Training For Youth Workers

Please note that we offer specialist training for youth workers in youth participation practice and facilitation only. For general youth work training toward recognised youth work qualifications please visit www.nya.org.uk

ICA:UK offers a range of training courses to enable Youth Workers to develop their skill in facilitating meetings, workshops and events. For more information see our public courses or you can arrange your own in-house training.

Group Work Skills (GWS) - one day public course

April 28th in Manchester

A course for adults who want to learn skills and tools for effective ways to run groups and carry out group work (1 day)

"Our National Survey of statutory youth work revealed that ‘group work skills’ was the area that we need to invest in most, as this was nationally highlighted as an area of work that could be significantly improved.” HMI, Ofsted

This course is for part time or full time youth workers in the statutory or voluntary sector, especially those who are new to the profession of who do not have much experience of delivering group work sessions. It is also suitable for those who want to become more skilled and confident when working with groups, and helping groups hold discussions or reach decisions.

This course will include:

• What is group work
• The role of the facilitator in group work
• Conversations that work and using the ToP Focused Conversation method
• Group work practice scenarios
• Anti-discrimination, issue based work and safeguarding
• Using icebreakers, energisers and creative tools in your work

Participants will gain:

• The skills and confidence to carry out group work sessions
• The knowledge and understanding of basic group work theory and how this practically applies to situations
• Practical tools for how to plan with a group in a participatory way and for holding successful discussions. (This includes peer feedback from the practice sessions).
• The confidence and aptitude to be able to use creative methods to adapt and tailor sessions to different groups and topics
• Skills and confidence in dealing with difficult situations and challenging people

Book now for this course or for more information on how you or your youth workers can improve their participation practice with young people, email us

Improve your Practice Programme

Through this programme, we support youth workers to develop their skill and effectiveness in encouraging young people to participate.

Through expanding the range of methods they have to use and through receiving feedback from peers on their user involvement practice, participation workers’ confidence grows in their ability to help young people influence decision-making.

After participating in this extensive programme, your youth workers can expect:

• Increased confidence in their ability to help vulnerable young people participate in decision-making
• An expanded toolkit of methods to use with young people to encourage effective user involvement
• To receive support and advice from other youth workers concerned with youth participation
• To be able to develop the confidence of the young people they work with and their ability to both influence the important decisions that affect their lives and make a positive contribution to their community.

How the programme works: We run this programme with between eight and twelve youth workers from a particular geographical area. Monthly sessions are held for a one-year period.

During these sessions, participation workers:

• Reflect on their own practice and receive support and advice from their peers
• Learn by listening to the experiences of other workers and from the process of offering support and suggestions
• Receive training in new methods they can use to improve their own participation practice
• Discuss issues and concepts concerning authentic youth participation

At the end of the programme, participants have the confidence and ability to act as mentors to other youth workers in their area.