The article analyses functions and competences of a social educator as vocational adviser, as well as theoretical assumptions of them. The competences of a ocational adviser in Lithuania are defined in the Vocational Information Standard (2007), which stipulates functions, capacities and operational spheres of a vocational adviser. So far the functions and competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser have not been investigated by the Lithuanian scientists. The article provides a detailed review of the concept of competence and presents the experience of the EU Member States in training vocational guidance specialists. Referring to the analysis of regulatory enactments and scientific literature, general, cognitive and functional competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser are specified. The group of general competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser includes: social competence of a social educator as a vocational adviser; learning competence, competence of effective activity, communication competence, information management competence, project management competence, change management competence, and competence of research activity. Within the context under analysis, functional competences include: vocational information; vocational counselling; upgrading career design skills; co-operation; co-ordination of activity; investigation and needs assessment; vocational information, counselling and planning of activity for the development of career planning capacities; assessment of personal activity; efficiency of support; and competences related to education of family and community. Cognitive competences of a social educator as a vocational adviser include: the knowledge of the vocational guidance content; principles tor provision of support, organisation and evaluation of activities.

The Paper, while analysing scientific sources, relevant documentation and results of the quantitative research, considers work opportunities of social educators within the vocational information system. It also investigates the concept of vocational information as the initial step of vocational guidance, reviews functional responsibilities of a social educator as a vocational information counsellor and realisation of these functions in education institutions. The Paper also contains the analysis of questionnaire filled in by 8–12 grade pupils of comprehensive schools, their parents, class tutors and heads of schools. It revealed that the role of social educators in rendering vocational information services to pupils of comprehensive schools was insufficient and, consequently identified the necessity to include the development of vocational information competences into the curricula of study programmes of social educators.

The paper presents results of the research of social educator’s use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools. Based on the expert study and social educators survey this article reveals assumptions of accessibility, importance and usage of ICT tools in social educator’s educational environment. The questionnaire was prepared according the scientific literature study and qualitative expert research: it was selected eight ICT tools and twenty ICT tools identified features were investigated at the research. The survey sample – 292 social educators working in schools of general education in Lithuania. The social educators evaluated the accessibility, importance and use of ICT tools, how can it be used for social educator’s educational work functions. The data analysis of the survey reveals the educational environment enriching the social educators with ICT tools accessibility, importance and usage assumptions. On the basis of the research findings may be helpful to the authorities responsible for social educator educational environment modernization and qualification development.

The article presents the results of expert evaluation of the social educators ICT-riched educational environment and ICT tools, the opportunities of ICT for social educator functions and effective socio-educational activities to be performed are revealed. The study distinguished the most important social educator‘s socio-educational components: e. diary, e. portfolio, interactive board, social networking, school web site, e-mail surveys, virtual training (learning) environment, educational computer games. Analyzing ICT, enriching selection or the educational environment of the social educator the the ICT tools essential criteriahighlights: accessibility – the opportunity to use, the importance – forsocial educator functions to be performed, application – the use in socioeducative activities. The creation of ICT-riched educational environment of social educators’ is an integral part of the school’s modernization and part of the use of ICT, therefore ICT development ant implementation of innovative ICT should create favorable conditions in order to use these technologies in specific social educators’ activities.