Public Services - A Definition

• Public services are essential services provided by the government or by charities. They include services like healthcare, education, transport, and the emergency services.

Types of Public Sector Employment

Healthcare

• NHS roles: Doctors, nurses, paramedics, therapists, health visitors, midwives, radiographers, and myriad support roles.
• Public Health roles: Epidemiologists, health promotion specialists, environmental health officers, public health nurses.

Education

• Teaching roles: Teachers, teaching assistants, literacy tutors, headteachers.
• School Support Staff: School nurses, guidance counsellors, school psychologists.
• Higher Education roles: University lecturers, research fellows, learning support assistants.

Emergency Services

• Police roles: Police officers, crime scene investigators, community support officers, firearms officers.
• Fire and Rescue roles: Firefighters, fire safety officers, control room operatives.
• Ambulance Services roles: Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers.

Transport

• Local authority roles: Traffic engineers, public transport coordinators, highway maintenance workers.
• Rail roles: Train drivers, signal operators, station staff.
• Aviation roles: Air traffic controllers, airport operations staff, customs officers.

Government and Administration

• Civil Service roles: Policy advisors, operational delivery officers, statisticians, economists.
• Local government roles: Social workers, town planners, waste management officers, housing officers.

Contract Types in The Public Services

• Full-time: Standard type of employment, usually 35-40 hours a week.
• Part-time: Working less than the standard hours per week.
• Temporary or contract-based: Employment for a specific period or task, often used in projects or seasonal work.
• Apprenticeships: A mix of work and training, allowing one to earn while they learn.
• Volunteering: Non-compulsory and non-paid work, often in a field one has an interest.
• Graduate schemes: A structured programme for recent graduates, offering direct experience in the field. Often run by larger public service organisations like the NHS or Civil Service.

Transferable Skills

Public sector roles will require varying specific skills, but some are universally useful:

• Communication: Most public sector roles require good communication skills. These can be written, oral, or non-verbal communication skills.
• Teamwork: Many roles will involve working in a team, requiring the ability to cooperate, lead, and follow.
• Leadership: This could involve managing a team, project, or an operational unit.
• Problem-Solving: Public services roles are often about finding solutions to problems or meeting the needs of the public.
• Organisational Skills: These are often required to ensure tasks are completed on time and resources managed effectively.

Pathways to a Public Services Career

• Educational Qualifications: This is often the primary route, with many roles requiring GCSEs, A-levels, or university degrees.
• Apprenticeships: This offer the chance to gain hands-on experience while studying for a qualification. Sectors like Police, the NHS, and local government offer apprenticeships.
• Graduate Schemes: These offer structured training and experience to university graduates.
• In-service Training: Some services, like the military and emergency services, have their own in-service training programmes.
• Volunteering: Voluntary work can provide useful experience and may allow you to work your way up within an organisation.