Upholding Our Profession
Securing Our Future
A visual analysis of the Youth Work Alliance's position paper. This infographic translates the sector's critical challenges and strategic vision into a clear, data-driven narrative, highlighting the urgent need to protect professional standards, secure sustainable funding, and value the essential contribution of youth work across these islands.
The Immediate Challenge: A Threat to Professional Standards
A primary catalyst for this call to action is the proposal to re-designate Level 3 qualifications as sufficient for a 'qualified' youth worker. This is viewed as a serious threat, potentially devaluing decades of progress towards establishing youth work as a graduate-level profession and undermining the JNC pay scales which are built upon this foundation.
The current standard for professional youth work roles in Northern Ireland is a degree-level qualification. This ensures practitioners possess the critical thinking, theoretical knowledge, and ethical grounding required for complex, autonomous work with young people. The chart illustrates the stark contrast between this established standard and a potential dilution.
The Foundation of Professionalism
Degree-level qualifications are not arbitrary; they reflect the multifaceted competencies outlined in the National Occupational Standards (NOS). A professional youth worker's role extends far beyond simple activity provision, encompassing strategic design, critical evaluation, and profound ethical responsibilities.
Professional Youth Worker
Strategic Design & Delivery
Developing and implementing impactful programmes.
Critical Reflective Practice
Continuously evaluating and improving methods.
Ethical Governance
Navigating complex ethical dilemmas with integrity.
Community Engagement
Fostering social cohesion and good relations.
The Funding Crisis & Pay Disparity
Chronic underfunding forces "unavoidable deviations" from the JNC pay scales, particularly in the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). This creates significant pay disparity and devalues the profession, making it difficult to attract and retain highly qualified practitioners.
The "Brain Drain" Phenomenon
The combination of lower pay and high demand for youth work skills leads to a "brain drain," where other sectors recruit experienced youth workers. While this acknowledges their skills, it weakens the core youth work sector, which invests heavily in their initial training and development. The proposed solution is a mature partnership model where other sectors commission youth work *organisations*, not just individuals.
A Unique Strategic Position
Northern Ireland is uniquely positioned as a conduit for innovation, situated at the intersection of two critical strategic axes. The North/South axis (NSETS) ensures all-island standards, while the East/West axis (JETS) provides UK-wide recognition. This creates a unique bridge, allowing best practice to flow in all directions.
All-Island Axis
NSETS Standards
UK-Wide Axis
JETS Recognition
Northern Ireland: The Strategic Bridge
The Keystone: NSETS holds a formal seat on the UK-wide JETS committee, creating a unique, structural link that enables bi-directional learning and innovation.
A Unified Call to Action
Securing the future of youth work requires a collective effort. The Youth Work Alliance issues a clear set of demands and recommendations for all stakeholders to ensure the profession is valued, respected, and properly resourced.
| Stakeholder Group | Core Action Required |
|---|---|
| Youth Work Sector | Champion professional standards and fair pay. Unite voice, embrace collaboration, and commit to continuous professional development. |
| Government & Funders | Provide adequate, multi-annual, sustainable funding. Uphold degree-level standards, commit to pay parity, and resource genuine partnerships. |
| NSETS & JETS | Uphold rigorous standards, maintain UK-wide alignment, inform curriculum, and support professional mobility and fair pay frameworks (JNC). |