A community warden, sometimes called a community safety officer, helps to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the local community.

The Work

You could be:

• patrolling the local area on foot, by car or bicycle
• responding to reported incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour
• visiting community groups, schools, youth clubs and other local initiatives
• liaising with the police and voluntary groups such as neighbourhood watch, victim support and residents’ associations
• attend call outs to elderly and vulnerable residents through community alarm services
• encouraging local people to participate in their communities
• issuing fines (fixed penalty notices) for littering, fly tipping and dog fouling
• investigating, reporting and coordinating the removal of graffiti, glass and other hazardous items from public places
• keeping photographic and written evidence of incidents.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the local authority you work for
• the demand for the job.

Community wardens usually earn around £24,000 a year. A senior community warden may earn around £30,000 or more a year.

Conditions

• You would be based in an office, but would spend most of your time out and about in the community.
• You would usually work a 37 hour week, including evenings and weekends.
• You may work longer shifts of 10 hours, on a 4 days on/4 days off basis.
• You would wear a uniform to make sure that you are easily recognised by the public.
• You would usually work in pairs.

Getting In

• Employers would usually look for some subjects at National 4 or 5, including English and Maths.
• In some cases, employers may look for a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or other equivalent qualification.
• Experience in a related field such as social or youth work may be preferred.
• It may help if you can demonstrate an interest in community safety and security, for example through involvement with voluntary groups.
• You may need a full UK driving licence.
• You will require a satisfactory criminal record check from Disclosure Scotland to show that you are suitable for this type of course. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details on the type you would need.

Jobs are advertised on the myjobscotland website. You would usually be employed by a local authority.

What Does it Take?

You need to be:

• able to engage with people of all ages and from all backgrounds
• honest and trustworthy
• assertive and able to deal with difficult situations and people
• able to remain calm under pressure
• open minded and non-judgemental
• able to work as part of a team
• able to organise your own workload and meet deadlines
• pro-active and able to solve problems.

You should have:

• excellent communication and negotiation skills
• good customer service skills
• an interest in the community.

Training

Training is on the job, and is ongoing.

Getting On

• With experience you could get promotion to a senior post, and then area co-ordinator.
• You may become a community relations officer, investigating and helping to resolve serious cases of anti-social behaviour.

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