- 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
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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.
With experience, you could take on a more specialist role in an area like mental health. You could also become a team leader or manager.
Other options are to gain further qualifications and move into social work, teaching, community development or counselling.
You can get more advice on careers and training in youth work from the National Youth Agency.
