Durham University & Regional Youth Work Unit- North East

Day Conference

Tuesday 13^th July 2010, 10.30 – 16.30

Ethical issues in youth work

Holgate House, Grey College, Durham University

South Road, Durham. DH1 3LG

This conference offers an opportunity to discuss and debate some of the key ethical issues facing youth workers, the young people they work with and managers and policymakers who oversee work with young people. The youth worker’s role is ever more challenging - with the development of integrated youth support services in local authorities, information-sharing between professionals and agencies, commissioning relationships with the voluntary sector, funding cuts, the ever present public concern about young people as problems and victims, as well as the election of a new national government. The conference is occasioned by the publication of the 2^nd edition of the book, Ethical Issues in Youth Work (Routledge, June 2010).  The day will involve some of the contributors to the book and other national speakers with an interest in youth work in a panel discussion, followed by afternoon workshops covering issues such as:

·         when to breach confidentiality

·         information sharing in inter-professional contexts

·         the ethics of youth participation and active citizenship

·         how to balance the roles of control, empowerment and education

·         negotiating personal and professional values, interests and commitments

·         dilemmas for faith-based and black and minority ethnic workers

·         issues for practitioner researchers.