Working with children and young people (Dr Kay Calver)

Liam discusses his role as a Widening Participation Specialist and explains what supporting widening participation involves and the key goals of his work. He reflects on his previous education and employment and how these experiences helped him secure his current position. Liam felt he had reached a ceiling in his earning potential and was advised that gaining a degree would help advance his career so he decided to study BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton. Liam offers top tips for people who might be interested in working in widening participation and outreach and outlines other possible roles within a university setting.

 

Key words and resources mentioned in the episode:

www.jobs.ac.uk – great site to find university based jobs

Camp America

Access and participation plan (APP)

Uniconnect

Megan Loveys discusses her role as a University Lecturer and reflects on her journey to becoming Dr Loveys. Megan shares her experiences of studying BA (Hons) Education and MA Education at the University of Bedfordshire and the paid internships she was involved in to help further enhance her CV. Megan’s area of expertise is technology enhanced learning and special educational needs and explains how she managed to secure a funded PhD scholarship around this topic at Edge Hill University. Megan has also been employed as a Research Support Officer at the Open University.

Charlene discusses her role as a Holiday Activity and Food Programme Coordinator for a local council. Charlene studied BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton and secured a place on the Local Government Association (LGA) graduate scheme, also known as the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP). Charlene reflects on being a mature student and her career change from the finance sector to children and young people’s services. Charlene highlights the value of her work placements for securing her role and the importance of knowing your values.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Learn more about the graduate scheme

https://www.local.gov.uk/ngdp-candidates

Orpa discusses her role as a SEND Progress Coordinator at a college in London. Orpa studied BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton and after she graduated started as a SEND Support Worker on an agency contract. Orpa explains how she progressed within the college and is now a SEND Progress Coordinator. She is responsible for around 70 learners at the college who have an EHCP and it is her responsibility to ensure that their needs are met within the college. Orpa shares her top tips for anyone interested in working with young people with SEND, especially in a college environment and highlights the importance of a strong team and a supportive manager.   Key words and resources mentioned in the episode:  Reed agency work Working at NCS – National Citizen Service EHCP – Education Health Care Plan 

Laura Wood shares her experiences of being a Youth Worker Team Coordinator for a Community Interest Group. Laura discusses the importance of youth work and what ‘good’ quality youth work looks like. Laura charts her work experience with children and young people and the different types of youth work that are available. Laura explains why she felt it was important to gain her JNC qualification (qualified youth worker status) and how this impacted her salary. Laura studied BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton and later an MA in Youth and Community Leadership. 

Lucy Olanya discusses her role as a Health and Social Care Teacher at a 6th form college. Lucy shares her experiences of studying BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton and later a PGCE in Further Education at Canterbury Christ Church University. Lucy reflects on the pressure of the first year of teaching and how to establish a better work/life balance. Lucy also works as a Children and Young People’s Holiday Camp Deputy Manager during the school holidays and shares how this is a great way to supplement her income and to further support her passion for working with children and young people.

Tim has secured a job as a Kindergarten Teacher in China working with 3-4 year olds. Tim graduated from the University of Bedfordshire in 2023 after studying BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner). Tim shares his experiences of working with young children abroad and how to find jobs in other countries. We discuss salary expectations and how to negotiate a competitive salary and other employment perks.  

Resources mentioned in the episode:

The job website Tim mentions is: https://www.teachaway.com/

Jez discusses his role as the Co-Founder and Engagement Director at a digital mental wellbeing company called youHQ. Jez explains how he went from being a PE Teacher and Director of Sport at a secondary school to an entrepreneur. Jez offers advice for how to set up your own business and how to stand out in a competitive EdTech market. We discuss the role digitals tools can play in supporting children and young people’s wellbeing and how to respond to safeguarding concerns.

Links to resources mentioned in the episode:

Learn more about youHQ

Simi discusses her role as a counsellor and the different positions she has held since qualifying. Simi studied BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton and went on to the MSc Counselling Children and Young People postgraduate course. Simi shares how her own experiences of counselling inspired her career path. Simi explains the processes involved in gaining professional counselling accreditation and how to set up your own private practice. Simi started as a School Counsellor but quickly progressed into counselling in healthcare settings offering employee assistance counselling. Simi shares her passion for counselling and top tips for those who might be interested in exploring this career path.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Gaining professional accreditation via British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

https://www.bacp.co.uk/

Molly Robinson discusses her role as a Special Educational Needs Teacher in a Cognition and Learning School for secondary school pupils. Molly shares her experiences of studying BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton and what jobs she had before becoming a qualified teacher. Molly has a passion for making maths fun and offers top tips for dealing with teacher burnout and the importance of developing a strong community of practice.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Maths resources and courses: https://www.emsmathshub.org.uk/work-groups/work-groups-2023-24/early-years-and-primary/

Rebekah Dowling shares her experiences of being a Learning Mentor in a secondary school and how her role involves supporting students identified as experiencing SEMH (social, emotional and mental health) difficulties and/or challenging behaviour. Rebekah describes what a typical working week looks like in her job and how her school adopts The Thrive Approach to social and emotional wellbeing. Rebekah studied BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton and highlights how her course learning and work experience helped her secure this role.

Charlotte, Sam and Terri take over the podcast to discuss and share their experiences of studying for a university degree. They explore different study options, including, a foundation year, part time and full time study. The students discuss what motivated them to study at university and the process of finding the right course for them.

Sophie Flett discusses her role as an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) and her key roles and responsibilities. Sophie works with 5-18 year olds to help support and improve their mental health through one-to-one, group work and/or parent led support. As part of her role, Sophie draws on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and highlights the importance of drawing on research informed strategies. Sophie was a Primary School Teacher for 7 years so this role marks a change in her career. Sophie explains what sparked the career change and how she managed to secure a role in the mental health sector.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Find out more about the Education Mental Health Practitioner role on the NHS website

⁠5 ways to wellbeing from the NHS⁠

Podcast Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Welcome to the Working with Children and Young People podcast.

