Coordinating outreach youth worker

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work as coordinating outreach youth worker in the City of Loviisa. I work as an outreach youth worker, i.e. I help young people who need support and help from an adult for one reason or another. In addition, I work as a team leader in administrative matters. These include submitting project applications and coordinating the city’s youth services.

Usually, outreach youth workers are contacted by a school, garrison, non-military service centre or a friend or family member who is worried about the young person. Sometimes a young person can also contact us themselves. I contact the young person concerned and help them, if they want it. The problems vary greatly, for instance, from lack of meaningful hobbies to drug addiction or financial challenges. Together with the young person, I consider how the problem could be solved.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

I studied as an English teacher in Australia and worked with teaching languages to immigrants. However, my education does not make it possible for me to work as a teacher in Finland. Before moving to Finland, I lived in Norway and worked as a flight attendant. When I had a child, I moved to Loviisa. I found a fixed-term job for a year as a guidance counsellor at a lower secondary school. I liked the job, but I couldn’t continue in the position because I lacked the necessary qualifications.

I wanted to work with young people, so I applied for a job as a youth worker and to an apprenticeship training programme. I soon realised that I want a more active role in which I could help young people, so I moved on to the position of an outreach youth worker.

Describe your typical working day or week.

For example, yesterday I started my working day by reading and responding to e-mails. After that, I went for a walk with a young person who visits a psychologist once a week and wants to discuss the visit with me. After the walk, I received a message from another young person who had just received a new rental apartment. I helped the person with signing the rental agreement and filling in the housing allowance application.

After this, I had a meeting to discuss the functioning of the electronic system used in youth work. At the end of the day, I opened the One-Stop Guidance Centre for young people and helped a young person who wanted to visit the TE Office.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

I work in almost any district in the City of Loviisa. My usual work locations are the One-Stop Guidance Centre, the office, my own home or the customer’s home or outdoors.

My working hours vary a lot, and I can determine them myself according to customers’ needs. My day usually lasts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but sometimes I do evening shifts at the youth centre. Then my working day does not end before 10 p.m.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession a youth worker?

First of all, to be able to support young people in difficult situations, anyone working in this profession must have their own things in order. Life experience is a great advantage, as you sometimes hear shocking things at work. You also need an open mind and patience.

Youth workers must be able to listen to people, and they must also be able to say even unpleasant things that a young person does not always want to hear. You must not be afraid of making mistakes.

What is the best thing about your profession?

I like my work because I want to help young people, and I believe in what I do. It’s great to see that your own work has an impact. I also like it that I can decide for myself how to do my job. I have a good work community that trusts me in my job.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

I feel that adults don’t always understand what kind of a world young people live in, so I don’t like it when adults complain about young people. It feels tedious that I need to explain again and again to the decision-makers why our work is important and seek justification for it.

Sometimes when talking with young people, it annoys me that a young person may have come up with a diagnosis for themselves that limits their life. However, the reason for their challenges may be something totally different.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a costume designer?

The profession of a youth worker may seem easy, but it is not that easy. The work may be suited for a person who is interested in young people’s affairs and in helping them.

How do you see the future of your profession?

Services intended for young people are declining all the time, even if there would be more need for them than ever before. Work is becoming increasingly challenging, as the amount of anxiety felt by young people is on the increase. On the other hand, I believe that the appreciation of youth work has increased.