NZQA registered unit standard
26137 version 1
Page 1 of 6
Title
Conduct a community needs analysis and support young people to
participate in social change processes
Level
6
Credits
15
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe
youth participation in social change processes and discuss the
ways in which youth participation in social change contributes
to positive youth development; use a youth participation
approach with a group of young people to scope and conduct a
community needs analysis; support a group of young people to
advocate for social change; and use practice supervision to
reflect on own ability to support youth participation in social
change processes.
Classification
Social Services > Youth Development
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills
and knowledge
Unit 26134, Integrate strengths-based practice and Treaty
partnership approaches into delivery of youth development
initiatives, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is underpinned by the principle in the Youth Development Strategy
Aotearoa1 (YDSA) that youth development is “triggered when young people fully
participate”. It prepares people to use their knowledge and understanding of youth
development practice to work with young people, and to practice accountably within
established organisational policies, procedures and protocols.
2
When contributing to achievement of a degree or any degree-related qualification,
assessment of this unit standard must be integrated within an approved programme
of study. Those providers wishing to offer a degree programme containing this
standard are referred to CMR 0222 for further information on requirements.
1Page
7 Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa, accessed from http://www.myd.govt.nz/aboutmyd/publications/youth-development-strategy-aotearoa.html
Community Support Services ITO Limited
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
(Careerforce)
SSB Code 101814
NZQA registered unit standard
26137 version 1
Page 2 of 6
3
Glossary:
To advocate is the act of influencing outcomes that directly affect people’s current
lives – including public policy and resource allocation decisions within political,
economic and social systems and institutions – (Cohen 2001)2. Under this definition,
advocating is a deliberate process of speaking out on issues of concern in order to
exert some influence on behalf of ideas or persons.
Community needs analysis is a process for determining and addressing needs, or
"gaps" between current conditions and desired community conditions. It involves
identifying community strengths and weaknesses, and evaluating possible solutions
that take those qualities into consideration.
Group means three or more people meeting together and connected by a common
interest or activity.
Lobbying is the practice whereby individuals or groups attempt to influence decisions
made by government or other decision-making groups.
Organisational protocols are the guidelines, rules and regulations of an organisation
including its legal requirements, policies, procedures, templates and processes.
Positive youth development means building on young people’s strengths, interests,
skills, and abilities to support their transition from childhood to adulthood. It focuses
on engaging youth to take responsibility for their own well-being and that of their
wider community, now and in the future.
Practice supervision is a contracted relationship with a skilled peer who provides a
safe context to reflect on and review aspects of, or episodes in, a professional’s
practice. It involves a worker meeting with an independent person who has
advanced experience, knowledge and practice skills, including skills in supervisory
practice. Practice supervision happens either inside or outside the workplace in a
confidential setting.
Social change processes are the processes used to influence society and facilitate
changes within it. It can include processes such as social marketing, lobbying,
advocacy, protest, evaluation and research, public engagement, and submissions to
government.
Youth/young people are people between the ages of 12 and 24.
Youth participation is the voluntary and informed involvement of young people in their
school, neighbourhood and wider community. It is facilitated by processes used to
create opportunities for young people to influence, inform, shape, design and
contribute to activities or projects of concern to young people.
4
Assessment notes:
This unit standard may be assessed against evidence of demonstrated performance
in the workplace and/or through the use of simulated workplace settings in an
educational environment. Workplace settings can include field or practice learning
placements.
2
Cohen, D., R. de la Vega, G. Watson. 2001. Advocacy for social justice. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press
Inc.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
(Careerforce)
SSB Code 101814
NZQA registered unit standard
26137 version 1
Page 3 of 6
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe youth participation in social change processes and discuss the ways in which
youth participation in social change contributes to positive youth development.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Youth participation in social change processes is described.
Range
1.2
three social change processes, one of which should incorporate
tikanga Māori practices.
Description includes – social change process, its underpinning
philosophies and principles, cultural differences, ways in which
youth participate in the process, possible impacts and outcomes
from process.
Ways in which youth participation in social change processes contributes to
positive youth development are discussed.
Range
discussion includes but is not limited to – development of young
people’s identity, confidence, generosity, sense of belonging,
service orientation, community connection, and citizenship; youth
culture; community development; social development; cultural
differences.
Outcome 2
Use a youth participation approach with a group of young people to scope and conduct a
community needs analysis.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Scope of needs analysis is agreed with a group of young people.
Range
2.2
scope includes – community, area of need, information already
available about the community.
Process for conducting the community needs analysis is selected and justified
in relation to its ability to support youth participation.
Range
process includes but is not limited to – informing participants of
purpose of the process to be used; agreeing desired community
outcomes; gaining participant commitment to the process used to
gather and analyse information; agreeing participant roles and
responsibilities; providing mentoring and coaching; communication
and consultation with the community; review of available policy
and strategy documents; interviews, surveys or questionnaires;
analytical approach.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
(Careerforce)
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26137 version 1
Page 4 of 6
2.2
Young people are included in selected processes to gather and analyse
information from the community.
2.3
Report is prepared using organisational protocols and is shared with the
community to gain their feedback.
Range
2.4
report includes but is not limited to – summary of community
issues, processes used to conduct the needs analysis, method
used to analyse data obtained, summary of findings,
recommendations for actions including responsibilities and
timeframes.
Community feedback is incorporated into final report of community needs
analysis.
Outcome 3
Support a group of young people to advocate for social change.
Range
support for the young people includes but is not limited to – assisting with
background research and consultation, facilitating meetings and discussion
groups, providing mentoring and coaching, providing training and advice.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Discussion with young people is used to clarify and agree the social change
they wish to advocate for and the approach to use.
Range
3.2
approach includes – research required, key decision makers and
influencers and their anticipated views, presentation and/or
lobbying activities.
Young people are supported to gather and prepare sufficient and valid
information to enable them to positively represent their views and interests.
Range
information includes but is not limited to – demographic
information; analysis of current situation; analysis of information
from surveys/questionnaires/interviews; analysis of public
information including plans, policies, and consultation documents;
summaries of research reports.
3.3
Young people are supported to prepare and present a 15 minute presentation
advocating their position to key decision makers.
3.4
Records of the processes used, information presented and the actions taken
are maintained according to organisational protocols.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
(Careerforce)
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
3.5
26137 version 1
Page 5 of 6
Young people are supported to reflect on the processes used and the response
obtained.
reflection includes – identifying what worked well, what could be
done better, impact on the individual participants, outcome
achieved.
Range
Outcome 4
Use practice supervision to reflect on own ability to support youth participation in social
change processes.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Practice supervision is used to review own experiences in supporting youth
participation in social change and to reflect on own practice.
reflection includes – identification of strengths in practice,
opportunities for further development.
Range
4.2
Reflection is used to plan for professional development to strengthen practices
that support effective youth participation in social change processes.
plan includes but is not limited to – further study, mentoring and
coaching, opportunities for expanding experience.
Range
Planned review date
31 December 2013
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
14 April 2011
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0222
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
(Careerforce)
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26137 version 1
Page 6 of 6
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Community Support Services ITO Limited (Careerforce)
info@careerforce.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit
standard.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
(Careerforce)
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016