Imran Mirza speaks about his role as a personal adviser for Connexions, the government’s youth advice service.
Tell us about your job I am a personal adviser for Connexions in the area of Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Connexions is the government’s support service for all young people aged 13 to 19 in England. The service aims to provide integrated advice, guidance and access to personal development opportunities and to help them make a smooth transition to adulthood and working life.
In my role, I work with around 20 young people who are facing barriers to progression: such as homelessness, mental health problems, or substance misuse. My role is one of co-ordination between all the different agencies a young person may have to deal with.
What is your typical day like? Usually I have around three appointments, with three different young people. For example, I could accompany a young person to a homelessness assessment interview at social services, support a young person in attending a music workshop, or meet in a coffee bar if it is more appropriate. I also do lots of advocacy work, which might include representing a homeless young person at an accommodation panel meeting, which tracks them as they move through the housing system.
The work always has the young person at the centre. We are responsible for managing our own time so we work flexible hours. If we work more than the allotted hours we can claim the time back.
How did you get into your current job? I gained a lot of experience by volunteering with an independent youth project and I was also a part-time youth worker. I then worked with adults with learning disabilities which gave me an insight into the state services available to those in need.
Does your work make a positive difference to the people you work with? Yes. A lot of the work involves building self-esteem and self-confidence as well as developing organisational skills for the young person. In this way, the positive difference being made is sustainable and will stay with the young person throughout their life.
Do you need particular skills to get into this area of work? It helps to have something like a youth and community qualification, although there is the opportunity of doing a diploma designed especially for Connexions personal advisers. This course takes about 10 months to complete. Always aim to have a good network of contacts in as many agencies as possible. It is also imperative to have knowledge of the issues faced by young people.
Connexions
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