Q2A

Got an enquiry ........

I am nearly qualified in youth work. I am aware of the strands within the young people
services but am wondering what other types of work there is working with children and
young people, for example in school, etc. I have googled this but cant seem to find what I
am looking for. I would like to have an option of which route I could go down so need to
know what qualifications I would need too.

This is our reply.......

Hi Jobs working with young people, thanks for your email.

It's very difficult to predict what work with young people will be available in schools just
now with the austerity measures, the creation of the All Ages Careers Service which are
all currently work in progress. However, there may still be opportunities in the future for
e.g. young people's workers, personal advisers, mentors etc. You can check the local
and national press, and individual local authority websites for vacancies:

# http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/vacancies/
# http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/server.php?show=nav.220
# http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/JobsandCareers/Jobs/

There may also be vacancies for work with young people in the voluntary, community and
faith (VCF) sector. You can look for vacancies here again in the local and national press,
and on the individual organisation's websites. Some examples of VCF organisations
which work with young people in Preston are:

# Young Carers
# Barnado's
# Prince's Trust
# various before- and after-school clubs

There's a comprehensive list and contact details at:

# <http://www.preston.gov.uk/community-and-living/community-groups-and-
meetings/youth-groups-clubs/>, scroll down and click on the pdf.

Here are some examples of related careers which you could apply for with your youth
work qualification (we assume it will be a level 3/4 qualification):

# children's worker in women's refuges
# residential support worker in care homes
# children's centre worker (e.g. in Surestart centres)
# youth offending team worker

With further study:

# social worker - approved social work degree
# teacher - post-graduate certificate in education

You can find lots of details about all of these jobs, and many more by following this link:
http://www.connexions-direct.com/ and then clicking on the jobs4u link on the left hand
side of the screen.

As with many jobs nowadays getting some work experience is important, so if you aren't
already doing so and have some spare time from your studies, gaining work experience on
a voluntary bas! is would be very useful. You could approach any of the organisations on
the Preston list, or contact Lancashire Young People's Service in Preston to find your
nearest youth centre:

# Preston District Office
Winkley House
Cross Street
Preston
PR1 8RD
Telephone: 01772 538820
or look on the YPS website http://yps.lancashire.gov.uk/where-you-live?district=preston

We hope our reply gives you an indication of the wide range of work with young people
that is available, and helps you to decide what sort of work you'd like to do. If you think
we can help further please contact us again, about this or anything else.

Best wishes from q2a.

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