Child and Youth Care Worker

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Child and Youth Care Worker. A Child and Youth Care Worker contributes to the provision of holistic therapeutic care, and supports the development of children and youth in order to ensure the appropriate development of the individuals through the application of professional life space interventions. A qualified learner will be able to: • Provide holistic, basic and developmental care for orphaned, vulnerable and at risk children and youth. • Apply behaviour management and support techniques in routine child and youth care contexts. • Implement life space work and life space counselling. • Maintain planned environments in child and youth care work. • Participate in developmental assessment of children and youth. • Assist with the implementation of programmes and activities to deal with identified needs. • Advocate for the rights of children and youth. • Undertake basic Child and Youth care administration.

The majority of people in Africa are young and Africa has a growing population. Children and young people are specifically vulnerable and the key success factor for our growth and survival is to ensure that our children and young people have the best possible chance for positive development. Thus the child and youth care workers is critical for our future. This Occupational Certificate will replace the current legacy qualification. This qualification will be an enhancement of the current qualification and will ensure articulation to professional levels. The Occupational Certificate will create a career path opportunity for current and new entrants into the profession and this profession has been identified as both critical and scarce in the latest sector skills plans. The occupation Child and Youth Care Worker is relevant within the National Development plan. This Occupation is specifically recognised by the Children's Act as a key profession to address and serve the needs of children. The implementation of this qualification will enhance the quality of services being provided to vulnerable children and youth. Regulations to the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 for the registration of Child and Youth Care workers (at the Auxiliary level) requires an Occupational qualification for the purpose of registration.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • Level 3 with Communication.

• Identify, assess and meet the holistic (physical, emotional, social, cognitive, spiritual) needs of children and youth at different stages of their development.
• Understand and identify the behaviour of children and young people within a range of contexts.
• Intervene within the life space of children and youth in order to appropriately manage and support the behaviour of children and young people.
• Contextualise the application of the professionally accepted behaviour management models.
• Intervene in the daily activities of children and youth to realise therapeutic and developmental objectives.
• Establish and maintain appropriate relationships with children and youth that will facilitate the provision of holistic therapeutic care, and support the development for them.
• Manage the total environment to create a developmental and therapeutic milieu.
• Take action to improve self-awareness and improve personal performance as a child and youth care worker.
• Identify key developmental areas and participate constructively in a multi-disciplinary team to compile and implement the individual development plan within the life space of children and youth.
• Implement, uphold and realise child and youth rights in the life space.
• Complete the required documents and draft the regulated reports within a child and youth care context.