The Level 3 Youth support worker, and the 5 providers delivering it.
Work in a supporting role with young people aged 11-25 to promote their personal, social and educational development.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Youth support workers work with young people aged 11 to 25 to support their personal, social and educational development. Apprentices learn how to plan, lead and evaluate programmes and sessions using informal education methods, build trust with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, and apply safeguarding and equal opportunities policies in practice. They also develop skills in multi-agency working, reflective practice and recording outcomes. Depending on the organisation, they may take on responsibility for volunteers, sessional staff or peer educators.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Work varies considerably by setting. An apprentice might run an evening session at a youth club, deliver a confidence-building workshop in a school, or carry out detached outreach work in the community. They plan session content, manage group dynamics, record outcomes and contribute to programme evaluations. They communicate regularly with colleagues and external professionals such as social workers, teachers or youth offending officers, and use supervision sessions to reflect on their practice and identify areas for improvement.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship leads to roles such as youth club leader, participation worker, project worker or youth development officer. Many progress into deputy or full leadership positions within youth organisations, or move into related fields such as social care, alternative education or youth justice. Employers include local authorities, charities, voluntary organisations, schools, hospitals and community projects. Those wanting to advance further often go on to complete a degree-level qualification in youth work or a related discipline.
5 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
UCAN is a UK apprenticeship training provider offering nationally recognised qualifications designed...
RM Training is an apprenticeship and training provider established in 2008 and based in Southend-on-...
Momentous Learning is a UK-based training provider offering purpose-driven apprenticeships, commerci...
Pro Business Edge is a UK-based training provider dedicated to delivering high quality, engaging tra...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as Youth Support Worker, Youth Club Leader, Youth Development Officer, Participation Worker, and Project Worker. Some completers move directly into deputy or part-time youth leader positions, particularly where they have been managing volunteers or leading sessions throughout their apprenticeship. The level of responsibility available on completion depends on the employing organisation's size and the types of programmes it delivers.
Progression paths
With three to five years of experience, youth support workers commonly progress to Senior Youth Worker, Youth Project Coordinator, or Participation and Engagement Officer. Those who complete a degree-level qualification in youth work or community development can qualify as a professional youth worker, opening senior practitioner and team leader roles. Longer-term, two broad tracks emerge: management roles such as Youth Service Manager or Area Youth Work Lead, and specialist practice roles focused on areas like youth justice, mental health support, or alternative education.
Where these roles sit
Local authorities are significant employers, particularly in youth offending teams, Early Help services, and commissioned youth services. Charities and voluntary organisations running youth clubs, outreach programmes, or targeted support projects make up a large part of the sector. Schools and alternative education providers, NHS trusts, and youth justice organisations also employ youth support workers. The sector spans both urban and rural settings, with a mix of full-time, part-time, and sessional contracts common across all employer types.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, the learner works in a real youth support role while building the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the occupation. This includes understanding how to plan and lead sessions, use reflective practice, communicate with stakeholders, and uphold safeguarding and professional values. Before moving to final assessment, there is a readiness check, often called a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice is ready to demonstrate competence. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform the role to the required standard. Assessment arrangements for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Apprentices should record evidence of their practice throughout the programme rather than trying to reconstruct it near the end. This means keeping records of sessions planned and led, notes from supervision and reflective practice, and evidence of working with different groups and partner organisations. Working closely with both the employer and training provider to review progress regularly makes the gateway readiness check more straightforward. Starting that evidence-gathering from day one, rather than treating it as a separate task, reduces pressure later in the programme.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile, bearing in mind this standard attracts learners working across varied and often pressured settings, which can affect completion. Strong providers will have genuine connections to the youth work sector, including tutors or assessors with direct experience of informal education, detached outreach or youth justice work. Check that supervised practice is built into the programme in a structured way, since the standard requires apprentices to lead sessions and reflect critically under qualified supervision. Employer and apprentice satisfaction scores above 80% are worth weighting here.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers who deliver this standard alongside a very broad portfolio of care qualifications but cannot describe how they differentiate youth work from generic social care training. Vague answers about how reflective practice and supervision are embedded, beyond a tick-box approach, are a concern. If a provider cannot explain how apprentices access real group work with young people during the programme, not just observation, the skills elements of the standard will not be met properly. A high volume of starts paired with a declining achievement rate warrants a direct question about withdrawal reasons.
Questions to ask before you commit
- How do your tutors and assessors ensure apprentices get experience across different settings, such as detached work, youth centres and more formal provision, not just whichever environment the employer uses day to day?
- How is reflective practice and supervision built into the programme, and how does that connect to the requirement for oversight by a degree-qualified youth worker?
- What does your end-point assessment preparation look like, and what is your current pass rate for this standard specifically?
- Can you show us examples of the kinds of youth support work programmes apprentices have planned and led as part of their training?
- How do you handle safeguarding knowledge within the curriculum, given how central it is to the daily role?
- Which regions do you deliver in, and do you have established relationships with employers in our area or sector?
- What support do you put in place if an apprentice's workplace cannot provide sufficient breadth of practice experience?
Common questions
What are the entry requirements for this apprenticeship?
There are no nationally set entry requirements, so employers set their own criteria. In practice, most employers look for some experience of working with young people, whether paid or voluntary, and good communication skills. Applicants must be employed in a role where they can carry out youth support work in a real setting. A basic DBS check is standard given the safeguarding responsibilities involved. Check with individual training providers about any literacy or numeracy expectations.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how does it fit around work?
The typical duration for this standard is 18 months, though actual completion time depends on the apprentice's prior experience and how quickly they meet the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. The apprentice is employed throughout and learns on the job. A portion of contracted hours is set aside for off-the-job training, and the specific proportion is subject to current Skills England reforms. Check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) page for up-to-date requirements.
How is the apprenticeship assessed?
Before taking the end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, at which point the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has demonstrated the required competence. Assessment models for many standards are being reviewed under current Skills England reforms, so check the IfATE page for the latest confirmed assessment approach. Generally, assessment will require the apprentice to show they can plan, lead and evaluate youth support work sessions and reflect critically on their own practice.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship, and what is the funding band?
The funding band for this standard is £4,500, which is the maximum the government will contribute towards training costs. Levy-paying employers draw training costs from their digital apprenticeship service account. Non-levy employers co-invest, paying 5% of the training cost while the government funds the remaining 95%. If you are a small employer taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, government funding covers the full cost. Speak to your chosen provider about payment schedules.
What does a youth support worker actually do day to day?
Day-to-day work varies by setting but typically involves planning and running sessions at youth clubs, schools, community projects or outreach locations, often during evenings and weekends. The apprentice builds relationships with young people aged 11 to 25, facilitates activities that develop confidence and social skills, records session outcomes, and liaises with other professionals such as social workers, teachers and police. They work under the supervision of a qualified youth worker and may also supervise volunteers or assistant youth support workers.
What can someone do after completing this apprenticeship?
Completers are qualified to work in roles such as youth club leader, participation worker, project worker or youth development officer across local authority, charity and voluntary organisations. For those who want to progress further, a degree-level qualification in youth work or community development opens the path to becoming a qualified youth worker. Some employers support staff to study at degree level either through a higher apprenticeship or part-time study. The skills gained also transfer into related fields such as social care, education support and community development.
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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: 610.
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.