How does the Welsh Government guarantee the suitability and effectiveness of non-qualified youth workers and youth support workers in Wales?
Youth work in Wales is delivered by a wide range of individuals, including those that hold recognised youth worker and youth support worker qualifications and those who do not, and by individuals who undertake their role in a paid capacity as well as volunteers. Local authorities and voluntary sector organisations are responsible for determining arrangements to ensure the suitability and effectiveness of those delivering youth work services on their behalf. These arrangements will run in parallel to cross-sector safeguarding procedures such as DBS checks.
Changes have recently been introduced requiring additional groups of practitioners working within the youth work sector to register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC). In addition to paid, qualified youth workers and youth support workers, those working towards recognised qualifications and being paid to undertake their role must now also register with the Council. These changes were introduced as part of The Education Workforce Council (Additional Categories of Registration) (Wales) Order 2023.