Working with the Community

Youth Worker
"to make contact with young people and positively influence their lives"

This can happen in a variety of ways, through youth clubs, outreach mobile provision, adventurous activities, arts activities, the achievement awards or specialist provision for disabled young people, schools work and targeted work with disaffected young people. Young people are encouraged to be fully involved and to design their own programmes, supported by Youth Workers. The majority of the work takes place with 13-19 year olds, but the service works with 10 - 25 year olds.

There is a wide variety of part-time worker opportunities for which training and development will be provided.

All full-time Youth Workers should possess a JNC professional qualification. For further information about qualifications contact:

The Training and Development Worker, Youth, Community and Play Service, Culture and Community Department, County Hall, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7QP

For more information on the above careers only please telephone our Culture and Community Department, Personnel and Development Services Section on (0115) 977 4211 or 977 4429

County Play Team
Supports and promotes the child’s right to play and develops childcare provision for school age children.

There are seven Play Development Worker Posts each covering a District of this County. These workers help local communities develop their own play activities such as holiday play schemes.

There are seven Out of School Co-ordinators who work to Government targets developing out of school childcare schemes.

There is a Playwork Training Co-ordinator who oversees playwork training courses, again responding to Government targets.

Community Development Worker
Works with local people to help them identify and meet the needs of their local communities. They help to implement and support local initiatives and projects, encouraging local people to get involved and ensure that training and information is available to enable local people to participate.

Community Development Workers promote equality of resources; work with statutory, voluntary and private organisations to make them aware of and more responsive to the needs of community groups and help disadvantaged groups gain access to equal opportunities.

Residential Social Worker (RSW) - Direct Services for Children
Direct Services for Children have 10 residential homes which look after children and young people for either short break periods or more longer term care. This includes some specialist units for children with disabilities. The homes are based mainly in Ashfield, Mansfield, Edwinstowe and Southwell. They each have a Statement of Purpose and Function which identifies the type of service provided and its Philosophy of Care and includes the numbers and skills of the staff who work in the home.

There are approximately 150 residential social workers and 30 managers employed across the sector. Residential Social Workers must be either qualified at NVQ CCYP level 3 or registered on the course within 3 months of employment. Assistant Unit Managers must be qualified at a minimum NVQ level 3 and have 1 years post qualifying experience, (with a requirement to register and achieve NVQ level 4 once in post).