How to Start a Career as a Children’s Support Worker

What does a children’s support worker actually do?  

The role can look quite different depending on where you work.  

Children’s support workers can work in residential homes, supporting living, community settings and other services supporting children and young people.  

Your day-to-day responsibilities could include helping with routines, preparing meals, supporting education, attending appointments, organising activities and encouraging young people to become more independent. 

There can also be a much more emotional side to the role.  

You might support a young person who is struggling with their emotions, help them manage a difficult situation or simply be someone they feel comfortable talking to.  

That means the job isn’t about doing everything for someone. A good support worker helps a young person develop the confidence and skills to do more of themselves.  

What skills do you need?  

There isn’t a particular personality type that makes someone a good support worker, but there are some qualities that are particularly important.  

Communication is a big one. You need to be able to listen, explain things clearly and adapt how you communicate depending on the individual.  

Patience is equally important. Building a relationship with a young person can take time, particularly if they’ve had difficult experiences or have found it hard to trust adults int he past.  

You’ll also need to be reliable and consistent. Young people need to know that the people supporting them will do what they say they are going to do.  

Then there is resilience. Some situations can be challenging, and you need to be able to remain professional, reflect on what has happened and use the support of your colleagues and managers. 

You don’t need to be perfect at all of these things when you start. Many of these skills develop as you gain experience. 

What qualifications do you need?  

There isn’t one qualification that every children’s support worker needs.  

Requirements vary between employers and roles, so it’s always worth checking the job description before assuming you need to complete a qualification before you can apply.  

Depending on the position, employers may look for qualifications or experience in areas such as health and social care, residential childcare, children and young people’s services or youth work.  

Some employers also provide training once you join the organisation, allowing you to work towards relevant qualifications as you gain practical experience.  

If you’re already working in care, this can be particularly useful because you may already have training and experience that applies to the role.  

Safeguarding is a major part of the job  

Anyone considering a career supporting children and young people needs to understand the importance of safeguarding.  

Children’s support workers have a responsibility to help keep the young people they work with safe and to recognise when something may be wrong.  

That could mean noticing a change in behaviour, listening to something a young person tells you, understanding professional boundaries or reporting a concern through the correct procedure.  

You’ll receive training around safeguarding, but it’s important to understand that it is part of your everyday responsibility rather than something you only think about when there is an obvious concern.  

What is working in children’s support really like? 

One of the things people often find surprising about support work is just how varied it can be.  

You could start your shift helping a young person get ready for school or college, spend part of the day supporting an appointment or activity and finish by helping with dinner and the evening routine.  

There will be days when everything goes smoothly. There will also be days when plans change, emotions run high and you have to think on your feet. That’s why teamwork is so important.  

You’ll usually have colleagues around you and may work alongside social workers, teachers, healthcare professionals and other people involved in a young person’s support.  

Being able to communicate well with the wider team helps make sure everyone is working towards the same goals.  

Could your current experience help you make the move?  

If you’re already working in health and social care, moving into children’s support work doesn’t necessarily mean starting your career again.  

You may already have a good understanding of what it means to provide person-centred support, communicate with people who have different needs and work responsibly as part of a care team. 

You’ll still have things to learn, particularly around supporting children and young people, but your existing experience could give you a solid foundation.  

And if you haven’t worked in care before, that doesn’t automatically mean the sector isn’t open to you either. The requirements will depend on the role, but a willingness to learn, the right attitude and relevant transferable skills can all be important.  

Looking for a fresh start in care? 

You don’t necessarily need to completely change your career to try something different.  

If you already have experience in health and social care, you may have skills that can transfer into a children’s support worker role. And if you’re new to care, there are different routes into the sector depending on the tole you’re interested in.  

At Prospero Health & Social Care, we work with candidates looking for opportunities across health and social care, including roles supporting children and young people.  

If you’ve been thinking about children’s support work, take a look at the opportunities available and see where your experience could take you.