NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice (England)

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the meaning and importance of anti-discriminatory practice in youth work, including relevant legislation and ethical considerations.
• Understand how anti-discriminatory practice impacts on the planning, delivery, and evaluation of youth work activities and programmes.
• Understand the nature and impact of prejudice and discrimination, including different forms of discrimination and their effects on young people.
• Evaluate personal practice in relation to anti-discriminatory practice, identifying areas for development and improvement.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the nature and purpose of detached and outreach youth work within the community.
• Understand the specific skills and knowledge required to be an effective detached and outreach youth worker.
• Understand the importance of power dynamics and relationships in the context of detached and outreach youth work, and how to manage these effectively.
• Understand how current practice, relevant legislation, and organisational needs affect the delivery of detached and outreach youth work.
• Create a comprehensive plan for detached and outreach youth work activities, taking into account the needs of the target group and the local context.
• Implement a planned programme of detached and outreach youth work, adapting strategies as needed to respond to emerging issues.
• Accurately record detached and outreach sessions, documenting key interactions and outcomes.
• Evaluate the impact of detached and outreach sessions on young people and the wider community, using appropriate methods and tools.
• Reflect on professional detached and outreach practice, identifying areas for personal and professional development.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the core principles underpinning outcomes-based youth work practice.
• Understand the importance of identifying specific and measurable outcomes for youth work interventions.
• Plan an outcomes-based youth work programme, incorporating relevant activities and resources.
• Implement the planned outcomes-based youth work programme effectively.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the outcomes-based youth work programme in achieving its intended outcomes.
• Understand how to communicate the outcomes of a youth work programme to key stakeholders, including young people, funders, and partner organisations.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the importance of building professional relationships with young people in the context of youth work.
• Understand the different ways of engaging with young people, considering their individual needs and preferences.
• Understand the importance of good communication skills for effective youth work activities.
• Communicate effectively with young people to develop a professional and supportive relationship.
• Support young people in engaging with their local community and accessing available resources.
• Understand how to support young people's information needs, ensuring they have access to accurate and relevant information.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand values, beliefs and spiritual development in a youth work setting
• Facilitate the exploration of values, beliefs and spiritual development in a youth work setting
• Understand the role of faith communities in the exploration of values, beliefs and spiritual development in a youth work setting
• Understand and evaluate youth work within a faith based context

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the core principles underpinning the mentoring of young people.
• Understand how to facilitate the learning and development needs of young people through effective mentoring techniques.
• Support young people in addressing their individual learning and development needs through targeted mentoring interventions.
• Promote the wellbeing, resilience, and overall achievement of young people through the establishment of a supportive mentoring relationship.
• Understand the professional boundaries that must be maintained within a mentoring relationship to ensure ethical and effective practice.
• Understand how to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the mentoring process, identifying areas for improvement and further development.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the benefits of young people participating in trips and residentials, including social, emotional, and educational development.
• Understand the relevant legislation, policy, and safeguarding requirements for youth trips and residentials, ensuring the safety and well-being of young people.
• Plan youth trips or residentials, including risk assessments, budgeting, and logistical arrangements.
• Use facilitation and evaluation techniques in trips and residentials to enable learners to self-assess and reframe their learning experiences.
• Work effectively as part of a team during a youth trip or residential, contributing to a positive and supportive environment.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the importance of group membership for young people's social and emotional development.
• Understand group work theory, including group dynamics, stages of group development, and different group work models.
• Understand the appropriate use of different leadership styles within groups, adapting leadership to the needs of the group and individual members.
• Understand how to manage conflict constructively in a group work setting, promoting positive communication and problem-solving skills.
• Evaluate a programme of group youth work activities, assessing its effectiveness in achieving its aims and objectives.
• Evaluate own role in the delivery of a programme of group youth work activities, identifying areas for personal development and improvement.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand what is meant by youth loneliness and isolation, including the factors that contribute to these experiences.
• Understand how to address youth loneliness and isolation effectively in youth work settings, utilising appropriate interventions and strategies.
• Plan and deliver a programme designed to focus on youth loneliness and isolation, actively involving young people as co-designers and co-facilitators in the process.
• Evaluate own practice and approaches to tackling youth loneliness and isolation, identifying areas for improvement and further development of skills.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role, functions and processes of management within an organisation.
• Understand the role of management in a youth work setting, including its specific challenges and opportunities.
• Understand performance management in a youth work setting, including setting objectives, providing feedback, and addressing underperformance.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to identify budgetary requirements within a youth work setting.
• Set a budget for a youth work activity or project.
• Manage a budget within a youth work setting.
• Evaluate the use of a budget in a youth work setting.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the range of issues that may affect young people with regard to relationships and sexual health, including consent, exploitation, and sexually transmitted infections.
• Understand how to support young people in regard to relationships and sexual health, promoting healthy relationships and responsible decision-making.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how youth work supports the referral of young people to specialist services and agencies when needed.
• Understand the range of referral options that are available for young people, including local and national support services.
• Support young people through a referral process, providing information, guidance, and advocacy to ensure they access the appropriate support.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the principles of reflective practice in youth work, including models of reflection and their application.
• Undertake self-directed reflection on own practice and continuing professional development needs.
• Use reflection to develop own and others' practice, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes.
• Maintain continuous professional development opportunities that support own youth work practice, keeping up-to-date with current legislation and best practice.

