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Core Competencies for Working with Children and Youth in Out of Home Care

Core competencies in Child and Youth Care (CYC) practice describe the essential knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that professionals need to effectively support the growth, development, and well-being of children, youth, and families. They are not just a list of tasks, but a framework for how to be in relationship with young people. And while these frameworks may vary by jurisdiction, the competencies set out below are widely recognised as central in Child and Youth Care.

The Foundational Pillars: Relationship and Developmental-Ecological Perspective

Two overarching concepts underpin everything:

Relational Practice: CYC is fundamentally about the power of therapeutic relationships. It's the primary "tool" for change. This means being intentional, authentic, and trustworthy in every interaction.

Developmental-Ecological Perspective: CYCs understand that a young person's behavior and well-being cannot be separated from their environment (family, school, community, culture). This "person-in-environment" view is essential for accurate assessment and effective intervention.

Specific Competencies

1. Professionalism, Ethics and Self-Awareness

• Maintaining ethical behaviour and professional boundaries.
• Reflecting on one’s own values, biases, and emotional responses.
• Engaging in ongoing professional development and self-care.
• Demonstrating reliability, accountability, and integrity.
• Adhering to a code of ethics, navigating complex ethical dilemmas, and maintaining boundaries.
• Taking responsibility for one's actions and interventions.

2. Child and Youth Development

• Understanding developmental stages from childhood through adolescence.
• Recognizing how environment, trauma, culture, and relationships affect development.
• Applying developmental knowledge to plan interventions and activities.
• Supporting resilience, autonomy, and positive identity formation.

3. Relational Practice

• Building caring, trusting, and respectful relationships with young people and families.
• Using the life-space (everyday moments and environments) as a context for growth.
• Demonstrating empathy, authenticity, and presence in interactions.
• Recognizing relationships as the primary medium for change.

4. Communication and Intervention Skills

• Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication strategies.
• Listening actively and validating the experiences of children and youth.
• Managing conflict and de-escalating crises constructively.
• Facilitating group work, life-space interventions, and experiential learning.

5. Cultural and Human Diversity

• Demonstrating cultural humility and responsiveness.
• Understanding and respecting diverse family structures, traditions, and worldviews.
• Recognizing the impact of colonization, discrimination, and systemic inequality.
• Adapting practice to meet the cultural and social needs of young people.
• Actively working to understand and respect cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities.
• Moving beyond "competence" to a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and critique of power imbalances.
• Effectively navigating and partnering with other systems, such as schools, child welfare, justice, and mental health services.
• Advocating for and with young people to ensure their rights are protected and their voices are heard within these systems.

6. Developmental Practice Methods

• Planning and implementing programs that promote growth and well-being.
• Using evidence-informed approaches in daily care and activities.
• Assessing needs and strengths through observation and engagement.
• Supporting education, recreation, and social participation.

7. Advocacy and Collaboration

• Advocating for the rights and voices of children, youth, and families.
• Working collaboratively with families, professionals, and communities.
• Navigating systems such as education, health, and justice to support youth.
• Promoting social justice and inclusion.

8. Critical Thinking and Reflective Practice

• Analyzing complex situations and making sound decisions.
• Using reflection to improve practice and learn from experience.
• Integrating theory, ethics, and practice in daily work.
• Engaging in supervision and peer consultation constructively.

9. Safety, Crisis, and Risk Management

• Ensuring physical and emotional safety in care environments.
• Responding effectively to crises and emergencies.
• Understanding trauma-informed and non-violent intervention approaches.
• Supporting recovery, stability, and resilience after crises.

10. Documentation and Administrative Competence

• Recording accurate, confidential, and timely information.
• Understanding policies, legal frameworks, and professional standards.
• Using technology and data systems ethically and effectively.
• Contributing to program evaluation and improvement.

It is the professional responsibility of every Child and Youth Care worker to –

1. Value and respect each child or young person as an individual in his/her own right, in his/her role as a member of his/her family, and in his/her role as a member of the community s/he lives in;
   
2. Respect the relationship of the child or young person to his/her parents, his/her siblings, other members of his/her family and other significant persons, taking account of his/her natural ties and interdependent rights and responsibilities;
   
3. Facilitate the optimal growth and development of each individual child or young person to achieve his or her potential in all aspects of functioning;
   
4. Help each child or youth for whom he or she bears responsibility by preventing problems where possible, by offering protection where necessary, and by providing care and rehabilitation to counteract or resolve the problems faced;
   
5. Use information appropriately, respecting the privacy of children and young people, maintaining confidentiality where necessary, respecting the right of children and young people to be informed of matters concerning themselves, and avoiding the misuse of personal information;
   
6. Oppose at all times any form of discrimination, oppression or exploitation of children and young people, and preserve their rights;
   
7. Maintain personal and professional integrity, develop skills and knowledge in order to work with competence, work co-operatively with colleagues, monitor the quality of services, and contribute to the development of the service and of policy and thinking in the field of childcare.