Start Date
- September 2025, Apprenticeship
This programme is subject to revalidation with our University partner, UEA, ready to accept new entrants from September 2025. Therefore, for next year there may be some changes to this advertised course content following the revalidation process.
Summary
Our Youth Work Degree Apprenticeship programme is designed to offer a comprehensive and professionally recognised qualification, equipping you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to make a meaningful impact to young people’s lives. Aligned with the National Youth Agency's (NYA) standards and Occupational Standards for Youth Worker, the course has been co-designed with young people and stakeholder including young people, employers, local councils, charities and youth workers from across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, ensuring it reflects current real-world needs and prepares you for the evolving future of youth work.
Throughout the programme, you will benefit from one day of learning each week (including lectures, seminars, and online study), tailored to fit around your work and life commitments. You will complete a minimum of 800 hours of professional practice in at least two different settings, supported by experienced practitioners who will mentor and assess you based on National Occupational Standards. In your final year, you will be fully prepared to complete End Point Assessment (EPA) which provides you with the opportunity to showcase the knowledge, skills and behaviours you will have developed throughout the programme.
The curriculum blends theory, policy, and practice, helping you critically engage with key issues in youth work while providing hands-on experience in areas such as safeguarding, multi-agency working, informal education, active citizenship, mentoring, group work, research, and project management. You will develop practical expertise in communication, anti-discriminatory practice, and evaluation, as well as the ability to drive positive change in organisations and communities.
We are seeking JNC recognition as a professional youth and community work qualification for this programme, though the validation process is not yet complete.
Why our College?
Flexible study options
Most of our courses require two days per week attendance at college. This means you can continue to work alongside your studies and balance other commitments.
Smaller class sizes
Our smaller class sizes mean you get all the support you need during your studies. This is a crucial difference to larger universities and provides you with access to your lecturers when you need them.
Outstanding progression
97% of our full time graduates and 100% of our part time graduates are in employment or further study 6 months after completing their degree (Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes, 2019, for CCN, published by Office for Students)
Entry Requirements
Employers select potential apprentices and candidates are interviewed jointly with CCN during the admissions protocol. Employers are able to enrol current employees and are also able to create a new job role. Apprentices will need to have a contract of employment for the full duration of the programme (typical duration 36 months).
In order to enrol onto this programme, individuals must have:
- English and maths (GCSE grade 4/ C or Level 2 Functional Skills) or demonstrate through a BKSB assessment that they are working at that level and will be able to achieve this qualification
- 100 hours of youth work experience or 80 UCAS points
- an enhanced DBS that would allow the apprentice to work as a Youth Worker
Assessment
The course uses a range of assessment strategies which allows learners to be assessed on theoretical issues to assist them in their preparation into a work environment. Assessments are varied and innovative and are aimed to develop transferable skills to support employability. They include essays, case studies, journals, individual and group presentations, academic posters, reports, portfolio/CPD building, professional discussion, examination, and exhibitions. Each module assessment has been considered alongside the knowledge, skill, and behaviours required in practice. Therefore, assessment activities (both formative and summative) have been designed to encourage authentic assessment that support theory-practice links, and to develop transferrable employability skills specific to the sector.
Career Progression
This programme not only prepares you for a range of career paths, including roles as a youth worker, community development officer, family support worker, but also empowers you to shape the future of youth work. Whether you are just starting out or looking to enhance your current role, this apprenticeship is your pathway to becoming a confident and qualified JNC professional youth worker.
Fees
Apprenticeship course fees are subject to the age of the apprentice, and the size of the company.
For employers with less than 50 employees who do not pay the apprenticeship levy and who take on an apprentice who is aged between 16-21 at the start of their apprenticeship, there will be no direct cost and the full training costs will be covered by Government funding. If the apprentice is aged 22+ the government partially subsides the training costs and the employer will need to pay 5% of the costs. In the case of this course, the fee would be £1000.
For an employer with more than 50 employees a 5% charge will be implemented regardless of the age of the apprentice which in this case would be £1000.
A levy paying company will pay the full cost of the apprenticeship from their levy account which in this case would be £20,000.
Please note that course fees are to be paid by the employer and apprentices must not be asked to make a financial contribution toward their training.
To discuss apprenticeship course fees in more detail or for more information on recruiting an apprentice, please contact 01603 773365 or Apprenticeships@ccn.ac.uk.
