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National Quality Standards
Framework
Overview
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
2
Overview of NQSF Process
• Primarily a support and development tool for
youth work organisations.
• Self assessment with an external validation
process.
• Process of review, assessment and continuous
development.
• 3 year cycle
• 10 steps to the process.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
3
Statement of Youth Work Practice:
What you do: ethos; mission; service provision; defining features/functions
Why you do it: rationale; vision; aim and objectives; outcomes
Who is it for and with: target group; partnerships; linkages; exchanges
How you do it: modes of provision; methodologies
Where you do it: geographical area; settings; levels*; locations
5 Core PrinciplesAll youth work practice and provision is:
1. Young personcentred: recognising
the rights of young
people and holding as
central their active and
voluntary participation
2. Committed to
ensuring and
promoting the
safety and wellbeing of young
people
3. Educational and
developmental
4. Committed to
ensuring and
promoting equality
and inclusiveness
in all its dealings
with young people
and adults
5. Dedicated to the
provision of quality
youth work and
committed to
continuous
improvement
Please identify one achieved outcome in relation to each of the Core Principles
Self and External
Assessment
Standards Section 1: Youth Work
Practice and Provision
1. Planning
2. Practice
3. Progression
4. Monitoring and Assessment
5. Policies and Procedures
Continuous
Improvement
Plan
Progress Report
Standards Section 2: Organisational
Management and Development
1. Governance and Operational
Management
2. Strategy
3. Volunteers
4. Human Resource Management
5. Collaboration and Integration
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
4
10 Step Process
• Step 1 Establish Implementation Team
• Step 2 Complete Statement of Youth Work
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Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Practice
3 Five Core Principles
4 Ten Standards
5 External Assessment
6 Continuous Improvement Plan
7 Progress Report
8/9 Update and Progress Actions
10 Review and Plan
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
5
Step 1
Structure of Implementation Team
• Led by a designated paid member of staff.
• Should include personnel with relevant
expertise.
• Minimum of 3 people.
• Aims to be representative of key stakeholders
e.g Staff, Board of Management, Young People,
Volunteers, Parents.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
6
Role of the IT Lead Person
• Liaise with the CDYSB L.O.
• Guide and implement the NQSF process within
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the project.
Organise and coordinate meetings.
Ensure mechanisms are in place for information
to be shared across the organisation.
Where possible, ensure stakeholders are invited
and supported to participate in the IT
Identify and delegate tasks to be followed up
between meetings.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
7
Step 2-Statement of Youth Work Practice
• Completed in cycle 1.
• This should be reviewed and amended as
necessary.
• Statement should be approximately 500
words, jargon free and answer the questions
on page 10 of the QSF document.
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What do you do ?
Why do you do it ?
Who is it for and with?
How do you do it ?
Where you do it ?
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
8
Step 3 Core Principles
• The 5 core principles are fundamental to
youth work.
• Services should gather evidence to show that
these define and direct their practice and
provision.
• Each CP is accompanied by several
indicators. There should be one piece of
evidence for every indicator.
• Services must identify one achieved outcome
in support of each principle. (5 outcomes in
total)
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
9
Small Group Task
• Break into small groups
• Each group takes a different principle 1 – 5
• Based on prescribed indicators come up with
a list of evidence for the service for that
principle
• When this is completed, come up with one
outcome for the principle
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
10
Step 4 -10 Standards
• Consider the 10 standards and prescribed
indicators.
• Assign a position on the scale of attainment –
absent, acquiring, achieved, advanced.
• Gather evidence in support of the position.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
11
Group Task
• Break into three small groups
• Consider the indicators on the scale of
attainment and choose the most
appropriate one for the service at this
time
• Come up with a list of evidence to back
that up Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
12
Step 5
External Assessment
• Carried out by the Liaison Officer in
consultation with the Implementation Team
• To validate the position taken by the service
• Review of documentary evidence.
• Observations on practice.
• Focus groups with stakeholders.
• Agree final position on the scale of attainment
for each of the standards.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
13
Step 6
Complete Continuous Improvement Plan
• Strategic summary of position and
progress in relation to 5 principles and
10 standards.
• CIP should include –
Identified areas of improvement.
Identified actions to address these.
Identified personnel and timeframe.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
14
Step 7
Complete NQSF Progress Report
• Completed in November each year.
• Only document submitted to Department.
• Section 1 completed by Service and Section
2 is completed by Liaison Officer.
• Comments on the external assessment
process, the progress of the CIP and
identifies emerging issues.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
15
Steps 8 and 9
• Years 2 and 3
• Continue to update and progress
actions in the Continuous Improvement
Plan.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board
16
Step 10
Review and Plan
• Repeat actions from year 1.
• Review progress made in previous 3
years and commence planning for the
next cycle.
Youth Work Development Agency of the
City of Dublin Education and Training Board