Family Support Worker: Career Guide

A job as a support worker can be an incredibly fulfilling career choice. A support worker can work in many different environments with many different groups of people, but for the purposes of this article we will focus on the role of a family support worker. This is a job not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are many. Support workers do a great deal of good.

 

What does a job as a support worker involve?

As a support worker, you would be working with the most vulnerable of children and families.  Your duties would be different depending on why the family had been referred to you in the first place, but they may include:

 

  • Supporting the parents to improve their parenting skills by encouraging them to attend workshops etc, and by teaching them about the importance of quality time and learning through play
  • Teaching the parents about discipline, the various methods of setting boundaries and educating them about age-appropriate behaviours
  • Helping the parents to learn how to manage the family finances more effectively
  • Helping them to develop their emotional and physical nurturing skills
  • Providing hands-on help in the event of a crisis situation
  • Assessing the needs of a family when a child returns home from care
  • Keeping accurate records, writing reports and liasing with many different health and social care professionals.
  • Acting as a learning support assistant with schools and teachers
  • Providing emotional support and encouragement for the entire family

 

As a family support worker, it would be your job to try to help the family stay together.  Family support workers are assigned to families who are struggling, and whose children would likely end up in care without proper help.

 

What qualifications do I need to become a support worker?

It is important to most employers that you have at least some experience, voluntary or paid, in the field. Working or volunteering in family refuges, community centres, children’s homes or nurseries would be a good start to give you some experience.

 

Qualifications-wise, employers will be looking for one or more of the following:

 

  • NVQ in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
  • NVQ in Health and Social Care
  • BTEC National Certificate/Diploma  in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
  • CACHE Certificate or Diploma in Child Care and Education

 

As a support worker, you will be encouraged to pursue further qualifications while you work, and you will of course be trained in various aspects of your job, such as assessment methods, legal issues, child protection issues and health and safety.

 

Formal qualifications aside, every family support worker needs the following traits:

 

  • Patience
  • An understanding, warm and caring nature
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • The ability to relate to and empathise with people from all walks of life
  • Level-headedness
  • A non-judgemental attitude

 

Being a family support worker is not for everybody. It is hard work, and it’s not always pleasant.  However the rewards are many, and for the right person it can be a much loved, ‘for life’ job.

 

What is a private tutor?

A private tutor is a highly knowledgeable, usually somewhat qualified individual who teaches students privately to help them develop their knowledge of certain subjects.  Tutoring can be a fulfilling and very lucrative part-time job – or even full time, if you gain enough students. 

 

Who would hire a private tutor?

Private tutors teach tutees of all age groups, from very young children to mature adults.  There are a huge number of reasons why someone might hire a private tutor – private tutoring is popular with many different people.  They may be:

 

·         A teenager wanting to improve on a certain subject that they are struggling with for their GCSE’s

·         Parents of a home educated child, who feel that their own knowledge or teaching skills in some subjects is lacking

·         A mature student (or indeed any student) who feels the need to ‘bulk up’ their learning outside of school hours

·         Anybody who feels they need a more tailored approach to education than a school environment can offer

 

How much will a private tutor cost?

Depending on the subject and level of education, you can expect to pay somewhere between £20-£35 per hour for private tutoring.  However, many trainee teachers will offer their services as a private tutor for much less than this as a way to hone their teaching skills further.  If the private tutor will have to travel, it is generally expected that the tutee will pay their travel expenses.

 

I want to become a private tutor. What qualifications do I need?

You will need to have an excellent level of knowledge in the subject you wish to teach, plus the ability to tailor your teaching techniques to your student.  Excellent interpersonal skills are of a very high priority.  It is not necessary to have a teaching qualification, however your level of formal qualification will dictate how much you can charge.  PGCE graduates will be able to charge more than those who haven’t qualified yet, just as experienced teachers will be able to charge more than NQT’s (Newly Qualified Teachers)

 

How can I find work as a private tutor?

You can advertise your services anywhere you wish – local papers, shop windows and billboards are popular choices. However, arguably the best way to advertise is through specialist agencies.  These of course will charge a fee but many feel that it is a small price to pay to ensure your ad reaches those who want to see it.  Many private tutors find work solely through word-of-mouth recommendations, so do a good job and you may find your tutees spread the word!

