Resources: Workplace - And this is what I do

What does your role involve? I deal with communications and consultancy for the Children, Education and Families Directorate. I liaise with the corporate communications team to promote a positive image of young people in the area. We try to counter-balance the largely negative view of young people. I also advise on the production of public information such as booklets and leaflets, making sure the content is suitable and that they are distributed appropriately.

How did you get into this? I started as a communications assistant with the Community Well-Being Directorate in Thurrock. I then moved into my current role when the education and children and social care directorates merged.

What are you working on at the moment? I'm developing a communications strategy and participation and engagement strategy to reach vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups. These may include disabled people, Travellers, ethnic minorities and illiterate young people.

I'm also working on a multi-agency forward plan of consultations. I'm hoping to remove unnecessary duplication of consultation and to reduce consultation overload.

What are the best and hardest things about the job? It's a very varied role and I'm doing something different every day. Sometimes it's difficult trying to get stories out of people. People don't want to boast if they've done something successfully. We have to get them to overcome their modesty so we can promote them.

What is the future for you? I see myself staying in this job for a while. I'd like to stay in the communications side of things. Maybe I'd move on to a bigger council. But I'm still young.