Children, young people and families practitioner
Level 4 · HigherCare services 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Children, Young People and Families Practitioner apprenticeship develops the skills to work directly with children, young people and families in a range of settings such as early years, youth work, family support or residential care. Apprentices learn to support wellbeing, safeguard, and plan and deliver interventions. It leads to practitioner roles in children's social care, youth services, schools and community organisations.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Child and adolescent development across the age range
Safeguarding duties and reporting procedures
Trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches to practice
Communication and relationship-building with children and families
Assessment, planning, intervention and review frameworks
Working in multi-agency teams and information sharing
Reflective practice and professional supervision
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Build trusted relationships with children, young people and families
Carry out needs assessments and contribute to care or support plans
Deliver group or one-to-one sessions with young people
Identify safeguarding concerns and make appropriate referrals
Work with families at home or in community settings
Record observations and maintain case notes accurately
Attend multi-agency meetings and contribute to planning
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 4 (Higher) - roughly Foundation-degree level. Usually needs Level 3 (A-levels, a T-Level, or an Advanced apprenticeship) or relevant experience.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 5/6 apprenticeship or a more senior role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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