Background
During Autumn 1999 the National Youth Agency circulated a discussion document,
Ethics in Youth Work1.This contained a draft statement of principles of ethical
conduct for youth work,and sought responses from the field via a questionnaire
and two consultative seminars.The statement has now been revised and can be
found in section 5 of this document.It takes into account comments made in the
questionnaire returns and the seminars.Whilst there was a variety of opinions
about the exact wording of the statement,there was a general consensus of
opinion that a statement should be developed and adopted,and that this should
remain at the level of general principles,rather than giving detailed guidance on the
conduct of practitioners (Banks,2000)2.
While there have been some calls for a longer, more detailed and rule-based code
of conduct,this would be difficult to apply to all types of youth workers working in
different settings and agencies.It might also be so prescriptive as to curtail the
professional freedom and responsibility of the youth worker.Whilst the statement
of principles presented here leaves some concepts unexplored (we may well ask,
what do we mean by ‘justice’,when is an interest ‘legitimate’?),its aim is primarily
to develop ethical awareness and to encourage reflection as the basis for ethical
conduct rather than to tell youth workers exactly how to act in particular cases.
More detailed documents on certain issues (such as what levels of risk are
appropriate, how to handle conflicts of interest),and guidelines on particular
aspects of professional practice (such as confidentiality, handling suspected cases of
abuse) could be provided to supplement the statement of principles.These would
come better from individual employers or organisations to fit particular local
circumstances or age groups.And/or some bodies may wish to produce a shorter
version of this text.
The statement of principles is in section 5 of this document.Sections 1 to 4 offer
some background comments on the nature and purpose of youth work,the
importance of ethics in youth work,the purpose of the statement of principles and
a short summary of the principles.
1 National Youth Agency (October 1999) Ethics in Youth Work, Leicester, NYA.
2 Banks,S. (2000) Report to National Youth Agency on Ethics in Youth Work, Durham,
Community and Youth Work Studies Unit,University of Durham.
1
National Youth Agency Statement of Principles
Ethical Conduct in Youth Work
1 The nature and purpose
