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YPQI Support Hub

Tools, resources, and guidance for anyone running the Youth Programme Quality Intervention (YPQI) at their organisation.

One cycle of the YPQI involves three stages: Assess, Plan, and Improve. ‘Assess’ is where you conduct observations of your practice; ‘Plan’ is where you and your team use the data you’ve collected to identify specific improvement; and ‘Improve’ is where you implement those improvements. The next cycle will help you to determine what changes your improvements have made – and so on.

We know that working out how to implement a new programme or process at your organisation can feel like a big job. Feedback from participants in the YPQI Pilot also indicated that we needed to make it easier to navigate the various tools and resources that can support with doing this for the YPQI. In response to this challenge, we’ve collated the core programme materials into one place here. We hope you find what you need, but if you don’t then please do drop us an email (ypqi@youthimpact.uk) so that we can support you – it might be that we need to develop a new resource!   

If you need to step back and spend some more time working out if the YPQI is the right approach for your organisation, or building your confidence and capacity in the concepts that underpin it, visit our Just Quality section for a wide range of resources related to socio-emotional skills, continuous quality improvement, and equity in the youth sector. 

Start here resources

Start here if you are just getting started with the YPQI

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Programme Quality Assessment (PQA) tool

The SEL PQA is the tool at the heart of the YPQI process, which helps you to understand whether staff are creating the conditions where young people can develop socio-emotional skills. Access below for the English version of the tool, or click here to access the Welsh version.

Read here

PQA Basics HELP! sheet

Not sure where to start? This HELP! Sheet will direct you to various resources or training depending on what you want to do. 

Read here

PQA Handbook

Fill out this quick form if you need a new copy of the PQA handbook. 

Access here

Using Scores Reporter – YouTube video

This video demonstrates how to use Scores Reporter for recording your Programme Quality Assessment and improvement goals. 

Watch here

Team Scoring Meetings – Youtube video

This video demonstrates how to approach and run your Team Scoring Meeting. Many thanks to Rochdale Youth Service and Liz Harding for demonstrating how it’s done! 

Watch here

Team Scoring Meetings – instructional top tips video

This video summarises five top tips for running your Team Scoring Meeting. 

Watch here

Further resources

More resources to support you as you continue your YPQI journey

ASSESS walk-through

Sometimes the hardest bit is getting started! This document provides a detailed walk-through of the self-assessment process. 

Read here

PQA Basics resources

A folder containing all of the resources and materials shared with attendees of PQA Basics training. If you’ve previously attended training, click on the link to request access to this. 

Read here

PQA Basics ‘Take It Back’ Powerpoint

A slide deck that you can use to relay key PQA Basics training to your wider team. Click the button below to access the training in English, or click here to read it in Welsh.

Please download and save a copy of this Powerpoint.

Read here

YPQI key terminology

A glossary of key terms related to the YPQI. 

Read here

Conducting objective observations

A slide deck and activity plans to support your team with conducting observations. 

Read here

Using the PQA for detached work

This guidance looks at how the YPQI can be used to assess the quality of and strengthen the skills of detached workers. Get in touch for a copy of a revised PQA items list for detached youth work. 

Read here

Training

Details on upcoming training opportunities to help you on your quality improvement journey

ASSESS - Programme Quality Assessment (PQA) Basics training

Anyone who uses the YPQI needs to attend this training before getting started. If you’ve already attended this but it’s been a while, you might benefit from a shorter refresher training session. Use this form to let us know that you’d like this training, and to find out when we’re next running a session. 

PQA Basics: 2 x 3 hour webinars, 1 x 90 minute webinar, 1 x video 

PQA Basics Refresher: 1 x half-day webinar 

Sign up

PLAN - Planning with Data training

We offer dedicated training to support you in using your PQA (programme quality assessment) data to identify specific improvement goals. Use this form to let us know that you’d like this training, and to find out when we’re next running a session. 

Planning with Data: 1 x 2.5 hours webinar 

Sign up

IMPROVE - Coaching for Quality training

We offer dedicated training to support you in using a coaching approach to help your team implement their improvement goals. Use this form to let us know that you’d like this training, and to find out when we’re next running a session. 

Coaching for Quality: 4 x 2 hour webinars 

Sign up

IMPROVE - Youth Work Methods training

We offer dedicated training to support your team to improve their practice in specific areas of the PQA: Initiative and Problem Solving, Empathy and Emotion Management, Teamwork and Responsibility. 

Use this form to let us know that you’d like this training, and to find out when we’re next running a session. 

Youth Work Methods: 4 x 2 hour webinars 

Sign up