Thematic report |
A survey of professional qualification training for youth workers in Wales - February 2010
Most senior managers in HEIs, especially at head of school or faculty level,understand the challenges facing professional youth work qualification courses.However, although senior managers recognise the importance of joint workingbetween programmes and courses, they have not developed effectively the sharingof good practice and work placement management.This survey follows the 2009 report - How good is the training of youth support workers in Wales?
Recommendations
Higher education institutions should:
- make arrangements to discuss and share good practice;
- organise regular meetings with all employers of qualified youth workers, to consult on the design, content and delivery of youth and community courses;
- make sure that curriculum planning develops knowledge, understanding and skills in contexts that integrate practice with theory;
- improve the clarity of guidance to work placement supervisors about their educational role in courses, so they know clearly their responsibilities for developing trainees’ professional skills, knowledge and understanding; and
- improve access to training for work placement supervisors, to ensure they can undertake their training responsibilities and assessment roles effectively.
Local authority youth services should:
- improve the quality assurance of work placements provided by their staff, to ensure all supervisors are appropriately qualified, and fulfil their responsibilities.