What competences does a youth coach need?
Working with young people is not only about good intentions or having a collection of engaging activities. It requires knowledge, practical skills, an ethical approach and the ability to respond to the diverse realities young people face.
The manual The European Qualification Framework (EQF): Developing a Competence Framework for Youth Coaching presents a practical model of what high-quality and professional social youth coaching can look like.
The publication is designed for youth workers, coaches, mentors, teachers, social workers, facilitators, trainers and organisations that want to strengthen the quality of their programmes.
In the manual, you will discover:
which knowledge, skills and attitudes a youth coach needs,
how to build safe, inclusive and trusting relationships,
how to use active listening and questions that encourage reflection,
how to help young people set their own goals and turn them into concrete steps,
how to work with social, cultural and systemic barriers,
how to support young people’s participation in their communities,
how to connect personal development with sustainability, nature and regeneration,
how to reflect on your practice and plan your professional growth.
The framework divides competences into six connected areas: ethics and professionalism, safe relationships, communication, support for learning and growth, social inclusion and cooperation, and regeneration and sustainability.
Each area includes specific indicators, practical scenarios and reflective questions. Readers can explore not only what a professional should know, but also how these competences appear in everyday practice.
The manual also connects youth coaching with the European Qualifications Framework. It helps professionals name their competences, assess their current level, create a development plan and link their practical experience with professional recognition and career opportunities across Europe.
Click on the manual and use it as a compass for your professional growth and for providing better support to young people.