Occupational Summary
A Youth Worker or Youth Work Manager on a Level 6 apprenticeship uses rights-based, person-centred relationships to engage with young people (aged 11–19, or up to 25 for those with additional needs) to promote social, emotional and personal development through informal education approaches. They work across a range of settings — for example youth projects, educational and health environments, faith sectors, youth clubs, alternative education provisions, schools, hospitals and youth custody — and are responsible for planning, delivering and evaluating youth work curricula and programmes with individuals and groups. Apprentices work autonomously and under supervision, manage staff and volunteers, may have responsibility for building or project management (including budgets) and maintain financial and administrative records while liaising with statutory, voluntary and community partners, families and funders.
This Level 6 apprenticeship covers 71 KSBs (knowledge, skills and behaviours), has a typical duration of 36 months and a maximum funding band of £20,000. End-point assessment is carried out via observation of practice with questions, a professional discussion (assessing Knowledge K4) and a presentation with questions (assessing Knowledge K5).
View official Skills England source text
A youth worker is someone who uses rights-based, person-centred relationships to engage with young people to promote their social, emotional, and personal development using informal education approaches. This occupation can be found in a range of settings where young people are present, including (but not limited to) youth projects, educational settings, health environments and faith sector. The settings may be informal, such as youth clubs, activity-based or social action projects, or more formal, such as Local Authority Children's Services, hospitals, schools, alternative education provisions or youth custody. In this occupation and context, 'youth' refers to young people aged 11 to 19, or up to the age of 25 for those with additional needs. The broad purpose of the occupation is to enable young people to develop holistically, working with young people to facilitate personal, social and educational development. This is to enable them to develop their voice, influence and place in society, and reach their individual and collective potential. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working with young people to plan, deliver and evaluate the youth work curriculum and programmes with individuals and groups. They will receive supervision from their line manager but will also work autonomously and manage other staff, which may include volunteers, youth support/assistants, youth support workers, peer mentors. They may be responsible for building management, such as youth clubs and youth project premises or mobile units depending on the size or structure of the organisation. They will be responsible for managing projects (including budgets) and maintaining appropriate financial and other administrative records. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with voluntary, charitable and statutory services, such as youth services, education, health, social and community provisions. They will also engage with a range of other partners and stakeholders, such as funders, families, and allied professionals.
What's in the Delivery Pack?
Every section is tailored specifically to the ST0522 standard, using official KSB data, the published assessment plan, and sector-specific context.
KSB Interpretations
Plain-English interpretation of every Knowledge, Skill and Behaviour
EPA Preparation
End-point assessment readiness, gateway checklist and method guidance
Delivery Risks
Occupation-specific risks, mitigations and early warning signs
Delivery Model Options
Model-selection guide comparing day release, block release and front-loaded approaches
On/Off-the-Job Mapping
Which KSBs are best taught by the provider vs developed in the workplace
Initial Assessment & RPL
Starting points, prior learning recognition and programme adaptation
English, Maths & Digital
Where functional skills embed naturally and standalone qualification guidance
Employer Engagement Guide
Employer commitments, progress reviews and workplace engagement guidance
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Qualifications & Recognition
Mandated Qualifications
JNC endorsed professional Level degree in Youth Work (Level 6 (integrated degree))
https://www.nya.org.uk/youth-work/jnc/
English & Maths
English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules .
Typical Job Titles
Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours
Knowledge
31- K1: The importance of building trust and rapport, and methods for achieving this.
- K2: Professional relationship boundaries and the implications of these for youth workers.
- K3: Communication styles and methods, including barriers to communication and ways to overcome these.
- K4: Different models of youth work e.g. Outreach, Detached, Open access, Targeted, Social Action, Digital
- K5: Theories of management and leadership e.g. inter-professional and inter-disciplinary working.
- + 26 more items
Skills
30- S1: Evaluate and utilise a range of styles of communication suited to the audience, e.g. verbal, non-verbal, written and ele...
- S2: Maintain professional boundaries in relationships with young people and colleagues.
- S3: Select and use suitable youth work models for the needs of young people they are engaging with.
- S4: Work in partnership with young people to develop suitable services.
- S5: Utilise appropriate methods and tools for planning, monitoring and evaluating youth work.
- + 25 more items
Behaviours
10- B1: Work in an anti-oppressive, anti-discriminatory manner
- B2: Act as an ambassador for young people and youth work.
- B3: Leads and manages by example, demonstrating inclusive and participatory behaviours in their work.
- B4: Work collaboratively for the benefit of young people by personal example, encouraging and facilitating cooperation, trus...
- B5: Be a reflective practitioner.
- + 5 more items
Duties (10)
Establish relationships with young people, communities and partners
Establish, manage and develop different youth work provisions.
Manage and develop staff, projects and facilities.
Work with other agencies to develop services across a community.
Design, lead, implement and evaluate a youth work curriculum.
Lead on rights-based youth work, and voice and influence strategies.
Lead project development, implementation and evaluation.
Engage in continuous professional development.
Demonstrate professional youth work values and ethical practice.
Manage provision within relevant legislative frameworks
End-Point Assessment
Assessment Plan
Type: PDF
Version & Source
- Version
- 1.1
- End-point assessment plan revised.
- Last changed
- 15 Jul 2025
- Earliest start
- 15 Jul 2025
- Approved for delivery
- 11 Feb 2022
- EQA Provider
- Office for Students
- Sector Subject Area
- 1.3 Health and social care
- Trailblazer
- TB0371
- Last checked
- 11 Mar 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What knowledge, skills and behaviours are in the ST0522 standard?▼
The Youth worker apprenticeship has 31 knowledge items, 30 skills, and 10 behaviours that apprentices must demonstrate.
How long is the Youth worker apprenticeship?▼
The typical duration is 36 months, with a maximum funding band of £20,000.
What does a delivery guide for ST0522 include?▼
The KSB Planner delivery guide includes plain-English KSB interpretations, EPA preparation guidance, delivery risk analysis, on/off-the-job mapping, employer engagement strategies, and more — all tailored to ST0522.
Data sourced from Skills England. KSB Planner delivery guides are an interpretation and planning aid based on official published source material — not an official regulator-issued document.