired Young People.

2020

Youth Focus North East became the region’s lead for the National Youth Agency Bursary scheme, where we began delivering Youth Work qualifications, starting with the Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles.

2023

We began running the Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice, a Level 2 Youth Award in Youth Work Principles, and an Accredited Course for workers and volunteers to increase their knowledge and confidence in how to support young people who are visually impaired called Access Unlimited.

Our number of learners went onto double, growing from just 44 learners in 2022/23 to 106 by the end of the academic year of 2024, across all qualifications and accredited courses. 

From our learners...

Thanks for the feedback and the support throughout, despite this being challenging I’ve really enjoyed sharing thoughts and ideas and reflecting on practice with fellow workers. Pleased to have made it to the end!!

Ahh wow that is amazing to hear. I am over the moon!

Ahh that’s fantastic news. I am super duper happy to hear that! Thank you so much for all of your support Laura and from Zoe too. I really enjoyed the course.

That’s great thanks for the feedback Zoe, really encouraging, this unit was a tough cookie!

Woo hoo 🥳 Thank you for marking so quickly and getting it back to me! Yes that champagne will be getting opened very soon!

That’s great thanks and thanks for the feedback too, it’s challenging fitting all of this in but I’m enjoying the course 🙂

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