What you'll be able to do

• Know about the importance of safeguarding policies and procedures in providing a safe environment for young people in youth work settings.
• Know about roles and responsibilities in relation to keeping young people, vulnerable adults, self and colleagues safe in youth work settings.
• Assess risk in a youth work setting, identifying potential hazards and implementing appropriate control measures.
• Understand how to safeguard young people when using contemporary technologies, including online safety and responsible use of social media.
• Understand how youth work can help protect young people from harm and promote their well-being.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the principles of Social Action
• Understand the key elements of Social Action Projects when working with young people
• Understand how to address challenges when delivering Social Action projects
• Understand the importance of teamwork and leadership when developing a Social Action project
• Understand the impact of Social Action projects in the community
• Implement a Social Action project with young people

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the range of roles and functions of supervision within a youth work context, including support, guidance, and performance management.
• Understand organisational arrangements for providing supervision to youth workers, including frequency, format, and reporting procedures.
• Understand the requirements for creating a successful supervision environment, including trust, confidentiality, and open communication.
• Understand the importance of reflective practice and its application to youth work, including identifying areas for personal and professional development.
• Undertake a supervision session in the supervisor role, demonstrating effective communication, active listening, and constructive feedback skills.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the relevant legislation and policies that affect young people’s education and learning, including safeguarding and equality duties.
• Support young people to learn and achieve their individual learning goals, taking into account their diverse needs and aspirations.
• Understand how to collaborate with other professionals and agencies to support young people to achieve their learning outcomes.
• Work with young people to identify and make the most of available learning opportunities, both formal and informal.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the specific issues and challenges affecting young people who are looked after or are leaving care, including emotional, social, and practical considerations.
• Provide appropriate support to young people who are looked after or are leaving care, taking into account their individual needs and circumstances.
• Know about the relevant statutory and legal frameworks that relate to young people who are looked after or are leaving care, including their rights and entitlements.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the issues affecting young people who are refugees or seeking asylum
• Understand how to support young people who are refugees or seeking asylum
• Understand the statutory and legal frameworks in relation to protecting young people who are refugees or seeking asylum

