Responding to rising expectations
There are many community based projects for young people that take place within the Diocese of Gloucester and a significant proportion of this provision is run by the local church. However there is a growing expectation from funders, local and national government, parents and the local community for such providers to demonstrate that such provision is safe, trust worthy and that good practice is been observed by all.
To meet such an expectation the Diocese of Gloucester has developed the QIYWI scheme (Quality in youth work initiative) along with local youth agency partners. Such a scheme seeks to reward good practice with locally recognised certificates of quality. Churches who therefore run activities for young people are strongly being encouraged demonstrate the quality of provision by participating in the scheme.
At the same time in order to comply with best practice and proposed Government legislation, Archbishop’s council passed the resolution that all volunteers who work with young people on behalf of the Church of England are to be encouraged to achieve either a Bishop’s or Archbishop’s certificate in youth work.
In so doing, the church is responsibly responding to the expectation of society for safe, quality work with young people and is ensuring that church led youth work continues on a firm foundation for the future.
About the course
The Core Skills
The Bishop’s/Archbishop’s certificates offers seven core areas of training:
The worker and God
The worker as an individual
The worker and young people
The worker and their team
The worker and their organisation
The workers and community
The worker, policies and procedures
You will be expected to attend a seminar/workshop on each of the core skills and work on and submit a portfolio/record of learning.
Level
The Bishop’s certificate is equivalent to NVQ level 1 and the archbishop’s certificate is equivalent to NVQ 2. These certificates are not recognised outside the Church of England but for those who want such study to be externally accredited there are options for this to happen via Diocesan links with Gloucestershire’s county youth service (see further subsections fo this site).
For those who undertake the course, they could achieve for their youth work project a higher grade QIYWI certificate.
Training Delivery
This will be done by the DYO plus other experienced youth ministers/workers through locally organised training sessions, where there is the demand.
Why has this approach been developed?
At the heart of the gospel is the call to love God "with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" and "your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:37). The Core Competencies have been developed to encourage you to make this central to all your work with young people (aged 11 to 25).
The Core Skills enable you to equip young people to:
• Develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to move from dependence through independence to interdependence in all aspects of their lives, including their relationship with God and community.
• They provide opportunities for us to reflect on our own faith and beliefs and to be open to the challenge of the Holy Spirit, who brings Christian growth as we respond.
Some questions answered
I’ve been working with young people for years,
why do I need to do this now?
As the Government moves closer to making training compulsory for all who work with children and young people, the Church of England has (through the Certificates) put the foundation for this in place and is seen to be working to achieve best practice. In many cases the Certificates will provide the opportunity to highlight the good work you are already doing.
I have already done some training, why do I need to do any more?
The Bishop’s and Archbishops’ Certificates are designed to be systematic in their approach providing the opportunity to look in greater depth at the range of issues concerning work with young people.
In the future, those who deliver training to youth workers will be encouraged to have the Core Competencies in mind so it will be easier to include written or other work in a Bishop’s or Archbishops’ Certificate portfolio.
Once we have received your registration form we will discuss with you how the training you have already done contributes to your Certificate status.
I’m already stretched for time, will I be able to fit this in?
We have tried to make the delivery of seminars/workshops as flexible as
possible, offering courses on Saturdays and in localities based on what is best for local leaders. Each course is designed to give youth leaders time to reflect on the seminars/workshops they attend and to compile their portfolio with support.
Details of the next course due to start: