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History
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In 1961 the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth & Community Workers was established following recommendations from the Albemarle report on the youth service in England & Wales. It comprises a staff side and an employers' side who meet to agree the salary scales and terms and conditions of service of youth workers. From 1961 to 1982 the JNC not only agreed the categories of qualification for recognition, it also scrutinised the courses offered by the various institutions and other bodies providing awards. After 1982 the detailed scrutiny of awards on behalf of the JNC passed to the Council for Education and Training in Youth and Community Work (CETYCW) and, in 1991, to the National Youth Agency in England. In 1994 to reflect the change in political structures, the Wales Youth Agency became responsible for the scrutiny of awards in Wales. In addition JNC gave the committee the power to grant accreditation to in-service training courses and staff development policies.
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Following the Wales Youth Agency's transfer into the Welsh Assembly Government in 2006, ETS Wales became an Advisory Group making recommendations to the Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills about the elements of the training programmes that JNC would value as leading to qualified youth and community worker status. If satisfied, JNC would then make the decision to recognise the programme.
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In 2009 arrangements were put in place to establish ETS Wales as an independent body, itself responsible for taking decisions on the endorsement and professional recognition of programmes. The Youth Work Strategy Branch of the Welsh Assembly Government funds a large element of the work of ETS Wales via a grant to the Welsh Local Government Association. A Memorandum of Understanding has now been agreed between the JNC and the WLGA to host the work of ETS Wales.
