Work Environment
WorkAbility Guidance Workers typically work in the following Career Sectors:
Videos on the Web
- WorkAbility Guidance Worker- from: Youtube Search
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
The Work
- Adopts a person centred and holistic approach including the development of a Personal Action Plan to identify training needs in personal/social and employment focused skill
- Building a supportive guidance relationship with the client and assist them in creating personal and career goalsAssist young adults to develop the confidence and independence required to participate in education, training and employment
- Tailor-made education and inclusive training programmes to respond to the needs of the client/young person
- Provides employment supports & career preparation
- Using career research tools to explore options and steps towards accessing and achieving the clients career goals
- Supporting clients to identify suitable education and training options and encourage them to progress
- Supporting employers to provide opportunities for clients to upskill and become more inclusive and provide more meaningful roles for people with disabilities
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
- Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
- Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
- Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
- Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
- Participate in job development and placement programs, contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating the success of placements.
- Analyse information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
- Collaborate with clients' families to implement rehabilitation plans, such as behavioral, residential, social, or employment goals.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools or community groups.
- Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.
Qualities - WorkAbility Guidance Worker
- You must enjoy working with people and helping them to make important decisions about their education, training and careers.
- Good communication skills are very important. You must be able to listen carefully and ask the right questions to find out about the client's interests, skills and values.
- Knowledge of assessment techniques such as psychometric tests and computer guidance systems is also useful.
- You will meet people from many different backgrounds, with different levels of self-confidence and experience of education. An inclusive and empowering, balance of building confidence with support is important.
- You should encourage self-assessment, avoid imposing solutions, and guide the client to come to their own choices and decisions.
- You will need strong negotiating skills, to represent the client's interests when you work with colleges or training providers.
- Ability guidance can be very varied, so you will need to be flexible and well organised. You will need to be able to plan your caseload, and do administrative tasks such as writing reports and keeping records.
Interests - WorkAbility Guidance Worker
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Entry - WorkAbility Guidance Worker
The qualification in guidance and counselling is a postgraduate course. To satisfy the entry requirements one must have a basic undergraduate degree NFQ level 6-8.
Employers place importance on the right personal qualities. Relevant life and work experience are also highly valued. You may have gained this in an area such as: Teaching, Youth and Community work, Social work, and Probation work or Personnel work.
Relevant courses are available at institutions throughout the country. Information on course details and entry requirements can be obtained from the individual Colleges.
Training & Development Pathways
FET Centre Traineeship & PLC courses: Teaching, Youth & Community work, Social care work, and or Personnel/ HR NFQ level 5-6 Search our FET Coursefinder
CAO Higher Education entry: Teaching, Youth and Community work, Social work, and ability support & occupational health work or Personnel/ HR NFQ level 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder
Posgraduate Options: Career Guidance & Counselling NFQ Level 7 [special purpose] & post grad NFQ level 9.
Dublin City University (DCU)
MSc in Guidance Counselling
2 year part time (contact DCU directly regarding entry criteria)
University of Limerick (UL)
MA Guidance Counselling & Lifespan Development
2 year part time (contact UL directly regarding entry criteria)
Maynooth University (MU)
Certificate in Adult Guidance Theory and Practice
1 year part time (contact MU directly for more information and entry criteria)
Post Graduate Diploma in School Guidance Counselling
1 year part time - SCHOOL ONLY (contact MU directly for more information and entry criteria)
Master of Education - School Guidance Counselling
1 year part time - SCHOOL ONLY (contact MU directly regarding entry criteria)
Post Graduate Diploma (Arts) in Adult Guidance Counselling
2 year part time - FURTHER EDUCATION ONLY - (contact MU directly regarding entry criteria)
Recognizing Foreign Guidance Qualifications
NARIC Ireland provides advice on the academic recognition of foreign qualifications by comparing them, where possible and appropriate, to a major award type and level on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). A comparability statement for each qualification listed is available for download on the NARIC website.
Professional Development & CPD
Institute of Guidance Counsellors
Last Updated: November, 2023
Pay & Salary - WorkAbility Guidance Worker
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €44k
Salaries vary based on experience, role, duties, location, and project funding from employer under the SICAP & Pobal Salary scales.
Data Source(s):
Pobal/ SICAP
Last Updated: March, 2024
* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.
View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available
Labour Market Updates - WorkAbility Guidance Worker
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment growth for this occupation was slightly below average, with employment declining slightly between 2021 and 2022. The share of non-Irish citizens at 29% is higher than the national average. A small number of new employment permits were issued in 2022 for social workers. Approximately 1,300 awards were made in 2021 at level 8 or higher in the broad social work field.
A report in 2022 by the Irish Association of Social Workers identified retention of social workers to be a key issue, particularly in areas of child protection and adult safeguarding. Despite issues with recruitment and retention of suitably qualified social workers remaining, the data does not currently point to a shortage.
Guidance & Teaching Professionals
Employment growth was below average over the five-year period, with little growth since 2020. It should be noted that career guidance professionals working in the second level system are most likely captured in the secondary teaching occupations. Employment permits issued in 2022 were all intra-company transfers and related to roles outside of the education sector.
Useful Contacts - WorkAbility Guidance Worker
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Pobal
- Head Office, Holbrook House, Holles Street, Dublin 2
- (01) 511 7000
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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ILDN Irish Local Development Network
- Unit 24, Tait Business Centre, Dominic St, Limerick, V94 A9X6
- 061 404 923
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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Activelink
- Activelink, 2-4 Merville Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, A94 E3F8, Ireland.
- 01-6677326
- [email protected]
- Click Here
