Working with children and young people in Scotland's social services

Working with children and young people| SSSC

Childhood experiences last a lifetime

In this career you could be inspiring children in their early years, supporting their development through childhood and helping them thrive as young adults.

There are many careers available including early learning and childcare (like nurseries), out of school care (like after school and holiday clubs), childminding and residential schools which provide additional support for learning.

You could also develop a career in residential childcare which means providing a loving, safe and supportive home to children and young people living away from their families.

Good communication, creativity, resilience and an understanding of how children and young people think and feel will help you succeed.

A childcare centre’s garden. An early years practitioner is engaging with three young children in winter clothing.

Day by day discovery. I love to follow children's journeys together.

Satoko Kojima-Kirylczuk Nursery practitioner

What’s it really like to work in social services? Find out from current social service professionals in our career stories.

A childcare centre’s garden. An early years practitioner is helping a young boy balance.

Day care of children

Childhood experiences have a lifelong impact. With a career in a day care of children service you can be part of children’s early learning experiences and make a significant difference to their lives.

You would work with children of different ages in places like nurseries, family centres, playgroups, crèches, breakfast clubs, school age childcare or holiday clubs. If you’re interested in starting your own business, you could become a registered childminder.

Click on a role to show more information about what you would do. You’ll also be shown inspiring career stories from real professionals in day care of children services.

Childminder

Childminders work from their own home to provide a flexible, high quality childcare service in a family setting. They give children the opportunity to learn and develop skills through real-life experiences like going to the shops, family meal-times and visits to the park.

It's a rewarding career that provides an opportunity to contribute to children’s development, learning and wellbeing while providing a valuable, professional childcare service for your community. It may suit you if you’d like to work from home, or spend time with your own young children while building a career.

Childminders register their service with the Care Inspectorate. They do not also require to register with the SSSC however they have equal access to our learning resources and events to support their development. While many childminders hold qualifications, there is no minimum requirement for this role.

A female childminder draws for two young children in her living room.

Learn of the different learning routes in our childcare qualification pathways or find out more about becoming a childminder on the Scottish Childminding Association website

Support Worker

Support workers provide high quality care and learning experiences to children in day care settings like nurseries and school age childcare. They get to know each child, playing, caring for them, and making sure they are learning and developing. Some support workers work with individual children who require help to participate.

Support workers don’t work alone with children. They are guided by practitioners and lead practitioners. It’s therefore a good career choice if you’re just starting out because you’ll get plenty of help to develop your confidence, knowledge and skills.

In this role you’ll register with the SSSC as a support worker in a day care of children service. Your minimum qualification requirement will be SCQF level 6 and you can learn of the different career routes in our childcare qualification pathways which include college and apprenticeships. If you start work first, without a qualification, you will still register with the SSSC and you’ll get time to work towards it.

A female childminder draws for two young children in her living room.

Practitioner

Practitioners use their enhanced knowledge and experience to identify and meet the care, support and learning needs of children. In partnership with the service manager and other professionals they provide high quality support to children and families and contribute to the range of interactions, experiences and spaces for children to help them learn and grow through play.

Practitioners may be responsible for overseeing a particular room or group of children. In some settings, practitioners will supervise and mentor support workers and students.

In this role you’ll register with the SSSC as a practitioner in a day care of children service. Your minimum qualification requirement will be SCQF level 7 and you can learn of the different career routes in our childcare qualification pathways which include college and apprenticeships. If you start work first, without a qualification, you can still register with the SSSC and you’ll get time to work towards it.

Lead practitioner/manager

Lead practitioners and managers hold overall responsibility for the development, management and quality of the childcare service. They lead practice in the service, with an overview of the interactions, experiences and spaces which support play and opportunities for the children. They also support staff members in their professional development which can include delivering or arranging training.

As well as being experienced childcare professionals, managers have a number of responsibilities relating to the operation of the childcare service. For example, they might be responsible for budgets, sourcing funding, self-evaluation and quality improvement. They may also take the lead on partnership work with parents, carers, families, communities other professionals and agencies.

