ABSTRACT
Engaging with young people and supporting them through the difficulties and challenges they face in their lives, can be demanding work. Those who embark on a career that involves ‘actively engaging young people’ by offering them in-depth support and guidance, will have received training to provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake this role effectively. As part of this training (whatever the specific specialism, be it youth work, social work or careers work) practitioners will have received ongoing support in various forms. Many trainees are assigned a ‘supervisor’ while undergoing professional training. This supervisor may be a course tutor, a peer or learning mentor, or a work-based supervisor within an organizational context. It is likely that the trainee is supported by a range of professionals who are able to contribute to the education, development and welfare of a colleague in training. It is widely recognized then, that there is a need to support individuals through their professional training and, perhaps, continue this formal support into a probationary work period. This chapter however, focuses on what happens once practitioners have completed their training. What are the issues that organizations need to consider to ensure that their employees continue to be supported in their role once initial training has ended?
