JNC

What does the Joint Negotiating Committee do?

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for youth and community workers is the body that sets the national framework used to grade and pay youth work jobs.

There are two grades within the JNC framework:

• youth support worker
• professional youth worker

The JNC recognises youth and community workers’ qualifications which have been professionally approved by the Education Training Standards (ETS) Committee of the National Youth Agency. We endorse youth support worker qualifications and have a process of professional validation for higher education programmes.

If you are interested in delivering a JNC recognised qualification please email validations@nya.org.uk

Gaining a qualification that is either endorsed or validated by the National Youth Agency and recognised by the JNC ensures it is quality checked and fit for purpose. It helps develop youth work practitioners that can meet the needs of young people and employers in the youth work field.

Many people work with young people without JNC recognised qualifications, often with related qualifications or extensive experience of working with young people.

The work is very valuable and contributes positively to the lives of young people. However gaining qualifications specifically in youth work enables a worker to explore the theory behind youth work, the ethos, principles and practice.

Training encourages the development of an individual practitioner and supports them to move from youth support worker (levels 2 and 3) to professional youth worker (level 6 and above).

Terms and conditions

The JNC also negotiates pay and agrees terms and conditions of service. It consists of an employers’ side and staff side and ensures that all views within the youth and community field are represented.