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This is a guide for you to evaluate your skills when working with young people. This has evolved from a project to
develop youth worker competencies. This self-assessment tool is based on the first level, or core competencies, developed to describe the skills and knowledge for paid and voluntary youth work in
Aotearoa.
Purpose
The development of Youth Worker Competencies will provide a framework for organisations to standardise the skills and
knowledge needed by youth workers. This framework will help to assess current practices, to develop youth worker training programmes and to provide a broad guide for professional development. Youth
worker competencies can also play a part in recruitment and selection. This document has been developed in consultation with a wide range of professionals in the youth sector in order to meet these
needs.
Background
Until recently, young people had not experienced consistent
improvement in their health status. During the 1970s and 1980s the mortality rate rose in the 15-24 age group while consistently falling for others. This trend for young people has reversed since 1990,
as youth health statistics have begun to improve. This welcome improvement has been marked and consistent since.
This issue of youth health presents a challenge to both the youth services sector and the wider community. A lack of a formal
definition of youth work has meant the workforce has lacked resources, training and clear career paths. It has also created a perception that youth workers do not have an equal standing with their peers
in the sector. These factors combine to create a volatile workforce and unsatisfactory outcomes for young people and their families.
Youth workers bring a passion and specific expertise to their work with young people. The
implementation of workforce competencies will strengthen their ability to provide effective outcomes for young people and their families and complement the work undertaken by the varied other
professionals working within the community. It will also provide a foundation for further strengthening the professional profile of youth workers. This development will assist with improving staff
retention, defining appropriate remuneration, improving conditions of employment and developing clear career pathways for professionals within the industry. Recently, however, surveyed youth workers reported improving recognition of their role, leading to benefits in the sector
such as improved staff retention. The setting of sector-wide standards is an appropriate and positive response to this increasing recognition and will ensure this trend continues.
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