And you're one of them! You know more about being in care than someone who has never been in care, you know what it feels like and what a good care experience is all about. In 2009 the Children in Care Council said that children and young people should be more involved in interviewing and training staff members of Bristol City Council. Anybody responsible for making decisions about the lives of children in care should have had an in-depth chat with one or two after all. The person they chat to could be you.
If you're serious about giving something back then there are two main areas you could work in
Just because you do one, does not mean that you can't do the other. You could become an all singing all dancing interviewer and trainer.
interviewer: You will be trained to interview new members of staff; to work alongside members of the Council. You will be expected to ask questions and give candidates an opportunity to say things at interview that demonstrate a commitment to children's rights and a child centred approach. You will be expected to discuss what you think with other members of the interview panel and be able to say what you think with confidence. You will grade each candidate using a mark scheme and be partly responsible for whether they get the job or not.
Trainer: You will be trained to train adult workers. Many young people feel that adults do not listen to them, and many adults feel that children don't understand where they are coming from. This gap between the world of the child and the world of the adult is being bridged by a training program starting in 2010 and carrying on til 2012. It will involve a number of children and care leavers who will be training adults on the things that they think are important to all children in care. If you would like to be a trainer then you'll need to be confident, able to work under pressure, have an ability to think on your feet and a passion for making things better for others.
Yes. It pays! Interviewing and training both pay between £6 - £10 per hour depending on experience. So if you're interested you should get in touch straight away. E-mail james@reconstruct.co.uk with a short paragraph explaining why you'd be good at either of these jobs, make sure you include your name, age and contact details.
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun"
- Mary Poppins
