Careers: Social pedagogue

What is a social pedagogue?

A social pedagogue supports a child to develop by drawing on a number of disciplines, such as psychology, philosophy and sociology. They will help the child to deal with any issues they may have such as emotional health and education problems. Social pedagogues tend to act more like friends and advocates of the young people than authority figures. Social pedagogues work in a variety of settings from early years to adulthood, although in the UK the majority work in the residential children's homes sector. Until recently the approach has been much more popular in countries such as Germany and Denmark than the UK.

What does a social pedagogue do?

Their role largely depends on where they are placed and who they are working with. In Hackney, east London, social pedagogues are working with young people leaving care to help equip them with the skills needed to live independently. For example, one social pedagogue recently accompanied a young woman to Essex to ensure she was enrolled in college, had a bank account, had the necessary skills to look after her accommodation and kept up her links with family and friends in London.

What qualifications do you need for the role?

Social pedagogues are trained to degree level and typically have more than a year's work placement before starting a job. They can register with the General Social Care Council and work as qualified social workers. There isn't a particular qualification that is needed but a range of providers now offer appropriate courses.

What training is available?

Social pedagogues have previously had to undertake courses in Germany or Denmark, but an increasing number of UK institutions are now offering training. The University of Winchester launched a masters in social pedagogy at the end of last year, and the Institute of Education at the University of London offers a masters in social pedagogy, as well as a foundation degree. Liverpool Hope University and Aberdeen University offer BAs, and the charity Break has developed a diploma in social pedagogy that includes an opportunity for UK staff to spend time in a children's home in mainland Europe. Social pedagogy specialist ThemPra offers personal and professional development courses in social pedagogy.

Who is employing social pedagogues and how much do they earn?

Local authority children's homes in Blackburn with Darwen, Bournemouth, Cheshire, Dudley, Hampshire, Lancashire, Liverpool, London, Staffordshire and Surrey have all taken part in a government-supported social pedagogy pilot scheme, which finished in March.

Essex County Council has been training staff in residential care on how to work in a social pedagogic way: this training is also being rolled out in Essex fostering services. The London Borough of Hackney has recruited social pedagogues to specific social work roles. There is no set salary for social pedagogues but they will tend to be paid similar levels to residential care staff and qualified social workers depending on their role.

Is the job market expanding or contracting for this type of work?

Abby Ladbrooke, director of Jacaranda Recruitment, which specialises in the recruitment of social pedagogues, says cuts are certainly having an effect on what is still a relatively small pool of employers in the UK.

"At the moment employers are inevitably affected by cuts. There are organisations that would like to recruit but are uncertain about doing it in the present climate," she says. "And social pedagogy is still sitting quite predominantly in the residential sector, which is really in a state of flux."

However, some organisations are recruiting for social pedagogues. Dr Claire Cameron, reader in education at the Thomas Coram Research Unit, which was involved in developing the government's social pedagogy pilot scheme, says: "Some of the employers are retaining the social pedagogues they recruited, and others are opening new children's homes using their experience of the pilot and recruiting social pedagogues."

FIND OUT MORE

• The website Social Pedagogy UK (www.socialpedagogyuk.com) is run by a working group including: Jacaranda Recruitment, the Thomas Coram Research Unit, the National Centre of Excellence for Residential Child Care in England, ThemPra and social pedagogues from Germany and Denmark. Users can sign up for regular email newsletters and find information on research, practice and training
• The Social Pedagogy Development Network aims to provide a forum for professionals who are passionate about social pedagogy and want to explore it further. For more details email contact@thempra.org.uk or visit www.socialpedagogyuk.com. ThemPra's website social-pedagogy.co.uk offers information on the theory and practice of social pedagogy