The purpose of training is to provide those engaged in the youth work sector with ongoing opportunities to acquire the competence, skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to ensure their practice is of a high quality and standard and is in accordance with the youth work policy and principles of CDYSB.

Individuals are encouraged and supported to acquire the skills necessary to be effective and efficient; to learn to reflect upon and evaluate their practice in a manner that contributes to their own development as persons and facilitates them in being focused, flexible and creative in their work with young people.

In this context, training is seen not only as a series of interventions but as an ongoing process.

The process addresses the developmental potential and needs of those engaged in the sector including youth workers within the context of their job and the current and strategic goals of the organisation for which they work.

It is recognised that learning is a life-long process that is primarily the responsibility of the learner. Learning can, however, take place in many ways so training and developmental initiatives should be varied, flexible and responsive to potential, needs and context of the learner.

CDYSB has a responsibility within the context of the individual's job to provide opportunities for learning that are appropriate and within allowable resources.

CDYSB is committed to the development and review of a coherent framework of standards and academic qualifications for the different roles and competencies within youth work. Such a framework would spell out progression routes and equivalencies between qualifications that are clear, logical and accessible.

In contributing to such developments CDYSB will work in partnership with local communities and youth services, youth organisations, accredited education providers and those with responsibility for the accreditation and certification of training.

In conjunction with these partners it will continue to monitor and identify the changing and developing roles and functions within the youth work sector at local and national level and to develop and modify its training responses accordingly.