 

Is there anything else I need to know?

As a private tutor you will be self-employed, so you will need to deal with your own income tax and National Insurance contributions.  Also, it would be very beneficial for you to obtain an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check.  At the present time it is not possible for individuals to obtain these, so signing up with an agency for private tutors would be a good idea.

Nursery Jobs

Nurseries take care of children from just a few weeks old until the age of 4-7 (depending on the nursery), so they are usually very noisy and busy places! One thing’s for sure – no two days will be the same!

 

You don’t usually need any specific qualifications to start – employers generally want to see some evidence of education in the form of 3 or more GCSE passes, but specific childcare qualifications are unnecessary for somebody starting out as a nursery assistant.  One thing that everybody who works with children is required to provide is a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check, the cost of which will usually be met by your employer.

 

Aside from qualifications, to be a great candidate for any nursery jobs you may apply for you will need certain traits, such as:

 

  • A caring and sensitive nature
  • A love for spending time with children
  • Responsibility
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • A positive, fair approach to discipline
  • A good sense of humour
  • Creativity is always a bonus
  • The ability to relate to young children
  • An awareness of safety and hygiene practices, although training on these areas will be provided

 

As a nursery assistant, you can expect to earn about £10k-£12k pa.  Fully qualified nursery nurses can earn up to £18k and other nursery jobs, such as a nursery manager, can provide in excess of £30k.  There are other jobs available in a nursery, such as cooks and cleaners, the wages of which are usually not far above minimum wage.

 

In nurseries, there are separate rooms for different age groups, the baby rooms having a higher staff ratio than the rooms for older children.  The days are usually structured, especially so for the older children, but play is the focus for the majority of the time.  Gone are the days of strict learning schedules for young children.  Play-based learning has been proven time and time again to be more effective (and more fun for all involved!).

 

So what does the average day look like for somebody with a nursery job?

 

  • Planning and facilitating activities such as arts, crafts, cooking, music and dancing
  • Personal care such as changing, feeding, bathing, and assisting toilet training children with using the bathroom
  • Reading stories in a group setting, or one-on-one
  • Taking children on planned outings
  • Playing outside
  • You may be responsible for some paperwork
  • Implementing health and safety guidelines
  • Being aware of possible signs of abuse and neglect, and reporting any concerns you may have to the appropriate person

 

There are many opportunities for advancement in nursery jobs.  From being a nursery assistant, you could qualify as a nursery nurse, then a senior nursery nurse, and move on to becoming a nursery manager or an EYP (Early Years Professional).  To gain further qualifications, you may be able to train on-the-job (an apprenticeship), or work part time and attend a college course.

Babysitting

We all remember having a babysitter at some point in our childhoods.  Usually a babysitter was a trusted family friend, or a familiar and responsible neighbourhood teen.

Babysitting can be undertaken by anybody, qualified or not.  There is no legal lower age limit for babysitting, however the NSPCC recommend that any babysitter should be over the age of 16.

Babysitting is somewhat of a hybrid job, somewhere between nannying and childminding.  The babysitting usually occurs in the child’s home, but babysitters aren’t generally required for the same long hours as a nanny would be.  Babysitting usually entails just a few hours at a time, often in the evening when the children are already in bed.

Babysitting is usually thought of as an odd job for a teenager or older sibling, but it can be a great way to make extra money on top of your normal job.  Many childminders and nursery nurses offer babysitting services for evenings and weekends. Babysitting is a good way to top up your earnings, as the money is normally rather good.

So, what do you need to do in order to make good money as a babysitter?

Babysitting Courses

There are many courses available nowadays that will give you the basic skills you need to be a good babysitter.  These courses usually teach basic first aid, child development, early childhood education and the importance of play.  Of course, these things can be learnt elsewhere – and many babysitters don’t have any formal qualifications – but it is reassuring to parents if you can show them proof of your skills.

