The Level 4 Children, Young People And Families Practitioner, and the 61 providers delivering it.
Working with children, young people and families, including carers, to achieve positive and sustainable change in their lives.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices develop the knowledge and skills needed to work directly with children, young people, families, and carers to bring about positive, lasting change. The programme covers person-centred practice, safeguarding, effective communication, and working within legal and ethical frameworks. Apprentices learn to assess need, plan interventions, and work alongside other services and professionals. There is also a strong focus on understanding child development, trauma-informed approaches, and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries throughout all aspects of practice.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Day-to-day work typically involves meeting with children, young people, and families to assess their situations and agree on support plans. Apprentices attend multi-agency meetings, keep accurate case records, liaise with schools, health services, and housing teams, and report concerns in line with safeguarding procedures. Depending on the setting, they may also deliver group sessions or outreach work. Strong written and verbal communication is central to the role, as is managing a caseload under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into qualified practitioner or senior caseworker roles within children's services, youth justice, early help, family support, and the voluntary sector. Many completers progress to Level 6 study in social work or related disciplines, working toward registration with Social Work England or other relevant bodies. Typical employers include local authorities, charities, children's centres, and residential care providers. The role suits those building a long-term career in children's social care, youth work, or family intervention services.
61 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
NTG Training is an apprenticeship training provider based in Chester, delivering government-funded p...
Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College (HLNSC) is a Further Education college group made u...
St Helens College is a large further education provider in the North West offering apprenticeships a...
Acorn Training is a national training provider delivering apprenticeships, training, employability s...
Wiltshire College & University Centre is a further and higher education college offering a broad por...
TrainPlus is a UK training provider delivering bespoke apprenticeship and training solutions for bot...
Realise is a longstanding work-based learning and training provider that has been delivering trainin...
The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise that has delivered high-quality training an...
Independent Training Services Ltd (ITS) is a national provider of vocational education and workforce...
3Spirit Training is a UK-based Skills for Care Centre of Excellence established in 2012 that works c...
Norton Webb is an independent training provider specialising in government-funded adult apprenticesh...
Lakes College is a further and higher education provider in West Cumbria offering a wide range of te...
Lewtay Training is a specialist apprenticeship and staff development provider with over 20 years’ ex...
Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) offers a wide range of technical and professional education o...
Training Works is a nationally recognised apprenticeship training provider specialising in Adult Car...
The Isle of Wight College is a further and higher education college established in 1951 that provide...
Shipley College is a further education college based in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Saltaire, ...
Trendy Pooches Training Academy is the training arm of Trendy Pooches, an established dog grooming b...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as Family Support Worker, Early Help Practitioner, Youth Justice Worker, Children's Keyworker, or Young People's Support Worker. Some completers move into Residential Childcare Worker posts or take up practitioner roles within targeted early intervention teams. The specific title varies by employer, but these positions carry direct casework responsibility for children, young people, or family units facing identified needs or risks.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, practitioners commonly progress to Senior Family Support Worker, Team Leader, or Lead Practitioner, taking on oversight of cases and sometimes line management of junior staff. Those who pursue a specialist track might move into Youth Offending Team Officer, SEND Support Coordinator, or Looked After Children Reviewing Officer roles. Longer term, leadership paths include Service Manager or Practice Lead, while others move into qualified social work via further study.