In this role you’ll register with the SSSC as a manager or lead practitioner in a day care of children service. Your minimum qualification requirement will be a childhood practice award at SCQF level 9 and a practice award at SCQF 7. You can learn of the different career routes in our childcare qualification pathways which include the BA degree or Professional Development Award. Usually, managers will already hold a qualification at practitioner level (SCQF level 7), and the credits from this can count towards their childhood practice award which they can gain in work.

Other early years roles

There are plenty of other people working to support high quality experiences for children in day care settings. Take a look at the other stories here for more career inspiration.

Career Stories

A childcare centre’s garden. An early years practitioner is engaging with three young children in winter clothing.

Residential childcare

Childhood experiences last a lifetime. With a career in a day care of children service you can be part of children’s early learning experiences and make a significant difference to their lives.

You would work with children of different ages in places like nurseries, family centres, playgroups, crèches, breakfast clubs, after school or holiday clubs. If you’re interested in starting your own business you could become a registered childminder.

Click on a role to show more information about what you would do. You’ll also be shown inspiring career stories from real day care of children professionals.

Residential childcare worker

Childminders are professional childcare workers who work from their own homes to provide care to other people’s children. A childminder will provide a warm, familiar setting for children and will plan different daily activities to support their learning and development. This can include everyday things like going to the shops, playing creative games, preparing meals and learning skills like counting and reading.

Childminders must register their home-based childcare service with the Care Inspectorate (the body which inspects and supports improvement in all Scottish care services). As they are registered with this body they do not also require to register with the SSSC however they have equal access to SSSC learning resources to support their professional development. It can be a flexible career and may suit you if you’d like to work from home, or if you’d like a way of spending time with your own young children while having a career at the same time.

You can find out more about becoming a childminder on the Scottish Childminding Association website https://www.childminding.org/become-a-childminder

Residential childcare with supervisory responsibilities

Childminders are professional childcare workers who work from their own homes to provide care to other people’s children. A childminder will provide a warm, familiar setting for children and will plan different daily activities to support their learning and development. This can include everyday things like going to the shops, playing creative games, preparing meals and learning skills like counting and reading.

Childminders must register their home-based childcare service with the Care Inspectorate (the body which inspects and supports improvement in all Scottish care services). As they are registered with this body they do not also require to register with the SSSC however they have equal access to SSSC learning resources to support their professional development. It can be a flexible career and may suit you if you’d like to work from home, or if you’d like a way of spending time with your own young children while having a career at the same time.

You can find out more about becoming a childminder on the Scottish Childminding Association website https://www.childminding.org/become-a-childminder

A female childminder draws for two young children in her living room.

Residential childcare manager

Childminders are professional childcare workers who work from their own homes to provide care to other people’s children. A childminder will provide a warm, familiar setting for children and will plan different daily activities to support their learning and development. This can include everyday things like going to the shops, playing creative games, preparing meals and learning skills like counting and reading.

Childminders must register their home-based childcare service with the Care Inspectorate (the body which inspects and supports improvement in all Scottish care services). As they are registered with this body they do not also require to register with the SSSC however they have equal access to SSSC learning resources to support their professional development. It can be a flexible career and may suit you if you’d like to work from home, or if you’d like a way of spending time with your own young children while having a career at the same time.

You can find out more about becoming a childminder on the Scottish Childminding Association website https://www.childminding.org/become-a-childminder

A female childminder draws for two young children in her living room.
A childcare centre’s garden. An early years practitioner is engaging with three young children in winter clothing.

More Careers

Childhood experiences last a lifetime. With a career in a day care of children service you can be part of children’s early learning experiences and make a significant difference to their lives.

You would work with children of different ages in places like nurseries, family centres, playgroups, crèches, breakfast clubs, after school or holiday clubs. If you’re interested in starting your own business you could become a registered childminder.

Click on a role to show more information about what you would do. You’ll also be shown inspiring career stories from real day care of children professionals.

Personal assistant

Childminders are professional childcare workers who work from their own homes to provide care to other people’s children. A childminder will provide a warm, familiar setting for children and will plan different daily activities to support their learning and development. This can include everyday things like going to the shops, playing creative games, preparing meals and learning skills like counting and reading.