First Aid

It is very wise for anybody to have up-to-date, basic first aid knowledge – especially those of us who spend any amount of time looking after children.  However, to ensure that the children in your care are as safe as possible – and to give you the edge over other babysitters – it is advisable to undertake an in-depth first aid course, with a focus on first aid for babies and young children (assuming that’s the age group you’ll be working with).

Own Transport

This isn’t essential for all babysitting jobs, but it may come in very useful.  You can’t always rely on the parents to drop you home when you are finished, and you may finish too late in the evening for public transport (depending on where you live, of course).  Make sure you always have spare change for a taxi, should you need one.

Set Rates

When applying for babysitting jobs, you should be able to give the family a quote for your services.  It is perfectly acceptable to charge more for evening, weekend and bank holiday babysitting, as they are considered to be unsociable hours.  It is also worth considering working ‘special’ nights such as New Years Eve, when babysitters are traditionally paid a lot more than usual.

A Contract

If you regular babysit for a family and it is more of a job as they expect you to cook a meal, do homework or bath and put the children to be it may be wise to have a contract in place.

Also, don’t forget that you may need to complete a tax return if you are babysitting regularly and earning a certain amount of money.  You should seek further advice from HMRC if you are unsure.

Private Tutor 101

What is a private tutor?

A private tutor is a highly knowledgeable, usually somewhat qualified individual who teaches students privately to help them develop their knowledge of certain subjects.  Tutoring can be a fulfilling and very lucrative part-time job – or even full time, if you gain enough students.

 

Who would hire a private tutor?

Private tutors teach tutees of all age groups, from very young children to mature adults.  There are a huge number of reasons why someone might hire a private tutor – private tutoring is popular with many different people.  They may be:

 

  • A teenager wanting to improve on a certain subject that they are struggling with for their GCSE’s
  • Parents of a home educated child, who feel that their own knowledge or teaching skills in some subjects is lacking
  • A mature student (or indeed any student) who feels the need to ‘bulk up’ their learning outside of school hours
  • Anybody who feels they need a more tailored approach to education than a school environment can offer

 

How much will a private tutor cost?

Depending on the subject and level of education, you can expect to pay somewhere between £20-£35 per hour for private tutoring.  However, many trainee teachers will offer their services as a private tutor for much less than this as a way to hone their teaching skills further.  If the private tutor will have to travel, it is generally expected that the tutee will pay their travel expenses.

 

I want to become a private tutor. What qualifications do I need?

You will need to have an excellent level of knowledge in the subject you wish to teach, plus the ability to tailor your teaching techniques to your student.  Excellent interpersonal skills are of a very high priority.  It is not necessary to have a teaching qualification, however your level of formal qualification will dictate how much you can charge.  PGCE graduates will be able to charge more than those who haven’t qualified yet, just as experienced teachers will be able to charge more than NQT’s (Newly Qualified Teachers)

 

How can I find work as a private tutor?

You can advertise your services anywhere you wish – local papers, shop windows and billboards are popular choices. However, arguably the best way to advertise is through specialist agencies.  These of course will charge a fee but many feel that it is a small price to pay to ensure your ad reaches those who want to see it.  Many private tutors find work solely through word-of-mouth recommendations, so do a good job and you may find your tutees spread the word!

 

Is there anything else I need to know?

As a private tutor you will be self-employed, so you will need to deal with your own income tax and National Insurance contributions.  Also, it would be very beneficial for you to obtain an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check.  At the present time it is not possible for individuals to obtain these, so signing up with an agency for private tutors would be a good idea.

A Career As A Nanny, Is It For You?

What is a nanny?

A nanny is a professional childcare provider.  A nanny works in a similar way to a childminder, with the difference that she will work in the client’s home rather than in her own home.

What does a nanny do?

Many people are under the assumption that being a nanny is easy.  They think that it’s simply a case of playing with somebody else’s children all day. Well, there is playing involved, but there’s a lot more to it than that.

A nanny will usually work long hours, and will spend the majority of her time ferrying children around to various activities, doing the school run, preparing meals and tidying up after the children. As a nanny, you will earn a reasonably good wage but you will not usually get very much time off.

Being a nanny is hard graft.  You will need to have excellent interpersonal skills and a high level of patience.  As well as looking after the children, you will likely be responsible for some housekeeping too – the level of which should be negotiated when drawing up your contract.

