Preparing individuals for employment in career pathways that relate to families / communities and human needs.

The Human and Social Services Career Cluster prepares students for careers that improve quality of life and promotes safe, secure and healthy communities. Workers in human services make our lives better by tending to our psychological, social, and physical needs. Social service organizations that help individuals with basic needs, such as housing, health, and nutrition constitutes a large component of this cluster.

Career pathways in Human and Social Services

Consumer Service Pathways

This pathway includes jobs that require one to deal with money, stocks and bonds, making decisions about how to make more money, using knowledge and skills to help others manage their finances and have financial security. Jobs include bankers, financial advisors, consumer affairs officers, consumer credit counsellors, insurance representatives.

Counselling and Mental Health Services

This pathway comprises jobs that involve helping people who suffer from mental or emotional problems. Jobs are quite varied and include counsellors, clinical and counselling psychologists, industrial organizational psychologists, school counsellors, mental health counsellors, career counsellors, substance abuse and behavioural disorder counsellors, vocational rehabilitation counsellors.

Early childhood and development services

This pathway includes jobs that deal with nurturing the lives and development of children and preparing them for their future years in communities, schools, work and life. Jobs here include preschool teachers, nannies, childcare workers, teachers' assistants, educators for parents, directors for childcare facilities.

Family and Community services

This pathway includes jobs required in homes and communities and this include community service directors, community service volunteers, professional counsellors, religious leaders, social workers, palliative care workers, emergency and relief workers, geriatric service workers, religious activities/education programmes.

Personal Care Services/ Health Care and Hygiene Services

This pathway comprises all the jobs that involve providing a service to another person, usually one to-one, using talents and know how to make a difference. These services are required on a regular basis. Jobs in this pathway include barbers and cosmetologists, nail technicians, manicurists, pedicurists, skin care specialists, massage therapists, funeral directors and morticians, personal and home care aides, spa attendants and personal trainers.

Appropriate combinations at 'A' Level:

All combinations & General Paper

Subjects at “O” Level: All subjects

Courses and Career Development Prospects

· Guidance and Counselling

· Adult & Community Education

· Community Psychology

· Education/Training

· Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management

· Social Work/Community

· Sociology leadership and teamwork

· Community Based Rehabilitation

Occupations in Human and Social Services

Clergyman Attends to spiritual, moral and educational needs of a congregation

Evangelist Ordained to witness for Jesus and preach to others

Pastor/Reverend A minister or priest of a Christian church

Rabbi Serves as a spiritual leader, teacher and interpreter.

Imam The man who leads prayers in a mosque. He preaches to as per Islamic teachings.

Airbrush Artist Restores photographs that have been damaged or are shape drawings to look like photographs.

Art Director Forms part of the creative team who shapes the concept campaigns are developed.

Art Educator Teaches art in schools.

Artist Creates a variety of works of art using different media suitable water colour.

Animator Draws a series of sketches or pictures for animated carto

Cartoonist Prepares satirical or humorous cartoons for publication

Character Animators Develops characters for computer games.

Computer Graphic Animator Develops animation in games and works closely with the gregation

Occupations Conceptual Illustrator Ceramics Designer

Ceramists Makes ceramic products.

Children's Book Illustrator

Desktop Publisher and paints children's books

Works through every stage of publication from the rough draft, to layout and graphics to proofreading and printing.

Die Skinner and Engraver Works for a picture or sketch of the item he/she is required to produce. He/she casts a mould of the item and makes a three dimensional copy of a picture. The process is used to make coins.

Fine Artist Produces original art, but can also use artistic talents, commercially, in the fields of advising and teaching.

Graphic Designer Creates the original design and the final art work used for newspapers or magazines.

Greeting Card Illustrator Illustrates greeting cards.

Illustrator Draws and uses computers to create images to illustrate publications.

Creates the manuals or booklets that accompany computer games.

Takes photographs and can specialize in areas like; advertising commercial and industrial, medical and scientific photojournalism, portraits, wedding and school; press; public relations; animals; geographic scenery, forensic work and fashion.

Designs each level of computer game.

Designs and paints murals on walls and other large surfaces.