BA (Hons) Youth Worker (Degree Apprenticeship)

Employer Information

Partnering with Liverpool Hope University to offer our Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship allows you to shape your future workforce. Whether you are a local authority, a charitable trust, a community group or a private youth provision provider, this programme offers a cost-effective route to developing high-quality, work-ready professionals.

Why support a Youth Work Apprentice?

Our curriculum has been designed in collaboration with employers to meet the demands of an evolving youth work landscape. By embedding this learning within your organisation, you will experience immediate organisational benefits:

 - Grow your own talent: Provide a more accessible route into youth work, helping to attract candidates from a wider range of backgrounds and lived experiences to build a diverse, representative workforce.

 - Address critical skills gaps: Directly tackle local workforce shortages by training future youth workers who align with your organisational values.

 - Work-ready graduates: Because our apprentices seamlessly integrate academic, evidence-based training from experienced JNC Youth Workers with practical experience, they are capable, reflective professionals ready to make a meaningful impact.

 - Professional compliance: The course is a BA (Hons) Youth Work (JNC) integrated degree apprenticeship accredited by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and recognised by the JNC for youth and community workers for aligning with the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work.

Your commitments as an employer

To ensure the success of the apprentice, employer partners are expected to:

 - Pay the apprentice’s salary.

 - Release the apprentice for their scheduled university study days (typically 1 day per week).

 - Provide assessed professional practice opportunities and assign a dedicated workplace mentor to guide them.

 - Fund the programme via the Growth and Skills Levy or through government funding support.

Please view our Support and Funding tab for further details on funding available to you as an employer.

Support LHU provides:

- Onboarding assistance: Expert advice and dedicated support from our Apprenticeships team throughout the application and onboarding process.

- Financial guidance: Clear advice and support regarding government incentives, funding availability and digital levy accounts.

- Dedicated Skills Coach: A JNC-qualified Skills Coach assigned to your apprentice to support them with academic and wellbeing guidance.

 - Mentor support: Advice, resources and support for your wider team, including your workplace mentors.

Ready to address your workforce priorities? Email: apprenticeships@hope.ac.uk | Call: 0151 291 2281

...or complete the form below to receive your employer essentials guide:

About the Course

Apprenticeship Code: ST0522

The BA (Hons) Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship at Liverpool Hope University has been designed with employers to meet the demands of an evolving youth work landscape and respond to the growth of youth provision. 

During this apprenticeship you’ll gain the opportunity to work directly with young people, addressing challenges including mental health, inclusion and social development. Apprentices will receive expert training and one-to-one support from experienced, registered Youth Workers.   

Overview

Upon successful completion, graduates will be awarded a BA (Hons) Youth Work (JNC) integrated degree apprenticeship accredited by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and recognised by the JNC for youth and community workers for aligning with the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work.

Further information

To apply or for more information please contact: 

Email: apprenticeships@hope.ac.uk 
Tel: 0151 291 2281

Apprenticeships Hub Team
Liverpool Hope University
Hope Park
Liverpool
L16 9JD

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the programme of study information. Changing circumstances or changing requirements of external regulators and/or accreditation bodies may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. The University reserve the right to make changes if such action is considered by the University to be necessary.

Faculty Information

The BA (Hons) Primary 3-11 with Qualified Teacher Status Degree Apprenticeship at Liverpool Hope University is taught by the academic team in the School of Social Sciences under the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences.

Accreditation

The BA (Hons) Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship is accredited by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and recognised by the JNC for youth and community workers for aligning with the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work.

Curriculum Overview

Year 1 (Level 4) 

Modules include:

- Introduction to Youth Work Purpose and Principles

- Young People's Lived Realities, Contemporary Issues and Social Justice

- Introduction to History and Identity Introduction to Youth Work

- Management and Leadership: Managing Self (Professional Practice)

- Key Issues and Rights: Contemporary Issues and Social Justice

- Assessed Professional Practice 

Year 2 (Level 5)

Modules include:

- Explorations of Youth Work Theories and Methods

- Youth Work for Social Justice: Contemporary Issues and Social Justice

- Management and Leadership: People and Projects in Youth Work (Professional Practice)

- Management and Leadership: Systems and Policies in Youth Work (Professional Practice)

- Assessed Professional Practice

Year 3 (Level 6)

Modules include:

- Advanced Studies in Youth Work

- Management and Leadership in Youth Work: Organisation and Governance

- Assessed Professional Practice

- Management and Leadership in Youth Work: Professional Practice

Assessed Professional Practice

Apprentices will need to complete a minimum of 800 hours of assessed professional practice in more than one setting. This practice will be supported by the university and your employer.

