Workforce - News

Workforce news will carry current initiatives and news items relating to workforce in the youth sector and will be regularly updated.  For other news items relating to the youth sector please see our daily Youth Issues News.  Workforce issues are also regularly covered in our weekly eYPU bulletin.

New QCF qualifications for assessors and verifiers

LLUK has produced a factsheet outlining the new QCF qualifications for assessors and verifiers, which will be available from the 1 September.  Those holding current assessor qualifications, including the A and D units, will not need to undertake the new qualifications.

New accredited training programme launched for youth counsellors

Youth Access has launched its new masters level youth counselling training programme, provided in collaboration with the University of East London. The programme begins this October. More information >>

Revised remit from CWDC

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has agreed savings with the DfE and has confirmed a revised remit which focuses on cost-effective delivery to support front-line services.  The savings mostly affect CWDC's communications spend and pilot programmes.  CWDC has confirmed that the pilot project on Youth Professional Status will no longer run, however it will continue building frontline workforce capacity through other projects such as the leadership and management training and by providing 25,000 training places for the voluntary sector.  

New research published on teenage pregnancy and young people’s sexual health

DfE has published qualitative research which involved interviews with members of the young people's workforce to better understand their views on teenage pregnancy and young people’s sexual health.  Youth workers said they often felt that they come into contact with young people when it is too late for intervention, picking them up only after pregnancy or at crisis-point.  They also cited funding and better ways of meeting the needs of young people, beyond the help youth workers themselves can offer, as the main challenges to improving the sexual health of young people and reducing teenage pregnancy.

Sector Skills Assessment - youth work and work based learning

LifeLong Learning UK is inviting employers to take part in the 2010 Sector Skills Assessment consultation, which when the findings are published will identify the current skills gaps/shortages and skills priorities. The findings will be used to influence the policies and programmes of the government. If you are within the youth work or work based learning field take part in the short on-line survey.  The closing date for the survey has been extended until 21 September.