Tell me about it
Youth workers specialise in work with young people aged between 11 and 25, particularly those aged between 13 and 19, to promote their personal and social development and enable them to have a voice, influence and place in their communities and society as a whole. Youth work is carried out in different situations and locations, using a range of approaches. Youth workers might, for example, operate from a youth club or centre, offering some activities for all young people in the area and some targeted at specific groups; they might be detached or outreach youth workers, making contact with young people who do not use youth centres; they might be involved with young people who have been excluded from school, who persistently misuse drugs or alcohol, or who have been involved in crime. The nature of the work is slightly different in Scotland, where the nearest equivalent career title is community education worker.

Youth workers often work with other services - such as social services, housing, leisure, and health - to develop and improve provision for young people. This kind of partnership work has become more common with the introduction in England of the Connexions Service, taking over from the careers service in providing a coordinated support service for young people aged 13 to 19, including access to a personal adviser. Youth work is seen as being at the heart of Connexions, with youth workers having a particularly important role in reaching and supporting young people at risk. Support services for young people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not follow the Connexions model. Even in England, the Connexions Service seems likely to disappear by 2008, although youth workers will continue to operate in whatever new structure is put in place.

Entry level
If you want to become a full-time youth worker, you would normally need to take a professional training course. Entry requirements vary, but applicants under 21 may need A levels/H grades and GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), or equivalent qualifications. Relevant experience is usually required for entry to courses. Part-time and voluntary youth workers do not need academic qualifications and can study for a local youth work qualification at NVQ Level 3.

In England, most professional youth workers have a qualification validated by the National Youth Agency (NYA). Courses leading to these qualifications include diplomas of higher education, foundation degrees, degrees and postgraduate awards.
In Scotland, community education workers must qualify by taking a course endorsed by Communities Scotland. In Wales, four institutions offer courses in youth and community work currently leading to a diploma, although all will be at degree level by 2010. There is also a postgraduate diploma at the North East Wales Institute in Wrexham. Northern Ireland also has its own training provision.

Employers recruiting staff to work with young people are entitled to have checks carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Making the grade
Almost all employers in this field would offer regular, in-service training to help you develop your career.

With the expansion of opportunities for qualified youth and community workers, prospects for promotion are likely to be good. There may be opportunities to move into managerial posts or into specialist work (with young offenders, for example).

Personal qualities
You would need to be able to establish good relationships with young people and earn their trust and respect. Your approach would generally be to encourage young people to take on greater responsibility for themselves and others and to work effectively as a team, judging when to stand back and when to intervene. This means not always being in control and can result in allowing young people to make mistakes, from which you could help them learn.

Looking ahead
Youth work skills are in great demand and employment opportunities are continuing to expand. You could work for a range of organisations, including local authorities, the Connexions Service, other services and agencies such as youth offending teams, voluntary organisations such as the YMCA or Barnardo's, local community organisations and government-funded projects and initiatives.

Uncertainty over the future of the Connexions Service in England may muddy the waters in the short term but new opportunities for experienced and newly qualified youth workers will emerge, probably via local authorities.

Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include career/personal adviser, probation officer, social worker or teacher.

Take-home pay
Qualified youth workers normally start on around £17,500 a year, rising with experience to around £29,000. As a senior manager, you could earn £30,000 plus.

Effects
As a full-time youth worker, you would usually work a 35- to 37-hour week, which would almost certainly involve evening and weekend work. Part-time work is common. Most jobs involve local travel.

Sources of information
National Youth Agency: www.nya.org.uk
Communities Scotland: www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk
Wales Youth Agency: www.wya.org.uk
Youth Council for Northern Ireland: www.ycni.org

CRCI: V