Entry level jobs
This is an example of one of the entry-level jobs available in
Kent Youth Service (Jobs of this type may be appropriate to people
who have left school or college with GCSEs or A Levels and are
starting their careers. Higher level jobs (shown below) may be more
suitable for people with other qualifications.
Youth Worker
Youth work is about helping young people fulfil their potential
and become valuable members of the community. It involves working
with them on personal and social development and making sure that
the most appropriate and accessible service is provided for
everyone, although young people's involvement is voluntary.
Youth workers work in a variety of settings including youth
centres, on the streets, from mobiles or in schools. At times they
may support voluntary youth organisations based in village and
church halls, community centres and elsewhere. They work with young
people aged between 11 and 25 but mostly with 13 to 19 year
olds.
Some youth workers meet young people in street settings and areas
where they tend to congregate to socialise, such as amusement
arcades, cafes and town centres. They work indoors and outdoors in
all types of weather.
Youth workers can work long hours, including days, evenings and at
weekends.
Daily activities: As a centre-based youth worker, you'd take into
account the reasons for young people's involvement (such as
escaping to a non-judgmental environment, meeting friends), and
devise activities relevant to them that would be enjoyable and
educational as well as developing skills and confidence. These
could include sports, drama and arts work as well as external
visits, residential experience and challenging and
awareness-raising activities around health and political issues.
There is also a need to recognise that some young people come along
to just relax and chill out and for them the activities may, at
first, be incidental.
You may target specific groups, such as young black people, young
people with special needs, young lesbians and gay men, young
parents, young offenders or drug users. You may also be involved in
specialist projects, particularly around health awareness
issues.
A great deal of time is spent on face-to-face contact with young
people; but you'd also set aside time for planning, organisation
and administration work, as well as for recruiting and supporting
part-time staff. You'd also encourage and support young people to
organise activities for themselves.
Detached youth workers identify the young people not catered for by
a youth centre. They gradually build up links with young people,
tell them about local community facilities and help them to gain
access to them if needed.
As a youth worker you need:
- an understanding of young people
- sensitivity, respect for individuals and an open mind
- the ability to listen and advise - supporting young people
through difficult times
- the ability to build trusting relationships, including with
people who are undergoing distressing circumstances such as abuse
or drug addiction
- the commitment to not let people down.
You also need to work well with other adults, including
colleagues and community members. Specific interests - such as
particular sports or drama - are useful.
There are a number of routes into youth work. Full-time youth
workers normally need to have undertaken professional training,
although exceptions may be made for people with particular relevant
experience. Part-time courses, including a distance learning
course, are also available.
A trainee scheme operates in Kent combining employment with
study.
Youth Service staff are employed at a number of levels. Most
authorities employ a principal officer with overall responsibility
for the Service as well as youth officers responsible at area level
or with responsibility for a particular aspect of the service.
Experienced youth workers are likely to move from face-to-face work
towards management and support.
There are also opportunities for qualified youth workers in
settings such as Social Services Departments, Education, Behaviour
Support Services, Youth Offending and the Voluntary Sector.
Medium level job
Here is an example of a medium level job within Kent Youth
Service. Jobs of this type may be appropriate for someone with
specific qualifications or experience in this area. You could work
up to this position from an entry-level job with training.
Senior Youth Work Practitioner
This new role is a natural progression from a youth worker
running a centre or project. Operating across one of the service's
six geographical areas, a senior youth work practitioner is a
member of the area management team responsible for the management
of identified full-time staff whilst retaining responsibility for
their own current youth centre or project.
Other key elements of the role include regular quality assurance
visits and membership of the service's new diversity team.
While retaining responsibility for a youth centre or project
this post also involves visiting other youth centres or projects
and working in partnership with many different agencies.
Activities are similar to the youth worker role, with additional
responsibilities for supporting other projects, attending area
management meetings and working in partnership with other
agencies.
To do the job well you would need to have:
- the flexibility to adapt to change and work effectively in a
variety of situations, groups or individuals
- the ability to plan and deliver work effectively
- the ability to receive, understand and convey information and
ideas well, using oral and written communication skills
- a willingness to work unsociable hours
- a commitment to continuous professional development
- organisational skills and ability to prioritise work
- ability to draw out the strengths of young people in formal and
informal situations
- sound budget and resource management skills
- experience of working effectively in partnership within a
multi-agency setting
- skilled in effective management of staff
- knowledge of diversity issues relevant in a youth work setting;
skilled and experienced in putting this knowledge into
practice.
In terms of knowledge, you should have an understanding of:
- youth work as an educational process
- how youth work is delivered within an equal opportunities
framework
- issues affecting the lives of young people.
- Health and Safety issues in a youth work setting.
Entry requirements are similar to the youth worker role (a
qualification in social work is needed) but additional experience
and training is required for this role. You can work towards this
during your time at KCC.
There are opportunities to progress to management roles within
Youth Services across the county.
Higher level job
This is an example of a higher level job within Kent Youth
Service. Jobs of this type may be appropriate for people with
extensive specific qualifications or extensive experience in this
area. You could work up to this position from a medium-level job
with training, experience and determination.
Area Youth Officer
The Area Youth Officer holds a day-to-day management
responsibility for all Youth Service work within two
boroughs/districts, supported by senior youth work practitioners
and area youth workers. These officers make up an area management
team in this leadership role.
Area youth officers have an office base but the work can involve
a variety of settings from youth centres and projects, schools,
voluntary clubs, to borough and district offices and a variety of
other agencies.
As an area youth officer a great deal of your time is spent
involved in representing KCC's interests on strategic and
multi-agency groups in the area, ensuring effective networking with
senior officer or partner organisations and elected Members.
Area youth officers also provide leadership and support to all
the Youth Service staff in the designated area on a daily
basis.
In this role no two days are the same and the work can involve
such diverse activities as interviewing prospective youth workers,
involvement in delivery of training programmes, attending a Youth
Advisory Group, or co-ordinating the Area Try-Angle Award events to
celebrate young people's achievements.
All of the skills, interests and knowledge listed under the
youth worker and senior youth work practitioner roles are just as
relevant to this role. Extensive additional experience is required,
especially in administration, organisation, time management,
communication skills, operational and strategic developments and
line management and development of staff.
A degree or higher level qualification would be required along
with evidence of continuous professional development in relevant
fields of working and extensive background and experience in youth
work or a similar area of work.
Beyond this some staff may progress to Assistant Head of Service
or Head of Service possibly within another
authority. |