Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC)
Q: What is the JNC?The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Youth and Community Workers is the body which sets the national framework used to grade and pay youth work jobs. The function of the JNC is to agree the salary scales, yearly pay increases and other terms and conditions of service. You may see job adverts which state JNC qualified and to which level (there are two pay ranges: youth and community support worker ranges and professional range). The second function of the JNC is to endorse youth and community workers’ qualifications which have been professionally approved by the Education and Training Standards (ETS) Committee of the National Youth Agency (NYA). Two NCVYS members sit on this ETS committee which considers applications from higher education institutions for the professional validation of qualifications. The National Youth Agency also endorses youth support worker qualifications, and these are also recognised by the JNC. By selecting a course recognised by the JNC you ensure that the course is fit for purpose. The JNC is served by organisations which represent employers and employees (staff). For example, NCVYS is a committee member on the employers side and the Community and Youth Workers Union is a committee member on the staff side. Both sides negotiate pay and employment issues, which are then set within the ‘JNC for Youth and Community Workers handbook (pink book)’. Within the handbook are also terms and conditions, lists of those courses which have been professionally validated and JNC pay scales and allowances. Many local authorities subscribe to the handbook (national framework). The JNC recommends that the handbook should also apply to all voluntary organisations employing youth and community workers. Q: Why was the JNC set up?It was established in 1961 as a result of the Albemarle Report to provide a voluntary collective bargaining process regarding pay and conditions for youth and community workers in local education authorities. The voluntary youth sector was heavily involved in the lobbying process which led to the establishment of the Albemarle Committee, the publication of the report, resourcing of the local authority youth service and the subsequent creation of the JNC. Q: Why should the voluntary youth sector subscribe to the JNC?At present many voluntary youth sector organisations refer to the salary scales set by the JNC and use these as a benchmark. However, very few members actually subscribe to the JNC and take advantage of the services on offer. The benefits include the following: If you adopt the JNC salary scales then a fair pay system will be provided (negotiated already by representatives of employers and employees). This may help to retain and recruit staff. You will receive annual updates of the salary scale changes. By adopting an established set of employment terms and conditions for youth workers it means that as an employer you are more protected e.g. employers who operate without any terms and conditions are more vulnerable to legal challenges in employment tribunals. As a result of your annual subscription, expert advice is available from the Employers’ Secretariat of the JNC regarding the application and interpretation of the pay scales and employment terms and conditions. Receive updates of the list of endorsed professional qualifications by the JNC.
Q: Where can I get a copy of the list of JNC recognised youth and community work higher education courses?Go to the National Youth Agency's web site at www.nya.org.uk or follow this link. Q: What is the 2010/2011 pay settlement?There is no pay award covering the year commencing 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2011 due to the financial pressures facing local authorities and the expectation of public sector pay restraint. Discussions have begun to see if a pay award from 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012 is possible (if it is awarded, the pay award will have to be backdated). Q: What are the current pay scales?The pay scales can be accessed from the Community and Youth Workers' Union web site here. Q: What level of pay should I be paying the youth workers we employ? Is there a criteria against each point on the pay scale which I can use?It is down to employers to decide for themselves what they pay their staff and unfortunately there is no set criteria available. The JNC advises that pay should be determined by duties and responsibilities. A good guide is to look at comparable job descriptions and adverts from other employers or contact your local authority youth service to seek advice on how they use the pay scales. A list of job vacancy web sites is available within the NCVYS Careers Guide - An introduction to working and volunteering in the voluntary and community youth sector. Q. I have a query concerning JNC, who do I contact?If you are a statutory employer please contact the Local Government Association on 020 7187 7373 or email youth&community@local.gov.uk. If you are a voluntary sector employer please contact NCVYS: Nichola Brown on 07792 875635 or email nichola@ncvys.org.uk. If you are an individual, please contact your union. Details about the subscription service (signing up to the JNC terms and conditions - the pink book) is available here. Back to top |