CYPN reports that Choose Youth fears transfer to Care Sector Skills Council. In a new twist the attack on youth work as informal education gathers pace. Both Doug Nicholls and Sue Atkins had already alerted us to the possibility that the oversight of training and professional development of youth workers could be on its way to a destination more appropriate to social work than social education.

Andy Hillier’s report continues:

Under a proposal being considered by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, youth work could fall under the remit of Skills for Care & Development, which currently represents a broad range of staff working in early years, children and young people’s services, and social work and social care.

Lifelong Learning UK previously oversaw youth work but the sector skills council was closed in March following a government review last year. Lifelong Learning UK’s role included setting national occupational standards for youth workers and working alongside the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Workers to ensure workers received proper training.

But the organisers of the coalition Choose Youth plan to oppose Skills for Care & Development taking over responsibility for youth work skills development. In a statement, the campaigning group said the transfer would “result in responsibility for the national occupational standards for youth work, apprenticeships and qualifications being vested in an organisation that does not have the empowerment of young people and education as its core purpose”.

Choose Youth is planning to raise its concerns at a meeting with the Community and Learning Development Panel on 13 July.