Youth Support Worker (Level 3)

Who is this Apprenticeship for?

This course is for any eligible candidates who wish to develop their knowledge, skills, and behaviours in a youth support focused role within the care sector.

This occupation is found in informal settings such as youth clubs, activity-based projects and social action projects; or more formal settings such as schools, Early Help or youth offending and in local authority, charity, private or voluntary organisations. Youth support workers may work in more specialist settings such as schools, alternative education provisions, hospitals, youth justice environments or within the social care system.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to work in a supporting role with young people aged 11-25 (predominantly in the age range of 11-19) to promote their personal, social and educational development. Youth support work provides a holistically supportive, positive professional relationship with young people, ensuring the relationship is routed in young people’s own journey and led by them. It creates opportunities for young people to develop their voice and views and creates opportunities to learn about themselves and society using informal education methods within the context of the professional relationship. Youth support workers lead work with young people, under the supervision of a degree qualified youth worker (or suitably aligned professional where this is not possible). An example of this might be working on a youth voice project, increasing the active participation of young people in the development or delivery of a service.

Typical job titles may include Deputy Leader, Youth Club Leader, Participation Worker, Project Worker, Youth Development Officer or Youth Support Worker.

Key responsibilities are likely to include;

Supporting, managing and developing team members
Managing projects
Planning and monitoring workloads and resources
Delivering operational plans
Resolving problems
Building relationships internally and externally

Are there any entry requirements?

Must be a UK citizen, or have the right of abode in the UK, or is a citizen of a country that is within the EEA and have been ordinarily resident in the UK, the EU or the EEA continuously for the previous three years before the start of learning.

Candidates will have achieved GCSE Grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent in English and Mathematics. We also offer Functional Skills English and maths at Level 2 for those needing to gain these qualifications prior to enrolment.

Apprentices must be employed, ideally for a minimum of 30 hours, in an existing role with Team Leader and/or Supervisory responsibilities to meet and develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to be successful in this area.

What is the curriculum intent of this Apprenticeship?

The structure and delivery of the course curriculum will enable you to develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviours to reflect the needs of local and regional employers, gain qualifications and be successful in this area.

The curriculum is planned and sequenced to enable learners with previous knowledge and experience to develop the new skills needed to progress to the next stage of their career, training, education, or employment.

The curriculum is flexible and responsive to learner demands and can be tailored to suit individual needs, arising from any current and dynamic issues affecting their role, which can be addressed during workshop sessions.

As an apprentice you will need to be able to demonstrate knowledge and practical skills at the end of your apprenticeship training programme and understand how this reflects the needs of the local, regional, and national economy.

What will the Apprenticeship cover?

The Youth Support Worker Level 3 Apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and understanding of:

Methods to build trust and rapport, with diverse groups of young people.
Communication techniques.
Methods for evaluating and recording youth work sessions and how these are applied in
Different contexts including cultural, social and political perspectives operating within young
people’s communities and wider society.
Methods for encouraging and enabling young people to participate in an inclusive manner.
Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in youth work settings.
Approaches for increasing active participation and creating opportunities for youth voice and
Professional obligations regarding administration, recording and management of data.
Current national and local policies for safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults, and
the application of these to own practice.
Health and safety policies relating to the care and wellbeing of young people and
implementation of these in the youth support worker role.
Positive risk benefit assessment to ensure there are safe working practices for youth support
Limits of professional behaviour boundaries in line with organisational policies and procedures.
Group work theory and its application in work with young people.
Local and national factors that impact on young people.
Local community networks and ways in which young people might become involved.
Partnership and multi-agency working.
Places and spaces that professional youth support work might happen and how approaches
might differ dependent on context, environment and/or young person.
Key reflective practice models that can be used in youth support work practice and their impact.
Critical reflection, and how to use it in practice to enhance continuous professional development
for youth support work.
Professional approaches to informal education with individual and groups in different settings.
Youth support work planning, monitoring and evaluation methods and how these are applied in
What is meant by values and beliefs and why it is important to encourage young people to
explore these.
Indicators for abuse and exploitation and how to recognise these and take action within the
context and setting.
How to collect and use sources of information to demonstrate the impact and benefits
of youth support work.
Systems and procedures relevant to the role and setting.
First line management styles that are supportive and developmental for volunteers and
assistant youth support workers.