Listen to this introduction to get a feel for the aim and purpose of the podcast.

If you would like to get in touch please email workingwithcyp@gmail.com or use the Q&A box.

In this episode I am joined by Emma Brooks to explore different routes into teaching. We discuss undergraduate options and postgraduate options like a PGCE, SCITT, Lead Partners, Teach Now, Teach First and Future Teaching Scholars. We discuss the differences in these routes and the key considerations when trying to decide which might be the best option for you. We also provide top tips for teacher training applications and interviews.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Get into teaching website

Bursaries and scholarships information

Free Level 2 Safeguarding qualification

Kuzi Ngaru discusses her role as a Paediatric Coordinator and Social Prescriber with the NHS. She explains how she supports the health outcomes and social needs of the children, young people and families she works with and the importance of multi-agency working. Kuzi shares how studying BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Northampton supported her on her employment journey. Kuzi explains how she managed multiple jobs and had to make hard decisions about what to prioritise. Kuzi shares her top tips for writing tailored job applications, person specifications and how to succeed in interviews. During the episode, we reflect on people’s tendency to compare their successes and (perceived) failings to others around them and how this can be detrimental.

David Thompson has held a number of roles working in children’s social care and started his own business at the age of 24. David shares what he believes makes good quality practice, especially for supported accommodation services. We discuss the importance of trauma informed practice and understanding child development and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). David highlights the opportunities and challenges facing the supported accommodation sector, especially considering new Ofsted regulations. David stresses the importance of “collaboration over competition” and shares how he is working to improve standards and outcomes for children and young people on a local, regional and national level.

 

Links mentioned in the episode:

Learn more about and join the National Association of Supported Accommodation Partners (NASAP)

Learn more about David's business and to see current job vacancies Inicio Group⁠

Nathan is the Co-Founder and Director of WiSupport and WiNurture Childcare. Nathan’s work is centred around supporting children, young people and adults in residential care, independent supported accommodation and outreach services for those in the social care system. Nathan studied BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies at the University of Bedfordshire and during his studies had a part time job as a Residential Care Worker. Nathan reflects on how these experiences ignited his passion for working in the sector and how within a few years he had started his own company. Nathan reflects on the challenges and opportunities facing the social care sector and offers insights into how his organisation is responding to these issues. Nathan is a strong advocate for children and young people's rights and has won multiple awards for his contribution to improving the sector. Nathan offers advice and guidance for people interested in working in the sector and provides an overview of different job roles, salary expectations and what he personally looks for in an ideal candidate.  

In this student take over episode Charlotte and Sam reflect on their studies so far and to what extent they have decided what they would like to do post graduation. They highlight the challenges of finding time to explore different career options and how to achieve a healthy study, work, life balance.

Falak discusses her role as Senior Social Worker within a child and family assessment team. She reflects on her experiences of studying BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Bedfordshire and then a Masters in Social Work at London Southbank University to gain the professional accreditation needed to be a Social Worker. Falak stresses the importance of gaining work experience in your local community and how her motivation for becoming a Social Worker stemmed from a desire to better represent and support Asian communities. Falak outlines the different areas of social work and the key issues and pressures facing the sector. Falak shares her experience of being both a permanent member of staff and agency staff and how her role changed once she became a Senior Social Worker.

In this student take over episode Charlotte and Sam talk with Christine Smith who is a Careers Consultant at the University of Bedfordshire. Christine discusses different personality tests that can be used to identify your strengths and passions and how these can help you identify suitable careers. Christine, Charlotte and Sam debate what makes someone more employable and the concept of ‘squiggly careers’. They also highlight the importance of building professional networks and resilience. 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

16 personalities, prospects website, red bull wing finder, squiggly careers

More about Christine:

"I am a Careers Consultant at the University of Bedfordshire. We help current students or graduates unlock their potential and enable them to manage their future career planning and progression. I work collaboratively with students, alumni, academics and employers across a range of courses. These include Performing Arts, Education and Sport. As an advice and guidance specialist in all aspects of teaching and related professions, I have national experience over many years in this sector”

Hannah Stuart shares her experiences of being an Emotional Wellbeing Mentor in a Special Educational Needs School. Hannah explains how she works with children and young people aged 5-19 who have special educational needs, and who may have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Part of Hannah’s role is supporting students to emotionally regulate and to find strategies to support their learning and wellbeing. Hannah’s school draws on The Thrive Approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing and she shares her insights into this approach. Hannah reflects on her previous work experience and time at university studying BA (Hons) Education with Psychology at the University of Bedfordshire.

Louise Eaton discusses her role as a Targeted Family Support Worker for a local authority. Louise shares her experiences of being a mature student while studying BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Bedfordshire and her employment history. Louise explains how she supports families who are experiencing a range of complex needs. These complex needs, may include, but are not limited to, mental and physical health needs, drug and alcohol use, domestic abuse, imprisonment, experiences of trauma, homelessness, experiences of war, child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation. Louise offers advice and guidance for how to deal with difficult conversations with families and how to work in multi agency teams.

 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Evidenced based parenting programmes 1) The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, 2) Incredible Years, and 3) Stepping Stones.

Umarah Hussain discusses her role as a Primary School Teacher and her experiences of studying BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth at the University of Bedfordshire and then a PGCE Primary Education 3-7 at Reading University. Umarah wishes to share her experiences of being a teacher with a stammer in order to raise knowledge and understanding about stammering and to inspire and support others.