Entry into children services
Where to start - entering Children Services
Working in Children's Services is a vast field. It could mean working with very young children and babies alongside their families as a Midwife, Health Visitor or Family Support Worker. It could equally mean working with young people reaching adulthood to support them in accessing leisure, education, training or employment opportunities as aYouth worker or Connexions Adviser. There are many other roles working with children and young people, some focusing on general health or specific medical issues, others on social issues or education issues.
The common thread running throughout these careers is the need to recruit staff who love working with people, enjoy working as part of a team and want to see good outcomes for the children or young people they work with. All these careers will require a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and all will involve on-going training as well as any initial requirements for qualifications. Often these careers welcome both young people entering fresh from qualifications and older people who are considering a career change as they are roles that could suit people who have had previous work experience and a variety of life experiences.
Some roles will not require many formal qualifications and more emphasis will be placed on soft skills, such as the ability to set up creative play experiences or work alongside very vulnerable children and young people. Please be aware that there is a requirement in most jobs working with children and young people for the majority of staff to be trained to at least NVQ level 2 or equivalent (level 2 = 5 GCSEs or more). Therefore holding at least some qualifications at this level will be an advantage in making a successful application. Other roles will require a specific degree and often post graduate qualifications.
To find out more about the organisations working for children, take a look at our partner page that provides an overview of the many services where you career can start.