Childminders must register their home-based childcare service with the Care Inspectorate (the body which inspects and supports improvement in all Scottish care services). As they are registered with this body they do not also require to register with the SSSC however they have equal access to SSSC learning resources to support their professional development. It can be a flexible career and may suit you if you’d like to work from home, or if you’d like a way of spending time with your own young children while having a career at the same time.

You can find out more about becoming a childminder on the Scottish Childminding Association website https://www.childminding.org/become-a-childminder

Community support assistant

Childminders are professional childcare workers who work from their own homes to provide care to other people’s children. A childminder will provide a warm, familiar setting for children and will plan different daily activities to support their learning and development. This can include everyday things like going to the shops, playing creative games, preparing meals and learning skills like counting and reading.

Childminders must register their home-based childcare service with the Care Inspectorate (the body which inspects and supports improvement in all Scottish care services). As they are registered with this body they do not also require to register with the SSSC however they have equal access to SSSC learning resources to support their professional development. It can be a flexible career and may suit you if you’d like to work from home, or if you’d like a way of spending time with your own young children while having a career at the same time.

You can find out more about becoming a childminder on the Scottish Childminding Association website https://www.childminding.org/become-a-childminder

Equity and excellence lead

Childminders are professional childcare workers who work from their own homes to provide care to other people’s children. A childminder will provide a warm, familiar setting for children and will plan different daily activities to support their learning and development. This can include everyday things like going to the shops, playing creative games, preparing meals and learning skills like counting and reading.

Childminders must register their home-based childcare service with the Care Inspectorate (the body which inspects and supports improvement in all Scottish care services). As they are registered with this body they do not also require to register with the SSSC however they have equal access to SSSC learning resources to support their professional development. It can be a flexible career and may suit you if you’d like to work from home, or if you’d like a way of spending time with your own young children while having a career at the same time.

You can find out more about becoming a childminder on the Scottish Childminding Association website https://www.childminding.org/become-a-childminder

Below, Charlotte describes her experience in residential childcare and the staff who helped her succeed.

Charlotte

SSSC Charlotte profile picture

When I first went to Nether Johnstone House I was terrified. I had never been in care before. It was overwhelming when I walked in. There were all these people. They seemed nice enough but I just wanted to be alone. It took a couple of weeks to settle in and to get to know people.

I started to feel comfortable, and I really enjoyed going out on activities like playing pool, bowling, fishing and going to the cinema. When I was old enough, I loved going to the bingo! I also liked washing the cars and painting the outdoor decking.

I had good relationships with most of the staff. I even had my favourite five staff members.


I have so many good memories with the staff and young people at Nether Johnstone, like going to Millport and getting really badly sunburnt. Going to Blackpool glamping, going to London, and doing Sleep in the Park which was freezing! I also remember taking one of the staff members to Lochwinnoch to feed the swans and the staff member was terrified of them which was hilarious.

I lived in Nether Johnstone House for three years and they were the best. I’ve had my ups and downs but they never gave up on me and I can't thank them enough.

When I was told I was moving I was terrified again having to start over in my own flat. Not having people there 24/7 was a scary thought, but the staff reassured me I would be okay and that they would stay in touch which they have done.

Now I am standing on my own two feet and that’s because of all the help and support the staff gave me. They have made a huge difference in my life and I can't thank them enough.

Qualification pathways

You don’t usually need a qualification to start this career but you’ll have an opportunity to gain one in work. If you want to progress into promoted posts there are qualifications to help you do this. Explore our interactive pathways to see how qualifications can help you build a career.

Go to the qualification pathways

Take your first steps

Explore these routes to get help taking your first steps. In each category you’ll find links to websites to apply for work experience, jobs, training or study.

Take your first steps

Qualification Methods

MyLearning website

Learning about social services is a good way to show your committment to employers.

If you want to store your learning and share it with others, including new employers, try using MyLearning. It's a free, smartphone-based app provided by the SSSC.

MyLearning is also used by social service workers to record continuous professional learning.

MyLearning website

A learning website mockop on desktop and mobile

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