It is our vision that the Youth Work Ireland Quality Standards Framework (QSF) will inform the practice and future   direction of local youth services and provide a framework from which Youth Work Ireland can develop and support its members. The aim of the QSF is to provide a benchmark for service provision and to be of benefit to all stakeholders in the youth service.

The QSF is about creating a culture of accountability and of shared responsibility for the development of local youth services that is progressive and developmental. It is our aspiration that the ultimate beneficiaries of this framework will be the young people, the core of the youth service.

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The Quality Standards Framework is intended to:

• Provide quality local youth services for young people
• Support organisations providing youth services to measure performance
• Support organisations to improve and maintain performance so as to be efficient and effective in their delivery
• Support organisations to develop the necessary systems to continuously review service provision
• Support young people’s participation in the planning delivery and evaluation of youth work.

The Quality Standards Framework aims to work with Local Youth Organisations to highlight, establish and monitor best practice framed around 4 key areas:

Tranche 1: Policy Standards

The Local Youth Service in collaboration and in partnership with staff, volunteers and young people shall define and document policies and procedures across a broad spectrum of areas such as, its mission and objectives, youth participation, volunteers, equality, protection and safeguards, human resources, public relations and networking & partnerships.

Tranche 2: Service Standards

The Local Youth Service shall establish and document both short term and long term plans for the delivery and development of the youth service; developing best practice in good strategic planning, involving young people, meeting standards for service practice in design and delivery of programmes, engaging in meaningful evaluation and service reviews.

Tranche 3: Organisational and Administrative Standards

The Local Youth Service will ensure that support systems are in line with best practice and comply with all statutory regulations in areas such as governance, management, communications and record keeping.

Tranche 4: Financial Standards

The Local Youth Service shall establish and maintain appropriate financial control procedures that are transparent and comply with all statutory and financial compliance procedures.