Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   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.
•   Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
•   Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
•   Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Working Life

Work with families and children in a child-centred way to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention.

Work closely with schools, educational support services and other agencies to support school attendance and resolve attendance problems for the benefit of children and families.

Foster an appreciation of the value of education and regular school attendance among pupils, their families and communities.

Assist and advise parents whose children experience school attendance difficulties.

Encourage, advise and assist schools in developing school attendance strategies, codes of behaviour and other policies which will create an environment that encourages children to attend school regularly. 

Agree with schools, necessary protocols for the management of school attendance and referral arrangements in accordance with guidelines that may be laid down at national level.

Deal with poor attendance case referrals from schools using a welfareorientated approach with the families involved as the most effective means of ensuring satisfactory school attendance by the child. 

Assist in tracking and identifying children who drop out of education using interaction with the families involved to encourage and assist the children in returning to education.

Take all possible steps to arrange education for children not currently in receipt of education.

Enter appeals in relation to enrolment and expulsion decisions by schools and Inspect school registers and attendance records to ensure that they comply with relevant requirements.

Prepare education and training plans for young people (16/17 year olds) who leave school early to take up employment, in accordance with guidelines that may be issued by the Agency.

Issue certificates of registration to young people, inspecting places of employment to ensure that these young people are properly registered with the Agency.

Assess the adequacy of education provided to children outside of recognised 3 schools, assisting in the maintenance of the national register.

Co-operate with other agencies concerned with child welfare.

Deal with queries from schools, parents and the public concerning the Educational (Welfare) Act, 2000, and school attendance issues.

Initiate legal proceedings under the Act, where appropriate.

Prepare and submit reports as required. 

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
• Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
• Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.
• Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
• Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
• Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
• Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
• Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
• Refer clients to community resources for services, such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply.
• Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, child care, or medical care.

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.

 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.

There are many pathways into the role of educational welfare officer. QQI Level 8 (or higher) major academic award (or equivalent qualification) in health, education, psychology or social science area. Relevant experience working in Children and Family Services or a related organisation, as relevant to this role can develop your chances of employability.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: social care, youthwork.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: community, social care, health and social care, applied, social, community care, counselling skills, social care with psychology, social studies.

Search for PLC Courses

Conversion Programmes - People currently employed in the social care sector holding any of the previously accepted qualifications, and job seekers who have more recently completed some of the associated qualifications who are interested in entering the social care sector or continuing their careers in the sector, may now find that they are restricted by the requirement to possess a specific social care qualification.

A number of one year “conversion” programmes offering the opportunity to obtain a qualification in Applied Social Studies in Social Care are available. These are designed for job seekers that already possess experience and/or similar qualifications in the social care field and wish to further develop their career in this chosen specialty. A B.A. in Social Care is now required for entry as a Social Care Worker. Supervised Work Placement is a crucial element of training. 

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples:

Search for Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: applied social care, applied social studies, professional social care, health and social care, social care, social care practice, social care work.

The professional qualification required is the 3 year Level 7 B.A. Many qualified practitioners go on to complete an Honours Degree (Level 8) in the field. Some may progress to postgraduate qualifications.

Search for CAO Courses

Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).

Example search terms include: child and social care, leadership in therapeutic child, social care, health and social care, advancing health and social care, social care and social justice, quality and safety in healthcare, social care management.

Search for Postgraduate Courses

Professional Development 

Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.

CORU Registration The requirement for registration of social care workers with CORU will be in place from 2022. CORU is responsible for the registration of all healthcare professionals in Ireland and has already completed the registration of Social Workers. Registration will mean transparent identification of all social care professionals and will also determine the education, continuous professional development and accountability expectation in the social care sector.

Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €42k - €64k

Salaries vary depending on entry point, scale, experience, shift pattern and duties. 

Data Source(s):
Tusla/ HSE/ Indeed/ Payscale

Last Updated: July, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Youth and community workers; Child and early years officers; Housing officers; Counsellors Welfare and housing associate professionals n.e.c.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual average employment growth rate for this occupation continued to be strong across the five-year period. Census data for 2022 indicates that youth and community workers account for the largest share of occupations within this group and vacancies announced through DSP Jobs Ireland in 2022 were primarily for these roles.

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