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Youth Worker

Location: Gravesham district, and the surrounding Kent community

Salary: Starting Salary £22,366 pro rata (FTE)

Hours: 14 Per Week

Contract: Permanent

Young Lives Foundation (YLF) is a Kent based charity that’s aim for all young people to live in communities where they are heard, are safe and supported; with opportunities to thrive.

Their vision is to support young people to thrive through highly effective and accessible programmes where they: are given a voice, heard and empowered are supported by consistent adults through times of challenge and change have opportunities and resources to be happy and thrive.

The Young Lives Foundation (YLF) is an award winning children’s charity in the South East of England with expertise in Advocacy, Mentoring, Befriending and Youth Programmes. We support over 3,000 young people and families each year including those in care, on the edge of care, care leavers, young offenders and young people disengaged in education.

Reports to: Director of Youth Programmes Responsible for: Legends Youth Programme - Gravesham Hub

The Role: Legends Youth Workers deliver meaningful youth work to children and young people aged 8-19, requiring level 2 and 3 support levels. The role involves taking the lead in organising and partaking in an inclusive programme of activities, trips and adventures supporting children and young people to thrive.

Job Purpose: To deliver highly effective and enjoyable youth programmes, including youth groups, holiday activities, overnight adventures and 1-2-1 mentoring support to young people considered in need within Gravesham district and surrounding areas, where young people will receive meaningful support and be provided the time, opportunities and resources to thrive.

Job Role:

Plan, deliver and develop youth programmes that will attract and engage children and young people in need, positively impact on their personal and social development and achieve the overall aims of the programme in line with YLF’s mission.

Establish consistent trusting relationships between young people and staff/volunteers supporting the activities in order promote their personal development.

To oversee the staffing of sessions, supervise volunteer youth workers, and ensure required ratios are in place.

Provide 1-2-1 mentoring when required, in the community, at hubs or in schools, to assist young people with goals and overcome barriers to engagement.

Deliver programmes/support that is trauma-healing and actively seeks to reduce the potential of re-traumatisation of participants.

Deliver activities that are inclusive and accessible to young people from differing cultural backgrounds, young people with additional needs, children and young people with physical, learning and developmental disabilities.

Ensure activities are risk-assessed, with robust measures in place to ensure the health, safety and well-being of participants, including staff and volunteers.

Involve young people and other stakeholders in co-production of the Programme, ensuring they have input in the design, delivery and evaluation , obtaining very regular feedback utilising a variety of media

Ensure that activities participated in, and their associated learning and achievements are appropriately measured, recognised and reported on accordingly in agreed formats.

To submit reports on take-up, outcomes, impact and satisfaction to YLF management and commissioners/funders.

To work collaboratively with YLF’s marketing team to ensure the activity programme is well promoted amongst children and young people, carers and families, schools and within social services via networking and associated promotional activities, and to external funders and supporters.

To recruit, train, direct, encourage, motivate and support staff and volunteers involved in delivering activities, assuring a rewarding experience for volunteers and excellent volunteer retention.

To work with YLF district youth workers across the county to assure consistency in programme delivery and collaborative working, providing cover and assistance in other districts as and when required.

To be fully conversant with the charity’s safeguarding procedures and code of conduct ensuring that all staff and volunteers involved in activities are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and the actions they may need to take.

To ensure that administration relating to the provision of activities is completed efficiently and that all expenditure is appropriately authorised, monitored and recorded, and within budget

To be responsible for ensuring effective communication and liaison with those who have parental responsibility for children and young people engaging in activities and also with relevant professionals, keeping waiting lists to a minimum

To ensure that the recording and retention of all personal data complies with GDPR and the Young Lives Foundation’s data protection policy

To participate in regular supervision and appraisals and engage in learning and development opportunities

To represent the Young Lives Foundation at meetings, conferences, training events, and to give presentations

To provide cover or additional support for colleagues, as required

General Requirements

* To have flexible availability to meet the needs of service users during service operating hours

* To work within agreed timescales and allocation of hours

* To work within agreed quality frameworks and quality standards

* To take part in supervision and appraisal and to meet on other occasions, as required, with the manager

* To comply with the YLF Code of Conduct and ensure Safeguarding Policy and Procedures are followed at all times

* To attend staff meetings, as required, including compulsory staff development/training days

* To keep accurate records of any expenditure incurred and to ensure that such expenditure is within agreed limits and has been duly authorised

* To maintain such other records as may be required for the purposes of monitoring, evaluation and review; and to prepare periodic reports

* To develop and maintain effective liaison with referral sources and with other professionals

* To provide cover or additional support for colleagues, as required

* To uphold the values and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Young Lives Foundation

* To undertake such other duties as may, from time to time, be reasonably required

Important to know

* The youth worker is required to work flexible hours, including regular evenings and weekends and during school holidays, and to be available to lead residential trips and adventures away.

* Youth groups currently run weekly during the evenings; the successful applicant must be able deliver the groups on these days and offer flexibility.

* Applicants must be able to drive and have use of a car for business purposes, to transport young people and/or equipment.

* It will be an advantage you are a able to drive a minibus

This post is subject to YLF’s Safer Recruitment Process, a satisfactory DBS check and a successful probationary period

Interpersonnel Recruitment is operating as an Employment Agency for our client for this particular role. By applying you give consent for your data to be handled and processed under GDPR Legislation for the purpose of your current employment search.

We ask that all applicants already have Right to Work UK documentation in place and on file.

We are pleased to receive a significant number of applications for most roles advertised. We are therefore unable to respond to individual applicants unless shortlisted. If you have not been contacted within four weeks of the closing date you should assume you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

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