(no subject)

[sebastienne]

Does this look like fun to anyone else? Anyone wish to accompany me? I can't decide if it looks like The Best Thing Evar or Place of Headsplitting Doom. But that band I like are playing. And, and, old abandaoned music hall!

Much as I want it more than life itself, I have to work on the assumption that I haven't got that library job. All the wannabe librarians in the country will be going for the bod, I'm sure. But I missed the deadline for the UDO (not that I would have got it anyway), and I'm also having a hard time deciding whether or not to apply to work with disabled kids. I don't like kids, as a general rule. But the kids I have experience of have, almost exclusively, been entitled middle-class brats. They are the ones that gave me the nervous breakdown on that holiday camp; not the boy with Aspergers who used to come & hide in the art room.

Comments

[queerpup.livejournal.com]

Hiding in the art room saved me from the hell of PE. I wasn't doing art. I was sitting for the sixth formers.

[aliche.livejournal.com]

Working with disabled children is not easy stuff. They can also be naughty as hell and unlike middle class children who are physically draining, being around disabled children is incredibly emotionally draining. But after all it is worth while if you can get through it.

[glittertigger]

I'm busy that evening or I would happily have joined you, as I live less than five minutes walk from there and have heard Borderville before. Hope you find company and enjoy the event!

[deathbyshinies.livejournal.com]

That looks like all kinds of fun - if you end up going, I'd definitely be in!

What does the job with disabled kids involve? What age group are they? If you'd really like to get an idea of what it *might* be like, I'm pretty sure that KEEN are usually happy for people to turn up and volunteer, even if it's only for one session ('cause I know you're not nearly busy enough already...! :D), which might help a bit.

[sebastienne.livejournal.com]

what do you know about KEEN? tell me all! I've only just found out about this post and the closing date is March 2nd, so I need to get an application together sharpish if I wanna go for it.

[deathbyshinies.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I don't really know all that much, aside from that they have afterschool and weekend-type activities for kids with disabilities, often organised by student volunteers. I knew someone who did it last year and didn't seem to totally hate it, so. I assume you already know they've got a website (http://users.ox.ac.uk/~keen/) and stuff...

[neoanjou.livejournal.com]

:: Jumps to the defence of the middle class ::

nah - not really, like most things in life there are parts to the middle class;
i) Me, and people like me (good)
ii) People who aren't like me (bad)

[liminereid.livejournal.com]

Umm, have you heard back from them then? Just to scare us both.

[sebastienne.livejournal.com]

nah, not yet. doubt we will for quite a while, closing date was only yesterday, and they don't say to assume you've not got it until March 23rd. don't worry!

[lizziwig.livejournal.com]

What if they're disabled middle class kids? The two aren't mutually exclusive. Not all middle class kids are entitled brats, and some disabled kids are irritating little shits for reasons that have nothing to do with being disabled.

[hildabeast.livejournal.com]

my brother is both middle class and disabled... i think he's an irritating little shit but that's more to do with the fact that he's my brother than anything else ;)

[sebastienne.livejournal.com]

oh, i know. i'm just trying not to let my bad experience with entitled middle class brats, make me expect all kids to be like that.

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

Depends on the exact level of need. Can be extremely physically and emotionally draining, but then I'm working with extremely high levels of need. What specific job/area are you after?
Also, be aware that a lot of places are after you having or working towards an NVQ in either playwork or socialcare before they give you a proper job. Although maybe a degree in psychology will do...
We should chat this through sometime *grin*

[sebastienne.livejournal.com]

KEEN - half admin (organising outings, fundraising, office stuff), half attending activities & things with the kids. I reckon I could do it pretty well, or I wouldn't be applying; it's whether or not I'd find the rewards balancing out the effort. I've had bad experiences with children in the past.

I've actually got a half-decent CV towards it, which worries me. My CV is half office stuff, half kids, with a side order of OULES being all about the special needs schools...

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

My instinct is you should be fine with Keen. I mean, I never volunteered for them, but since it's staffed by volunteers, they can't be offering places to kids with extreme levels of challenging/sexualised/violent behaviour... I should imagine it will be extremely rewarding. I'm finding it extremely rewarding, and the only bits I find difficult to deal with are the extreme neglect and abuse issues which come up on a regular basis where I work, because we provide case-work as well as play-work. Shouldn't think you'd have to get involved in anything like that, because KEEN isn't a social-work based organisation.

My CV's great for it too, but the place I'm working may still have to not let me work if they get the OFSTED inspectors in, because "relevant" qualifications are mandatory. Despite the fact that if I did the scheme I did during my gap year this year, it would get me a relevant BTEQ, and despite the fact that I have years of experience and am bloody good....

Yeah, in general I'd go for it.