Key Worker Support

Key Workers within Careers Scotland aim to provide support and advice to young people (16-19 years old), in the Scottish Borders who are socially excluded or at risk of social exclusion. Key Workers help young people to overcome barriers which may prevent them from reaching their full potential. Key Workers assist young people in the following ways:

• Assessment: building up trust, identifying client needs and barriers preventing entry into education, employment and training.
• Key Worker support – negotiating on behalf of clients with other agencies, e.g. housing, benefits, etc, and also ongoing advocacy and mentoring.
• Tracking – providing sustained, ongoing support and contact, regardless of a client’s situation.
• Re-engagement – identifying, through other agencies, young people who have dropped out or are disengaged.

There is no pressure on a young person to meet with a Key Worker, it is entirely voluntary. Key Workers meet with young people where they are most comfortable, eg at home, in cafes, etc and spend a lot of time building up a trusting relationship.

Once barriers are identified, Key Workers help young people to look at all the assistance available to overcome the barriers and, with clients’ agreement, will then make a referral on to the most appropriate agency. Once a referral is made, clients continue to receive the support of their Key Worker so that they continue to ‘engage’ and do not drop out of the system.

Key Workers in the Scottish Borders rely on their colleagues within Careers Scotland to help with careers guidance issues, placing, applications etc.