Where these roles sit
Local authorities are the largest employers, particularly within early help, children's services, and youth offending teams. Third-sector organisations, including charities and community interest companies working with vulnerable families, also recruit at this level. NHS-linked family hubs, schools with pastoral teams, residential children's homes run by private and charitable providers, and youth services sit within scope too. Roles exist across both urban and rural areas throughout England, in statutory and non-statutory settings.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Assessment confirms that the apprentice can work effectively with children, young people, and families to bring about genuine, lasting change. Learning takes place in the workplace, with the apprentice applying their developing knowledge, skills, and behaviours directly in their role throughout the programme. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice and their employer must confirm readiness, a stage commonly called the gateway, where evidence of competence is reviewed. The final assessment then establishes whether the apprentice meets the standard required of a qualified practitioner. Assessment arrangements for many standards are currently being updated; check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building a strong evidence base from early in the programme makes the final stages considerably less stressful. Apprentices should keep records of their practice, including case work, reflections, and feedback from supervisors, as they go rather than trying to reconstruct evidence later. Working closely with both the employer and the training provider throughout helps ensure that workplace activity is aligned with what the assessment requires. Regular progress reviews are a practical way to identify any gaps in knowledge or experience before the gateway is reached.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile, ideally higher given the relatively modest cohort sizes common in care sector apprenticeships. Strong providers will have demonstrable links with employers in early help, children's social care, youth work, or family support services, and should be able to show that off-the-job learning maps directly to real caseload settings. Apprentice satisfaction scores matter here: practice-based learning depends heavily on how well the provider supports learners through emotionally demanding work.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers who can't explain how their curriculum connects to the specific practice context you work in, whether that's targeted early help, residential care, or family intervention. A high volume of learners paired with a low or declining achievement rate can indicate stretched tutors and weak pastoral support, both serious concerns for a standard where learner wellbeing directly affects practice quality. Vague answers about how they handle safeguarding within the programme itself are also a warning sign.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What proportion of your tutors and assessors have direct experience working with children, young people and families in a statutory or voluntary sector role?
- How do you structure off-the-job hours so they reinforce what apprentices are doing in their day-to-day caseload rather than running parallel to it?
- Can you show us examples of how past apprentices have evidenced the knowledge and skills required for End Point Assessment?
- How do you support apprentices who are dealing with emotionally difficult or traumatic casework during their programme?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two years?
- Which employers are you currently delivering this standard with, and in what service settings?
- How do you keep the curriculum current with changes to statutory guidance and practice frameworks?
Common questions
What entry requirements do employers and candidates need to meet for this apprenticeship?
There are no nationally set entry requirements for this standard, so individual employers and training providers set their own criteria. In practice, most employers look for some prior experience of working with children, young people, or families in a paid or voluntary capacity. Candidates will need functional skills at level 2 in English and maths, or equivalent GCSEs, before they sit their end-point assessment if not already held.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how is learning fitted around work?
The typical duration is 24 months, though the exact minimum and off-the-job learning requirements are subject to ongoing policy changes under current Skills England reforms. Check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) website for up-to-date figures. Throughout the programme, the apprentice remains employed and applies learning directly in their role, working with children, young people, families, and carers.
How is this apprenticeship assessed and what is the end-point assessment?
Before assessment, the apprentice must reach gateway, meaning their employer and training provider confirm they have demonstrated the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours. The end-point assessment then confirms occupational competence. Assessment models for many standards are being updated, so check the current specification on gov.uk or the IfATE website for the precise assessment methods that apply to this standard at the time of enrolment.
How does the funding work and what will the apprenticeship cost my organisation?
The funding band for this standard is £6,000, which is the maximum government contribution towards training and assessment costs. Levy-paying employers draw from their digital apprenticeship service account. Non-levy employers pay 5% co-investment, with the government covering the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing toward training costs. Any additional costs such as wages remain the employer's responsibility regardless of size.
What does an apprentice in this role actually do day to day?
Day-to-day work varies by employer and setting but typically includes assessing the needs of children, young people, and their families, building trusting relationships, supporting families through challenges such as domestic difficulties or safeguarding concerns, and working alongside other professionals including social workers, health visitors, and education staff. The apprentice maintains case records, contributes to care or support plans, and attends multi-agency meetings, applying evidence-based approaches to help families achieve lasting, positive change.
What can an apprentice progress to after completing this apprenticeship?
Completion at level 4 positions practitioners well for senior or specialist roles within children's services, family support, early help, or youth work settings. Some progress into management roles or move into related professions such as social work, often with recognition of prior learning reducing the time needed for further study. Others pursue a level 5 or 6 qualification in social work, education, or health to broaden their career options across public sector and voluntary sector organisations.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 309.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.