Children, Young People and Families Practitioner Apprenticeship

You can start this apprenticeship at any time, please contact us for further information.

This apprenticeship covers the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to be a Children, Young People and Families Practitioner, these include:

Knowledge

• Communication that enables the voice of the child, young person or family members to be heard
• Multiple factors that contribute to uncertainty in the lives of children, young people and families
• Equality, rights, diversity and cultural differences, and the values of the organisation in which you are working
• The range of potential safeguarding risk factors (e.g. domestic violence, membership of gangs, missing children, online activity, radicalisation and Prevent agenda), the different forms of harm to children and vulnerable adults (e.g. neglect, child sexual exploitation, physical abuse, emotional abuse) and the local and national thresholds for safeguarding
• the safeguarding requirements contained within mandatory local safeguarding training or nationally accredited equivalent
• Child, adolescent and adult development
• The spectrum of needs and how they may be met
• The principles of effective assessment and the importance of analysis and professional judgement

Skills

• Communicates in a way that enables the voice of the child, young person or family members to be heard
• Encourages individuals to engage positively with their community and relevant agencies and actively participate in the way their care and support is delivered
• Actively promotes respect, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Works together with children, young people and families to keep them safe and manage risk and promoting the development of skills the family need to successfully manage risk themselves
• Works with and supports other professionals to respond to safeguarding concerns
• Identifies the influences on the individual and the family and supports them to make informed choices
• Leads on the development and recording of holistic plans, delivery of interventions and evaluates their effectiveness
• Identifies and addresses barriers to accessing resources

Behaviours

Care: Respecting and valuing individuals to keep them safe, being affirming and working with them to help them make a positive difference to their lives

Compassion: Consideration and concern for children, young people and their families, combined with an understanding of the perspective of those you work with

Courage: Honesty and a positive belief in helping children, young people and families. Being confident when faced with confrontation, holding a safe space to manage and contain really difficult behaviours and working with children, young people and families to challenge and enable them to fulfil their potential 

Communication: Your work is based on building effective relationships, being perceptive and empathic and building a good rapport

Competence: The relationships you build to effect change for children, young people and families will be informed by social care ethics and values and will be developed through reflective practice.

Commitment: Creating sustainable change in others by working alongside children, young people and families and being authentic, consistent, patient, persistent and resilient

Your progress will be reviewed regularly through a mix of:

• Assignments and practical activities
• Reflective discussions
• Expert witness testimonies
• Workplace observations

Mandatory qualification
You’ll work towards the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, which must be completed before Gateway, along with Functional Skills (if required).

Gateway and End Point Assessment (EPA)
Once you’ve met all requirements and demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and behaviours outlined in the apprenticeship standard, your employer and Skills Development Tutor will confirm your readiness for Gateway.

Your performance in the independent EPA will determine your final grade: Pass or Distinction.

This programme combines on-the-job and off-the-job training to give you practical experience and structured learning.

• You’ll complete the minimum requirement of off-the-job training.
• You'll attend mandatory monthly tutor-led sessions
• Your independent study will be recorded in a reflective learning log, capturing your experiences, reflections, and achievements.
• A Skills Development Tutor will support you throughout, delivering regular learning and assessment sessions and working closely with your workplace mentor to monitor progress.

On successful completion, you will achieve the following:

• Level 4 Children, Young People and Families Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard
• Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare
• Functional Skills Maths and English (Optional)

You may wish to progress to a higher level of study, please speak to your Skills Development Tutor for information.

• You must be employed in a relevant job role.
• Ideally, you will hold a minimum GCSE grade C/4 (or equivalent) in English and maths. If not, we will assess this on an individual basis.
• Functional Skills is no longer a mandatory requirement for apprentices aged 19 or above. Apprentices who do not have Functional Skills and wish to opt out must have employer approval.
• To work in this industry, you will need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

There is no cost to the apprentice. Please get in touch for further information.