Youth work in Scotland plays a crucial role in the development and well-being of young people, impacting their personal growth, social inclusion, community engagement, education and overall health.

The CLD Standards Council Scotland is the professional body for people who work or volunteer in community learning and development in Scotland. This includes adult learning, community development and youth work.

We developed the Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Youth Work in partnership with the CLD sector and employers in the public and third sector. This SVQ is a mandatory component in the Modern Apprenticeship in Youth Work.

It is a broad-ranging qualification aimed at school leavers, volunteers, those wishing to upskill and reskill, and for those looking for a pathway to the professional qualification at SCQF level 9 and above.

The qualification offers an understanding and grounding in theory and approaches to youth work, group work skills and the values and ethics underpinned by the CLD Competent Practitioner Framework.

SCQF levels

Set at SCQF levels 6 and 7, and worth 52 SCQF credit points (level 6) or 72 SCQF credit points (level 7), the award aims to develop occupational skills and enhance learners’ future career prospects. It also enables learners to gain credit points, which can help them access further qualifications.

Learners who achieve this SVQ can continue to the SCQF level 7 HNC Working With Communities or progress on to the professional qualification at SCQF level 9, which is offered in Scotland by five universities.

All the SVQ Youth Work units are intended to be practical, where learners are provided with the opportunity to develop as youth work practitioners by working directly with young people in a variety of settings. 

The benefits

Steven said: "This SVQ and Modern Apprenticeship offers learners the chance to work directly with young people and support them in a variety of settings. It provides opportunities for learners to engage and practice different types of group work skills, involve young people directly in decision making and links well with the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child.

"Learners will also support young people with digital skills and tools, as well as engage with young people to promote their emotional well-being and mental health. It allows them to take responsibility for elements of programme planning in partnership with young people, and to support the personal and social development of those young people and their communities.

"Learners develop skills in problem solving, group work, reflection, communication, confidence and assertiveness – all of which are widely transferable skills for further study or employment.

"As CLD practitioners, reflection in and on action plays an incredibly important role in our professional development and informs our response to working with young people, and reflection is a core requirement of this SVQ.

"This practical course opens the gateway to becoming a professionally qualified worker and offers a great opportunity to upskill, re-skill and ‘grow your own’ practitioners."

Grow your workforce

Steven added: "I would encourage organisations to think about whether they can offer this qualification and/or the Modern Apprenticeship to help strengthen and grow their workforce.

"The CLD Standards Council are happy to meet and discuss ‘growing your own practitioners’ with practitioners and organisations."

Participants

Bethany Mclay, Go! Youth Trust Youth Worker in Falkirk, who has completed the SVQ, said: