Youth worker

You can do a professional youth work qualification, like a degree that is recognised by the National Youth Agency.

Subjects include:

• youth and community
• community and youth studies
• youth and theology
• informal and community education

If you have a degree in another subject, you can take a postgraduate qualification to give you professional youth worker status.

You'll also need relevant experience to get on to a degree or postgraduate course.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• finance for postgraduate courses
• university courses and entry requirements

You could do a course like a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice. This would give you an advantage when you apply for a job as a youth support worker. You would then take further training on the job.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, and work experience

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You can complete an intermediate and advanced apprenticeship in youth work.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start as a part-time or volunteer youth support worker and complete on-the-job training to use as entry on to a degree course to get professionally qualified.

It's important that you get experience of paid or unpaid work with young people. You'll often need at least 1 year's experience to apply for professional youth work courses and jobs.

Find out about local opportunities for voluntary or part-time youth work through the National Council for Voluntary Organisations or by contacting your local authority youth service.

You can apply for youth work jobs if you've got relevant experience and qualifications, for example in teaching, careers guidance, probation or community development.

You'll be expected to complete a postgraduate award in youth work while you're working.

Further information

You can get more advice on careers and training in youth work from the National Youth Agency.

You'll need:

• excellent verbal communication skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• customer service skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• knowledge of psychology
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Your day-to-day tasks will include:

• organising sports, arts, education and drama activities
• counselling, coaching and mentoring
• working with young carers or those at risk of offending
• assessing needs and running projects that deal with issues like health, bullying, crime or drugs
• managing volunteers and part-time workers
• keeping confidential records
• controlling budgets and applying for grants and funding
• working with social workers, teachers, probation officers and the police

You could work in the community, at an outreach centre, at a college, in an office or at a school.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors some of the time.