As the Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body for youth work in England, the NYA is responsible for the quality assurance of youth work qualifications at Levels 1 – 7.
These qualifications are aligned to the Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work.
Quality assurance and validation
The Education and Training Standards (ETS) committee is a subcommittee of the NYA, responsible for setting the assessment standards and required content for youth work qualifications from Level 1 to Level 7. It also validates all university degree courses and works with partner jurisdictions to ensure consistent standards for qualifications. Level 6 and Level 7 degrees validated by the NYA confer status as a professionally qualified youth worker as recognised by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Workers.
The NYA validate professional training programmes in England only. Programmes validated in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales have mutual recognition arrangements in place so if your programme is recognised as professional status in one UK nation it will be recognised in all through processes agreed by the Joint Education and Training Standards Committee.
Across the UK countries
For information on youth work and youth work training in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales
National Occupational Standards for Youth Work
The National Occupational Standards for Youth Work are used across the UK and Republic of Ireland to inform training and practice. They are reviewed through the Joint Education and Training Standards committee. The ETS supports any review providing an English context.
National Occupational Standards are stored on the online repository.
About the ETS committee
The ETS is chaired by NYA Trustee Lisa Harris and supported by NYA National Workforce Officer, Alia Pike.
The ETS has three membership categories:
- Representative Members are from organisations within the Youth Work sector who have an interest in the training and education of Youth Workers. Our current Representative Members are – Awarding Bodies Forum; ESB for Community Development; Institute for Youth Work; JNC Employers side; JNC Staff side; Regional Youth Work Units; Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work; UK Youth; Unison; Unite.
- Wider Field Members are individuals from across the Youth Work sector who bring specialist knowledge and experience to the ETS Committee. We currently have wider field work members with specialisms in Christian Youth Work, Rural Youth Work, Residential Work and Urban Youth Work.
- Co-opted Members are those individuals who bring specific experience or knowledge and can make an additional positive contribution to the role of ETS for a time limited period.
If you have any questions about the ETS or would like to become a member please contact aliap@nya.org.uk
About the JNC
The Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Workers (JNC) sets a framework for pay, terms and conditions which is available for employers of youth workers. The National Youth Agency is not part of the JNC and therefore does not have any influence on grade and pay for youth work jobs.
It consists of an employers’ side and staff side. The JNC Secretariat of the Staff Side is Unite and for the Employers’ Side it is the Local Government Association (details below).
