Youth worker

As a youth worker, you'll set, organise and run community programmes aimed at young people aged between 11 and 25. Through these programmes, you'll help them to explore and understand their ideas, values and beliefs, building their confidence and life skills so that they can make a successful transition to adulthood.

You may also deliver targeted street work and work in partnership with professionals such as teachers and social workers, to engage with high-risk young people.

Youth work relies on voluntary engagement with young people, so you'll need to build relationships based on trust in order to support and empower them.

Areas of youth work

Youth workers work in a variety of settings, such as:

• schools and colleges
• community groups
• faith-based groups
• youth justice
• youth centres and outreach centres.

What do youth workers do?

As a youth worker, you'll need to:

• assess the needs of young people to correctly plan and deliver programmes related to areas such as health, fitness, drugs, gangs, violence, extremism, relationships and bullying
• set up and run arts-based activities, community/environmental projects, residential activities, outdoor education and sporting activities
• develop a relationship with young people based on respect and trust, ensuring they have a safe place to develop their identity and place in society
• establish boundaries and challenge inappropriate behaviour
• mentor, coach and support individuals, encouraging greater social inclusion
• set targets for progression and regularly monitor and review the quality of the local youth work provision
• work in partnership with families and carers and professionals such as those in social care, health, police, education, youth offending teams and local authorities, in order to build a strong support network
• attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings, bringing together practitioners from different sectors as part of a 'team around the family' (TAF) approach
• attend regular training and development opportunities to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, and local policy developments
• recruit, train and manage staff, including volunteers
• undertake administrative tasks, maintain effective recording systems and respond to queries
• work with parents and community groups to win support, apply for funding for improved provision, and act as an advocate for young people's interests.

Youth worker salaries in the UK

• Youth workers can expect to earn between £22,000 and £35,000, with unqualified youth workers starting on the lower end of the scale.
• Salaries vary depending on the sector you work in. Youth worker jobs in youth justice pay the highest, with salaries ranging from £33,746 to £44,258.
• Salaries for youth service managers and supervisors are around £33,000.

London area allowances are available.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Check the NYA for details of available youth work qualification bursaries.

How many hours does a youth worker work?

Working hours are usually around 37 hours per week. You may need to work some evenings and weekends.

Youth work services are largely dependent on government funding, which can make them vulnerable if cuts are made, and they tend to be temporary or fixed term contracts.

Travel during the working day can be frequent as you'll need to visit locations where activities take place and for attending meetings with other agencies. Overnight absence from home is unusual, although you may be involved in residential activities and exchanges.

How do I become a youth worker?

You'll find several routes into youth work depending on your experience and level of education:

• completing a degree in youth work
• completing a level 6 youth worker apprenticeship
• starting as a youth support worker (after completing a level 2 or 3 diploma or certificate in youth work practice.

Professional training is also available at postgraduate level such as a Graduate diploma, Postgraduate diploma, or a Masters degree, if you have a degree in a subject other than youth work.

Successful completion of an NYA validated and JNC recognised undergraduate or postgraduate course confers professional youth worker status.

Course titles vary, for example, youth and community work, community development and youth work, and youth work and theology. See the National Youth Agency for a list of validated undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

You'll usually need two A-levels or equivalent and some relevant work experience to get a place on an undergraduate course. Check with course providers to find out what type of experience they're looking for. Entry onto an undergraduate degree programme without formal qualifications may be possible if you have substantial relevant experience in youth work and the academic ability to complete the course.

Courses include substantial work placements with various organisations and agencies, where you'll apply your academic learning to real-life situations.

For information on youth work training in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, see:

• CLD Standards Council for Scotland
• ETS Wales
• Youth Action Northern Ireland

Key skills for a youth worker

You'll need to have:

• a strong commitment to young people and an understanding of the factors affecting their lives
• the ability to provide reliable support to young people and act with integrity in times of stress
• excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain good relationships with young people
• patience, tolerance and resilience when working under emotional pressure
• a sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things
• formal communication skills for presentations, report writing and funding applications
• the ability to treat young people's concerns with respect, tact and sensitivity, while being aware of the limits that are required by confidentiality and the boundaries that govern the youth/youth worker relationship.

Youth worker work experience

You'll need relevant work experience to get a place on a course. This demonstrates you understand the work involved and the knowledge, skills and attitude required.

The amount and type of experience varies between courses. Some courses ask for 100 hours of experience, but this may vary. You'll need experience of working with young people or in a youth work or community practice setting. This can be in areas such as advice and guidance, drug or alcohol misuse, mentoring, sport and youth justice.

You can gain experience through volunteering and it's often possible to gain qualifications in youth work practice offered by awarding bodies.

For details of volunteering centres and opportunities in your area visit:

• Do-it.life
• NCVO - National Council for Voluntary Organisations (England)
• Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland)
• Volunteer Scotland
• Volunteering Wales
• Volunteers’ Week

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs youth workers?

Youth workers are employed in the public sector through local authority provision or via public sector organisations and charities. The main employers are:

• local authorities, including the Integrated Youth Support Services (IYSS)
• voluntary organisations such as the YMCA, Barnardo's and National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)
• schools and colleges
• housing associations
• churches and community or faith groups
• drug and alcohol services
• Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) (England and Wales)
• social services
• the National Health Service (NHS).

Look for job vacancies at:

• Children & Young People Now Jobs
• jobsgopublic
• Local Government Jobs
• Times Educational Supplement (TES)

Where can a career in youth work lead?

As a newly qualified youth worker, you'll train on the job, with the support of experienced colleagues. Employers often provide in-service short courses on specific areas of youth work. Child protection and safeguarding training is mandatory for all youth workers and is often delivered by local authorities.

As you gain more experience as a youth worker, you may take on a more specialist role. For example, working in an area such as mental health or gang prevention, or working with specific vulnerable groups.

Although no formal qualification is required for entry into youth work management, employers usually expect several years' experience as a full-time youth worker, including experience of leading a team of staff. They may also look for a specialist area.

There is no defined progression structure above a youth worker role, but more common titles denoting additional responsibilities include senior youth worker, youth work manager and youth work project coordinator. Relocation may be necessary to secure promotion due to the small number of senior, principal area youth worker or development officer posts.

One future possibility is to use your experience to move into related jobs such as:

• community education
• outdoor education
• social work
• teaching advice work
• training.

For information on relevant training courses available, see:

• ETS Wales
• NYA
• Youth Action Northern Ireland
• YouthLink Scotland

It's also possible to take a Masters qualification in areas such as community education or counselling, or a PhD looking at youth work issues in an academic context.

Youth work positions are subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure by the Disclosure and Barring Service in England and Wales, and Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) in Scotland (run by Disclosure Scotland). Northern Ireland is covered by Access Northern Ireland (AccessNI). However, having a record does not necessarily mean you will be disqualified from being a youth worker.