Community worker

Community workers work with groups of people to help improve their lives and solve problems in the community. They work in communities that experience disadvantage. They help people to identify their needs and rights, clarify their aims and take action to meet these in a way that respects the needs and rights of others.

Also known as

Community engagement officer

Work activities

There are many different types of community worker, working in different communities and situations. In general, they work with groups and individuals to help deal with problems in the community. They give people advice and support and arrange services and facilities for them. Community workers try to help people to act for themselves. For example, by giving them the support and confidence they need to:

Set up community groups.
Organise social, educational and recreational activities.
Deal with discrimination and racism.
Generally celebrate and encourage their culture and local community.

Some community workers support and enable people who live in socially disadvantaged areas. In such areas, people can face problems like inadequate housing, unemployment, lack of council facilities and under-achievement in schools. Community workers get to know people in the community. They find out what people are good at, what they are passionate about and what resources are available. They spend time visiting people in their homes, in community buildings and meeting people in the streets. Some community workers help to run community centres. This could involve helping to plan a wide range of educational courses or recreational activities, either for the community as a whole or for specific groups. At a community centre, the community worker might have responsibility for recruiting, training and co-ordinating volunteers or paid staff. Some community workers carry out research, or help community groups to do research, to build a picture of community social problems, the position of disadvantaged groups and the need for services and facilities. This work involves interviewing people, talking to groups and writing up results and observations in a report. Making sure that people’s rights, opinions and special needs are respected is an important part of community work. Some community workers have a race-relations role. This could include:

Taking up individual cases of discrimination or racism
Helping to promote bonds between the police and minority ethnic groups.

In rural areas, community workers may represent people’s views on threatened services and facilities, such as bus routes and post offices. Some community workers help people who have physical disabilities, learning difficulties or mental health problems. They help them arrange care services, support groups or the services of a social worker.

Personal qualities and skills

As a community worker, you need:

Good communication and interpersonal skills.
A commitment to equal opportunities.
Negotiation skills.
Up-to-date knowledge of the issues that affect communities, such as health, education, housing and relations between communities.

You should be able to:

Empathise with people.
Encourage people to take control of their lives.
Ask the right questions to find out more about people’s needs and concerns.
Identify and represent the views of different groups in society without being biased against anyone due to characteristics such as race, sexuality, gender identity or disability.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for community workers vary widely depending on the duties of the post, and the qualifications and experience required. The pay rates given are approximate. Community workers earn in the range £19,000, rising to £36,000 with experience.

Community workers typically work a 37-39-hour week. However, the demands of activities and meetings, together with team working, means that you should be flexible in doing occasional work in the evenings and at weekends. Part-time opportunities are also available.

Opportunities for community workers occur throughout the UK. Employers are varied. Non-governmental organisations employ community workers as part of their campaigning and developmental role. Government at local, regional and national level employs community workers to ensure that policies connect with the needs and hopes of local people. Independent community and voluntary groups also employ community workers.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in the following places:

Local/national newspapers.
Employers’ websites.
On the Government’s Find a Job service.
Job boards, such as Community Care Jobs.

Entry routes and training

Entry routes into community work are varied. For some post, no educational requirements are needed, but many full-time community workers have a higher education qualification, such as a degree or foundation degree in subjects such as sociology, psychology, law or politics.

An apprenticeship in a role such as public health practitioner (level 6 / degree) could provide a good way into the role.

Experience of community work on a paid or voluntary basis can increase your chances of acceptance onto a relevant course or into an entry-level role by direct entry. Some entrants to community work have a background and qualifications in one of a wide range of other subjects, including social sciences, geography, education and theology.

New entrants and previously unqualified workers can have their skills and knowledge recognised by completing a relevant work-based qualification. Relevant training and support, once in employment, is available from organisations such as NAVCA (the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action).

After experience of community work, and with further training, you could look into moving into related areas, such as youth or social work, the police force or local politics, for example.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: Some posts in community work are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (when working with vulnerable people or those under the age of 18, for example). This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

There is no formal academic entry requirement. However, many community workers have a higher education qualification – such as a degree/foundation degree or a postgraduate qualification – in a relevant subject. Courses include topics such as community engagement, youth and community work, or degrees such as sociology or politics.

To get onto a degree apprenticeship, you’ll need two A-levels as well as GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Many people enter community work as a result of their experience of taking up an issue that concerns them. For example, it could stem from involvement on a tenants’ committee, a project to tackle drugs or racism, running a youth club or volunteering to help international development.

A range of colleges and universities offer courses in Community Development at undergraduate and postgraduate level including with part time/flexible and distance learning study options.

Related careers

Advice centre worker
Careers adviser
Education welfare officer
Equality and diversity officer
Health promotion practitioner
Probation officer
Probation service officer
Religious leader
Youth worker