Delivery

Apprentices will typically spend three years on the apprenticeship course working towards the Apprenticeship Youth Worker standard with the final 30 credits of the BA (Hons) degree attributed to the Apprenticeship Assessment. 

Apprentices will engage in ‘off-the-job’ teaching and learning activities one day a week. Apprentices also complete a minimum of 800 hours of assessed professional practice during their apprenticeship.

Apprentices and their line manager/workplace mentor will be supported by a JNC professionally qualified University Skills Coach. The Skills Coach will meet with the apprentice and line manager/mentor at least four times per year, to support and monitor progress towards the apprenticeship Standard. 

Entry Requirements

All applicants are individually assessed for suitability. A minimum of 104 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications: 

Alternative Assessment

Admission can be considered via successful completion of an alternative assessment for applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements. This process will assess the applicants prior knowledge and related work experience for the Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship. 

Please read and download our Alternative Assessment Process and Entry Criteria and Guidance Notes for more clarification:

 - Apprenticeships Alternative Assessment Process and Entry Requirements 

 - Apprenticeships Alternative Assessment Guidance Notes

 - Apprenticeships Alternative Assessment Marking Criteria

Subject Requirements

All candidates will need to complete an English and Maths initial assessment as part of the application process. For those applicants that do not possess their certificates, they will need to demonstrate an adequate understanding via the assessment. There will be a discussion between the Skills Coach, Employer Lead and applicant as to whether the applicant would benefit from the completion of these qualifications before the completion of the apprenticeship. 

Additional Requirements

Offers will be subject to successful interview, as well as an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

Eligibility

The apprentice and employer must make sure the following criteria is met to be eligible for funding. If you don’t meet these requirements, please contact us at apprenticeships@hope.ac.uk before applying:

 - You will be aged 18 or over before you start your course

 - You are a UK citizen with the Right to Work and Study in the UK (or you are a Non UK citizen with the Right to Work and Study in the UK)

 - You are currently in employment in England and will spend at least 50% of your working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship, and you are not self-employed

 - You are not planning to leave the UK within the next 12 months (excluding holidays)

 - If you’ve already undertaken an apprenticeship, you will have completed or achieved and left that apprenticeship before undertaking this apprenticeship with Liverpool Hope University

 - This apprenticeship with Liverpool Hope University will not duplicate training or assessment you have already received from another source

 - You are not already being funded by the Department for Education or any other government department for any other training or education

Assessment

The Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship (Integrated Degree) incorporates a diverse range of assessments, including coursework, practice/competency- based learning, presentations, case studies and written assignments.   

These assessments are carefully designed to ensure apprentices demonstrate competence in alignment with the JNC National Occupational Standards for the Youth Work Degree Apprenticeship Standard.

Practice learning is a consistent theme throughout the duration of the course. Apprentices will complete assessed professional practice with a total minimum of 800 hours throughout the apprenticeship.

Apprentices will also participate in four Tripartite Reviews each year, conducted by a University Skills Coach. The Skills Coach is JNC professionally qualified and has previous experience studying and working within the youth work sector to be able to support the apprentice with the successful completion of their course. 

Support

Apprentices will be eligible for a range of support offered by Liverpool Hope University, including:

- Student Support including Learning Support, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Counselling

- Library

- Careers and Employability including job opportunities, career support and further study information.

Apprentices will also be able to obtain a student ID card to benefit from student offers and discounts including discounted annual gym and sports membership at our Hope Park Sports centre.

Funding

Maximum Funding: £20,000 (dependent on individual assessment).

Degree Apprenticeships are paid for by the employer. 

For employers with a payroll below £3 million:

The Government will pay 95% if the cost of the apprenticeship training and assessment for apprentices of any age, for employers who will not be paying the apprenticeship levy. Employers may also be eligible for extra employer incentives.  

For employers with a payroll above £3 million:

Since May 2017 employers can use their Apprenticeship Levy contributions towards the cost of the apprenticeship using their digital account. Liverpool Hope University will agree to a payment schedule and discuss funding availability before an apprenticeship course commences.