A Child and Youth Worker works to improve the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of vulnerable children, youth and families. They focus on the growth and development of children and youth based on direct, day-to-day work with children and youth in their environment and develop relationships with children, their families, their communities and other inter-disciplinary team members. Specifically, a Child and Youth Worker:
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. Generally, the time-frame to become competent in the trade of Child and Youth Worker is 7200 hours (approximately four years) consisting of 6240 hours of on-the job work experience and 960 hours of in-school training.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s Apprenticeship Training Standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.
As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.
IN-SCHOOL TRAINING
A Child and Youth Worker apprenticeship includes one level of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:
Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:
Child and Youth Worker is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.
This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship. This is the highest level of certification available for the trade.
Because there is no certifying exam in this trade, Skilled Trades Ontario does not issue a Certificate of Qualification.
Because this trade is non-compulsory, the information of individuals practicing this trade will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.