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.

The Work

Youth workers spend time in face-to-face work, finding out about young people's likes and dislikes, their feelings about society, and any problems they want to discuss. They help people take action in their lives, with issues affecting it from health, education, unemployment and the environment.  
 
Young people use the youth service to meet friends, spend time away from home in a safe environment, get help and advice, and take part in constructive activities. They mentor and counsel individuals to encourage social inclusion.  
 
Full-time youth workers are often responsible for a team of part-time workers and volunteers, some of whom may have special skills in sport, music or art. Youth workers may give talks or arrange specialists to visit to discuss personal and health issues that affect young people. They encourage young people to think about their attitudes to other people, and discuss problems such as racism and sexism.  
 
Detached youth workers go out into the community to find young people who do not currently use the youth service but who may benefit from the youth service. They meet groups of young people, for example, in pubs or on street corners. They win their trust, and find out if they are bored or have problems. They may then arrange counselling services, or encourage people to use the youth service if one exists in the area.

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.

Further Information

• Youth Worker Advocate - from: GradIreland

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.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Some people become part-time youth workers through their own experience of youth service, perhaps in the Scouts or Guides, or through working to help their religious community. To find out about part-time opportunities, you should contact your local authority or youth service. This will usually be part of the education department. Many local areas have Volunteering Centres, councils for voluntary youth services and these may provide a starting point for finding out about opportunities Volunteer Ireland.    

Training & Development Pathways

Garda vetting will form part of any applications for work in this sector

FET Centre Traineeship: Youthwork, Training & Development 'Train the trainer'  in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Community and Youth Work, Youth Activities Worker, Youth Studies & Community Development, Youth Work (Including SNA), Youth Work and Addiction Studies, Youthwork, Applied Social Studies, Social Care at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: There are no specific Youth & community Apprenticeships at present but new programmes are adding all the time between NFQ levels 5-10 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Community Development and Youth Work, Community Youth Work, Social Science - Youth & Community Work , Arts (Child, Youth and Family: Policy and Practice), Community & Addiction Studies, Public Health and Health Promotion - Health Sciences, Applied Social Care NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development

Postgraduate Study Options Child & Youth Studies, Child Youth & Family Studies, Child, Youth & Community, Community & Youth Work, Youth Arts & Sports Education, Youth Justice, Youth Work, Community Health, Leadership & Management for the Community & Public Sector NFQ level 9

National Youth Council Ireland 

AEIB All Ireland endorsement body for Community Education & Training 

Youth work Ireland

Community work Ireland

Activelink: Community exchange

Volunteer Ireland

Extern

Foroige

Community work Ireland

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €54k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Extern/ Crosscare/ Foroige/ YAP/ YWI/ ETBI/ Forsa-Gov.ie/ Indeed

Last Updated: July, 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

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.

Employment growth over the last five years has been below the national average.

• The Wheel - Support and Representative Body for Community & Voluntary Sector Organisations

  • 48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 454 8727
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Youth Work Ireland

  • 20 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin 1
  • (01) 858 4500
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Activelink

  • Activelink, 2-4 Merville Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, A94 E3F8, Ireland.
  • 01-6677326
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Foróige -The National Youth Development Organisation

  • Block 12D, Joyce Way, Park West, Dublin 12
  • (01) 630 1560
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here