Develop the skills in:

Communicate with stakeholders – internal and /or external.
Facilitate the learning and development of young people.
Encourage the participation of young people in developing their own learning.
Facilitate activities and techniques to use with young people that promotes self-confidence and
builds self-esteem and resilience.
Appropriately manage behaviour boundaries in line with organisational policies.
Plan youth support work programmes and sessions.
Lead youth support work programmes and sessions.
Evaluate youth support work programmes and sessions.
Enable young people to express their views, aspirations, needs and concerns appropriately in
line with youth support work principles.
Embeds in own practice a commitment to the rights of young people.
Apply safeguarding procedures and protocols.
Work within the parameters of organisational, local, and national health and safety, child
protection, data protection and equalities policies and procedures.
Record all health and safety risks and take the correct actions to ensure the safety of all young
Complete administrative responsibilities signing in young people, risk assessments, and
recording activities.
Work with and maintain professional behaviour boundaries when working with young people.
Recognise, manage, and reflect upon relational boundaries in professional youth support work.
Reflect on practice in line with daily tasks to enhance the support young people receive.
Monitor and record the outcomes of own practice to identify areas for development and
Identify, appropriately challenge, and act upon oppressive or discriminatory attitudes,
behaviours and situations.
Support young people to participate in planning, organising, delivering, and evaluating youth
work activities and programmes, and engaging on issues of importance to them.
Participate in risk assessments and manage risk and risk benefits within the workplace.
Manage budgets and resources.
Manage individuals in line with organisational procedures.

Demonstrate behaviours in:

Promote acceptance and understanding of others.
Support positive engagement in activities.
Uphold principles and values of youth work practice.
Celebrate success and the journey of young people individually and collectively.
Promote the values of justice, fairness, and equality.
Take a positive interest in young people’s concerns, ideas, and interests.
Promote the development of political and social education for and with young people.
Work in an anti-oppressive, anti-discriminatory manner.
Respect young people’s rights to make their own decision about involvement with youth work.
Compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

End Point Assessment Methods

To trigger the End Point Assessment, you must have:

Proof of English & maths GCSE minimum grade 4+ (C+) or equivalent level 2 qualification
The apprentice employer must confirm that they are working at or above the occupational standard
Completion of the Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice
Completion of a portfolio of evidence

The End Point Assessment consists of:

Session Plan and Risk Assessment: Apprentice to complete to reflect the planning process involved when delivering a youth work session
Practical Observation: 2-hour observation of the apprentice in the working environment, followed by 1 hour of questioning
Professional Discussion: 60 mins (underpinned with a portfolio of evidence)

This standard will be graded as Distinction, Pass or Fail.

What can I do when I have finished this Apprenticeship?

The youth support worker role may be a gateway to further career opportunities, such as a youth worker, management, or senior support roles.

Other Apprenticeship opportunities include Level 4 Children, Young People and Families Practitioner, Level 5 Children, Young People and Families Manager or Level 6 Youth Support Worker.

Where and when will I learn?

During the course you would usually attend work a minimum of 30 hours per week where you will learn the skills and knowledge required to continue through your qualification. You will be supported in the workplace through regular visits with your tutor and you will also be expected to come into the training centre (Coleridge Centre, DL1 5AJ) for support sessions. These sessions will allow you to complete coursework, receive instant feedback and ensure you are ready for the End Point Assessment

This course will typically take 18 months, but this is based on a vocational initial assessment to determine prior learning in this area and may be reduced. The End Point Assessment will be completed within 3 months of completing the on-programme taught element

How much will the Apprenticeship cost?

There are no fees for this apprenticeship.

What do I do next?

You can:

View our latest vacancies

Or you can:

Apply for this apprenticeship area to be entered into a 'pool of candidates'. When a relevant vacancy becomes available we will contact you.
If you are already employed in this area and wish to join the apprenticeship training, or have identified an employer wishing to start you as an apprentice in this area, please contact us