Top 5 Careers to help people
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What jobs can I do to help others?
Around a quarter of people in the UK struggle to find meaning in work. This is usually due to the nature of their work or its relation to the world at large. All jobs inherently help others, otherwise they wouldn't exist. Yet, there are some that do it more directly than others. General areas they cover are education, health, advice and public service and safety. We have assembled a short list of some such fulfilling careers and their average salaries.
Special education needs teacher
A SEN teacher is a trained professional delivering classroom lessons to pupils with special education needs, such as autism or ADHD. They undergo specialised training setting them apart from regular teachers, so that they can attend to the children's needs both in behavioral and emotional aspects. As such, they are also paid more on average from teachers.
A SEN teacher's average salary begins at £25,714, but rises to £36,961 with experience.
To become an SEN teacher, you will need a QTS (qualified teacher status) attained either through an education degree or a combined course covering your desired subject. If you already have a degree, you can work towards a PGCE (postgraduate certificate in education) leading to a QTS.
Most importantly, you will be making the children's and their parents' lives that much easier by providing the best possible personalised service that you can. It is a demanding, but rewarding job that you will definitely find meaningful in the long run.
Special education needs assistant
A SEN assistant works to assist a teacher in a classroom environment, providing help when setting up lessons and the room, but also working directly with children on a more specialised level. A SEN assistant will work more closely with the pupils, attending to their needs during the lesson and, if necessary, around the school grounds. They record and track pupils' progress, reporting it to the teacher, look after children who are unwell or upset and help supervise possible behavioral and emotional problems during the work day.
A SEN assistant's average salary is £21,785, but rises with experience.
To become a SEN assistant, you can either take a specialised college course, an apprenticeship or through volunteering and gaining relevant experience. By gaining experience as an assistant, you will also be one step closer to progressing to a teaching position in the future if you so wish.
Nursing
Nurses work with doctors and other healthcare professionals, helping out with patients, providing additional care and assistance where necessary. Like doctors, they help nurture patients back to health, but don't have to go through as much training or study as doctors. They can also work in various institutions such as nursing homes, and a nurse can specialize in adults, paediatrics, mental health or learning and disability. Most nurses still work in the NHS though, but can branch out to other private institutions.
A nurse's average salary is £33,384.
To become a registered nurse, you have to go through a relevant nursing degree, which will consist of study time and practical placements, helping you build experience in a professional environment. It is a role that will put you up close and personal with the patients. It will be you and the doctors who will have to work together to make the patients' road to recovery as painless as can be.
Social worker
Social workers perform a variety of tasks in order to improve other people's quality of life. They help improve outcomes in people's lives. Now, this might seem undefined, but as a social worker, you can specialise to work either in a statutory role or a non-statutory role, working within a charity or providing all manner of support to various groups of people, such as alcohol users, the elderly or people with mental health issues. The range of work a social worker can undertake is staggering, so it is up to you to find the place you truly belong on this career path.
A social worker's average salary ranges from £24,000 to £30,000.
You will need an honours or a postgraduate degree to become a social worker. You will undertake placements and practical training during your course, which will prepare you for your future work.
Psychologist
Psychologists provide therapy to treat people with mental health conditions or provide support and advice to people experiencing issues in their daily life. They cover everything from special needs to supporting people during their process of gender transition. They help people fight through their addictions using various types of specialised therapy, as well as provide support in an HR setting. However, the road to getting a psychology job can be arduous. In the end, however, it is a rewarding career, no matter the path.
A psychologist's average salary is £41,800.
To become a psychologist, you will need a specialised master's in psychology and also undertake training for the specific role you wish to reach. This training can be in the types of therapy you want to specialise in, such as behavioral. You can also work as a researcher or a teacher.
Some more careers
Some further options for top-rated fulfilling jobs include occupational therapists, police officers, firefighters, midwives, care attendants and more. Here's a full list of special education needs roles available in your area.
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