Workforce Development Group

(WDG)

The Workforce Development Group (previously known as Regional Trainers Group) is a longstanding operational group, which aims to give a strong lead regarding training and workforce development issues for both Local Authority and voluntary sector youth work. A collection of workforce related resources and policy documents are also held at the YWU.

The group maintains an active overview of youth support worker awards at levels 2 and 3.   Both Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs) and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are now being delivered and various awarding bodies are also involved   - City and Guilds (C&G), Awarding Body Consortium (ABC), Open College Network (OCN) and the Open University (OU).

The group is attended primarily by Local Authority youth work training personnel with lecturers from various youth work training institutions in the region. The group is keen to encourage voluntary youth work organisations to attend. The current chair is  Paul Vincent from Hull and the deputy chair is Helen Welch from Leeds Youth Service.

The WDG aims to stay up to date with national developments considering reports, attending national conferences/ workshops and liaising with NYA with Lifelong Learning UK, the Sector Skills Council for youth work and the Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC) responsible for the workforce reform in the children's and young peoples workforce.

The revised Professional and National Occupational Standards for youth work were approved in 2008 and replace the standards previously published by PAULO in 2002. In all there are 55 standards clustered into 19 principle areas of activity, representing five functional areas. The standards have been developed by LLUK, the Sector Skills Council within which youth work sits. The standards are available form the LLUK website. It is expected that soon new qualificiations will be developed from the PNOS.

Each spring an annual conference allows an in-depth look at current issues with invited speakers and presentations. This event also shapes the work programme for the following year - see Chair's Action Plan.

Current areas of debate are:

  • The New Professional Occupational Standards and related awards
  • Integrated Qualifications Framework
  • Workforce development strategy for youth work/youth support sector
  • CWDC
  • Skills Development Framework
  • Youth Professional Status
  • Common Core
  • Leadership and management training
  • Funding of workforce development
  • Subject benchmarks

The Group also overviews Continued Professional Development sharing practice for induction programmes through to advanced and specialist training.  On guidance from the group, the YWU has organised regional supplementary programmes, e.g. on strategic management.

Currently the YWU is the Y&H regional partner for CWDC's funded, FPM led consortium offering the Leadership Enhancement Programme and Management Development Programme to Y&H's LAs.  Full details can be found on http://www.fpmonline.co.uk or at http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/young-peoples-workforce-development or see links below.



Conference Report 2009

Terms of Reference

NRYWU's Good Practice Guidelines

Professional and National Occupational Standards

Subject Benchmarks

Chair's Action Plan

How Y&H involve C&YP in WD

NCVYS Qualifications in Youth Work

Management Development Programme

MDP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Youth Workforce Leadership and Management Programme

WDG - Minutes of Meeting