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the issues affecting young people not in education, employment, training or that have been excluded from school.
• Support young people who are not in employment, education or training or excluded from school.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the various factors influencing a young person's transition from dependence to independence.
• Understand how to support young people in preparing for the practical challenges associated with achieving independence, such as managing finances and accommodation.
• Understand how to prepare young people for the emotional challenges of independence, including building resilience and coping with loneliness.
• Prepare young people to assess personal risks, make informed decisions, and protect themselves from harm as they move towards independence.
• Understand how to support young people's information and guidance needs by providing access to relevant resources and support services during their transition to independence.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the needs of young people with disabilities and/or diverse learning needs within a youth work setting.
• Know the rights of young people with disabilities and those with diverse learning needs.
• Contribute to the inclusion of young people with disabilities and diverse learning needs in the youth work setting.
• Support young people with disabilities and those with diverse learning needs to participate in a full range of activities and experiences.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the key purpose and role of youth work in supporting young people's development.
• Understand the key principles that underpin effective youth work practice.
• Understand the role of youth work in supporting young people within their local community.
• Understand different models of youth work delivery and their application in various contexts.
• Understand the skills, knowledge, qualities, and values required to practice as a youth support worker.
• Understand own skills, knowledge, qualities, and values required to practice youth support work and identify areas for personal development.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the various effects that trauma can have on young people's development and behaviour.
• Understand the principle concepts of trauma-informed practice and their application within youth work settings.
• Understand the term ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences’ (ACEs) and their potential long-term impact on young people.
• Understand how to create open dialogue and engage sensitively with a young person, adapting communication styles to meet their individual needs and circumstances.
• Understand how to utilise trauma-informed approaches to encourage the development of resilience and self-esteem in young people who have experienced trauma.
• Understand the potential impact of secondary trauma on youth workers and strategies for self-care and support.
• Understand how to facilitate empowerment in young people who have experienced trauma, promoting their agency and control over their lives.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the principles of staff management in a youth work setting, including recruitment, induction, and training.
• Understand how to promote and maintain effective working relationships within a youth work team.
• Understand how to manage conflict within a team, using appropriate communication and resolution strategies.
• Understand how to manage staff and volunteers in a youth work setting, ensuring their safety, wellbeing, and professional development.
• Understand how to review own management role and identify areas for development, reflecting on practice and seeking feedback.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the specific issues and challenges affecting young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ+).
• Understand how youth work principles and practices can be adapted to effectively support young people who are LGBTQ+.
• Understand how to create a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ young people within youth work settings.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the nature and extent of substance misuse amongst young people.
• Understand the impact of substance misuse on young people's development and well-being.
• Understand the impact of substance misuse on the provision of youth work services.
• Understand how youth work can effectively support young people who misuse substances.
• Understand the professional boundaries that apply to youth workers when working with young people who misuse substances, including legal and ethical considerations.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the factors that can affect young people in relation to poverty.
• Understand how youth work can support young people experiencing poverty.
• Understand how poverty may impact young people’s development.
• Understand how young people can be supported in relation to poverty.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the range of issues that can affect young people’s mental health and wellbeing, including social, emotional, and environmental factors.
• Understand how to provide appropriate support to young people to promote their mental health and wellbeing, recognising the limits of own role and responsibilities.
• Know about the relevant statutory and legal frameworks that relate to young people’s mental health and wellbeing, including safeguarding procedures.
• Understand the specific role of the youth worker in supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing, including signposting to specialist services.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the underlying issues contributing to involvement in or impact of youth violence and/or criminal activities
• Understand how to use youth work skills to support young people impacted by youth violence, child criminal exploitation and child sexual exploitation
• Evidence understanding of the impact of youth violence, youth criminal activity, child criminal exploitation and child sexual exploitation
• Understand the local and national frameworks for working with young people involved in youth violence, criminal activity, child criminal exploitation or child sexual exploitation

What you'll be able to do

• Use the principles and practice of participation and empowerment to plan activities with young people in a work-based setting, ensuring their voices are heard and valued.
• Understand the dynamics and structure of a group, including roles, responsibilities, and communication patterns.
• Deliver a youth work programme based on participatory processes, actively involving young people in decision-making and implementation.
• Work effectively within a group activity, contributing positively to the team and supporting the participation of others.
• Evaluate practice following the delivery of youth work programmes, reflecting on successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand what is meant by conflict and challenging behaviour in a youth work setting.
• De-escalate conflict and behaviour that challenges in youth work settings.
• Understand the role of feedback in relation to changed behaviour in a youth work setting.
• Understand when support is required in managing conflict and behaviour that challenges in a youth work setting.
• Develop own practice in relation to conflict and behaviour that challenges in youth work settings.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how young people develop during adolescence, including physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development.
• Understand how knowledge of adolescence impacts on youth work practice, including communication, engagement, and support strategies.
• Know where young people can get support during adolescence, including statutory services, voluntary organisations, and community groups.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the principles of young people’s participation within a youth work setting.
• Understand how young people’s participation is evidenced and documented in youth work practice.
• Support and promote young people’s active participation in youth work activities and programmes.
• Evaluate personal practice and identify areas for improvement in relation to supporting young people’s participation.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the nature of Digital Communities
• Understand how digitalisation and digital transformation impacts young people, the youth work sector and youth work practice
• Understand key principles in relation to working with young people in digital spaces and places