All about the role of ... Cruise ship nursery counsellor

For their youngest guests they employ teams of sports instructors, children's entertainers, youth counsellors and children or nursery counsellors. Between them, these workers provide special programmes for children aged from three months to 17 years. There are sports, art activities, scavenger hunts and wildlife exploration for the oldest children, and for the youngest a wide range of unstructured play and fun activities.

Cruise ship work has its attractions. There is travel to exciting places, free medical care, accommodation and food, and the employer pays health insurance for the contract period. A gym, fitness centre, swimming pool, bar and meeting room are often provided.

There are challenges too. Jobs are hard to come by due to the prestigious nature of the work. The working week is long, 70-84 hours, with limited time off. Accommodation is modest with two or more people sharing a cabin. The ship is at sea in all weathers, staff may be seasick, and once under way you can't bail out.

The nursery counsellor works as part of the entertainments team. She or he entertains the youngest guests with a variety of unstructured play and prepared activities, attends to the needs of infants and toddlers, including mealtimes and sleep, and integrates and settles unhappy children. There is a high level of interaction with parents, and nursery spaces have to be cleaned throughout the day. Additionally, the whole team undertakes general ships duties involved with embarkation and disembarkation, muster duties, and meeting and greeting children and parents.

QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

Cruise companies look for personal attributes such as being passionate about hospitality and customer service, having a professional appearance and good hygiene, being positive, smiling, polite and courteous, and being a good team member. Employees must be willing to work a seven-day week and create an atmosphere of fun and excitement for their young guests. All cruise staff must be able to communicate in English and knowledge of another western language is a plus.

A nursery counsellor should hold a Level 3 qualification in children's care and education. The Cache Diploma for the Children's and Young People's Workforce is the qualification designed to build the knowledge and skills to work with children and young people from birth to 19 years at a supervisory level. Those wanting to work with the youngest age group choose the Early Learning and Childcare pathway. Employers also ask for a minimum of two years' nursery experience with children aged three months and upwards.

A first aid certificate is an advantage. St John Ambulance provides a 12-hour paediatric course that meets the requirements of the EYFS. It focuses on emergency scenarios that are faced by professionals working with children up to eight years.

New recruits to a cruise ship are given an induction into life aboard ship. This covers items such as commitment to service, shipboard orientation, work expectations, health and safety, and working and living aboard ship.

There is on-the-job training for new recruits and leadership training to advance workers' personal growth and professional future.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Disney Cruise Line: www.disneycruise.disney.co.com

www.allcruisejobs.com/child-care-jobs

CASE STUDY: ANNABEL SLOCOMBE

Annabel Slocombe is employed as assistant nursery manager on board the cruise liner Disney Fantasy, one of Disney Cruise Line's four ships and its latest addition. Disney Fantasy boasts an opulent Art Nouveau design and state-of-the-art facilities. It caters for around 1,500 children per cruise and is known for creating memorable family experiences. Recognising that cruise ship work is demanding, Disney Cruise Line employs a leadership team which offers internal recognition and support to all the ship's crew, and a crew activities manager who organises and facilitates crew leisure activities.

Ms Slocombe says, 'Our ship has a total of 70 counsellors working with children aged from 12 weeks to 17 years. There are seven counsellors in the nursery. It's fun working with people from different cultures and we all bring something different to the team. We work long hours but do different shifts so that we have time off in ports and free time on board to enjoy the shows and other activities.

'When we're ashore, the most popular thing to do is find a nice location for lunch and use the internet. One of the disadvantages of the job for me is being away from home, family and friends. That's why it's so important to be able to connect in ports and through the internet.

'I've been to lots of exciting places. My favourite one was Alaska - the views from the ship were amazing. When we're cruising, it's great to see wildlife in their natural habitat.

'My first job in the morning is to check our reservations for the day. Then we prepare the nursery by setting up play and sleep areas and open our doors for the first children to arrive. We talk to families about their children's needs and take their bottles, nappies, blankets and dummies and instructions for feeding and sleep. We play games, sing songs and do art and crafts which families love as their children have a "take-away".

'I share a cabin with another female from our department and it is cleaned twice a week by one of the housekeeping team. We have bunk beds, an en-suite bathroom, TV/DVD player, desk, cupboards and storage areas.'