Name: Rebecca Davies
Age: 27
Role: Community development worker
Qualifications: NNEB, Early Years Foundation Degree
This role is varied and involves working entirely in an outreach capacity. Currently, my activities span running a programme for local childminders, an under-21s group for teenage parents, pre-school and toddler groups and visits to health clinics, family fun sessions and nearly new sales, and organising paediatric first aid classes for parents. The most rewarding aspect of the job is seeing individual parents, children and families benefiting from the support that we provide and building up a strong relationship with them.
9am: First job of the day is to check in to my office at the children's centre, pick up the registers and equipment for any groups, and pack up the car.
9.30am: My first port of call is a toddler group in a local village hall. I talk to all the parents and leaders, catching up with ones I already know and introducing myself to new ones and telling them about our services. Toys and equipment are put out for the children to play with.
11.30am: By this time I am back in the car and on the way to a pre-school group. There is a good turnout among parents and there is a lot of interest in the family fun and ante/post-natal sessions we offer.
12.00pm: It is time to tidy up and pack everything back into the car. I take a short break for lunch and then head off to a local GP surgery to meet with the midwife.
1.00pm: I meet with the midwife and also the mothers-to-be and dads who are waiting in the surgery. It is important that they get to know me and understand the services we offer before their child is born. I chat with them and provide them with information. It's all about putting a friendly face to the service. Generally, most engage well with this and it is a good opportunity for them to ask questions.
3.30pm: Time to head back to the office at the children's centre. I catch up with e-mails and sort out any information that has been requested during the day.
4.00pm: The end of the day is spent dealing with admin. I print out a set of leaflets that I need to take to tomorrow's Under 21s club and text them about tomorrow's programme for the group. I check that all of the equipment I need for the next day is present and correct.
4.30pm: By this time I am ready to go, but before I do I make a mental note of what the day has achieved. Have I helped a parent today? That's the question I always ask myself.
WHAT IT TAKES
A community development worker has an important role to play in building relationships with parents, families and professional services within a geographical community, whether urban or rural. To be successful in this role it is essential to be sensitive to the diverse needs of families and children and be able to communicate and engage positively across a range of organisations and people.
Working in different locations requires good organisational skills and the flexibility to work in partnership with different teams and professionals, often with varying degrees of resources and a diverse range of environments. An adaptable attitude within a professional framework of awareness and understanding is key to good practice in this role.
Excellent communications skills in written, verbal and presentational methods are necessary to address staff groups, recording and recounting actions and situations. Current knowledge of child development and the specific challenges facing families and children within the geographical area is important.
Initial level 3 qualifications and post-qualifying experience in early years care, education and child development will provide the knowledge and understanding to enable the development worker to observe key child healthcare and educational milestones. Continuing professional development is important to remain up to date with new legislation and practice methods, and essential in maintaining high-quality professional standards through reflective practice. A range of non-accredited, and accredited, local authority and training provider programmes are available in areas such as working with parents, play, the EYFS and leadership. Complementary advanced studies might be considered, especially if the goal is a management or a senior/advisory position in the wider sector. Courses to consider might be a postgraduate early years or social or community care degree, or a Masters if you already have a first degree.
This role provides very good grounding for a number of other careers, such as moving into health care or social work. Further training would be required to become a social worker, but there are pathways from existing qualifications into this type of associated work.
By Tina Jefferies, managing director of training provider The Red Space Company, www.redspacecompany.com
