Course Overview

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 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 behavior management and support techniques in routine child and youth care contexts.

• Implement life space work and life space counseling.

• 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.

​

Exit Level Outcomes

• Identify, assess and meet the holistic (physical, emotional, social, cognitive, spiritual) needs of children and youth at different stages of their development.

• Manage the total environment to create a developmental and therapeutic milieu.

• Take action to improve self-awareness and 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.

​

What is a Child and Youth Care Worker

A Child & Youth Care Worker’s main job is the protection of young people. Child and Youth Care Workers counsel young children and teenagers who have been subjected to neglect and various forms of abuse (emotional, physical, sexual) and have/or come from dysfunctional families.

They also provide developmental and therapeutic programmes to assist young people in need.

In certain situations, they may also be brought in as a mediator.

​

What does a Child & Youth Care Worker do?

​

• meets with young client and families to discuss problems

• interviews and collects information

• analyses this information

• designs programmes to help them reach their goals

• monitors success of programmes

• organises life skill workshops

• keeps in contact with healthcare professionals, teachers, community leaders etc

• provides crisis intervention if required

• provides records for courts / legal proceedings

• sources emergency shelter when required

• keeps in contact with the law and order officials

​

Are you . . . ?

• passionate about working with children?

• caring?

• dedicated?

• a hard worker?

• emotionally stable?

• a person with a positive attitude?

• a motivator?

• understanding?

• a good communicator?

• a good listener?

Learning Paths