However, the rewards are not just monetary.  Being a nanny can be an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding job for somebody who loves taking care of children.  It is a very important job – the children you care for will remember you for the rest of their lives.  You will be the person who is mostly responsible for their day-to-day care, therefore the bond you will forge with them will be strong.

 

Why a nanny?

All kinds of families hire nannies, but the majority of families that do are busy, full-time working parents.  They choose nannies because they are the most convenient solution to their childcare needs. They often start work early and finish late, so they need a childcare provider who will either be on-site (most nannies are live-in nannies) or who will come to the house to work.  They haven’t got the time to be dropping off and picking up their children from nursery or from a childminders home.

Additionally, many parents prefer to use a nanny because it can be beneficial emotionally for the children.  It is vitally important that children are able to form strong attachments with their carers in their early years.  A nanny often becomes like a much-loved relative, or even a third parent.  This kind of bond is very important and this may well be the parents’ motivation for choosing a nanny.

What qualifications do I need to be a nanny?

Although you do not technically need any qualifications to be a nanny, employers will be looking for proof of your skills.  The N.N.E.B Diploma is widely recognised and, up until recently, was considered to be the only nanny qualification that was necessary.  Now, there are many courses you can attend to gain skills, but an N.N.E.B Diploma is what employers will be looking for.

However, many experienced and brilliant nannies will have no formal qualifications. They will have excellent references, though, and many years of experience under their belts.

You will also need to provide an enhanced disclosure to be able to work as a nanny in the UK, and at least a basic first aid certificate.

Please note – for the purpose of this article I have referred to nannies as female. However, there are male nannies out there, but they are not as common as female nannies.

Childcare: Which Provider is Right for You?

Childcare is something that nearly all parents will have to consider at some stage. Nowadays, most parents need to work at least part-time, or they may choose to work.  Even those that are full time stay-at-home parents will probably need to utilise the services of a childcare provider at some point during their children’s lives.

 

There are lots of options available to choose from when it comes to childcare.  In this article, we will go over the commonly available childcare providers in the hope that we will make a sometimes-difficult (and often emotional) decision a little easier.

 

Childminders

Childminders are self-employed childcare professionals who look after children in their own homes, from very young babies to pre-teens.  They are usually able to provide flexible hours, and are sometimes able to pick up and drop off children, which can make life a little easier for a busy working parent.  Childminder rates across the country vary, but the average is £3.84 per child per hour.  The benefits of using a childminder are many, especially for the child who will usually find it easier to settle in than they would at a nursery.

 

Nurseries

Nurseries provide childcare to many children at once.  They generally accept children from a few weeks old, until the age of four.  The children are usually cared for in large groups, with the babies being kept separately from the older ones.  Many parents prefer to have a childminder or nanny to provide childcare for their little ones because the busy environment of a nursery can be too much for a baby or toddler.  However, some children thrive on the stimulating and structured environment of a nursery – it all depends on the child’s individual temperament.  Nursery fees vary, but for a child under two it can cost £177 per week for a full-time place – even more in inner London.

 

Nannies

Nannies provide childcare in the child’s home, and usually live on-site.  You would be the nanny’s employer, and therefore would be responsible for paying her tax and NI contributions.  Nannies are a popular childcare choice with parents who both work long hours.  They are generally the most expensive childcare provider, with their take-home wages ranging from £280-£380 per week.  Many parents see this as a small price to pay to have their childcare provider on site, available for unsociable hours if she is needed (although her hours will need to be agreed upon in advance and contracted).  There is also an emotional benefit to the children, who will be looked after by the same person each day in a familiar environment.

 

Au Pairs

Au pairs are usually the cheapest childcare option, as they don’t generally charge a real wage.  They will live in your home, so you will be required to feed them and house them, as well as paying them pocket money of a minimum of £65 per week if they are working 25 hours. Au pairs come from other European countries, and come to the UK on au pair schemes to improve their English whilst doing some babysitting to earn money.  They will also usually do some housekeeping.  Au pairs should be treated as part of the family rather than an employee, and they shouldn’t be required to work the same long hours of a nanny because they need time to study.