Do you have level 3 qualification in youth work? If the answer is yes, then please read on.
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and committed Youth Worker to join the Youth Offer Improvement team (YOIT).
The YOIT deliver street-based youth work in Leeds City Centre during the evening and weekends. Due to the Night Time Economy (NTE) young people in the City Centre can become increasingly vulnerable the later they stay. The team works with a range of partners to identify these young people and works directly with them to help them keep themselves safe or ensure they return to a place of safety.
The YOIT also delivers the Independent Return Interview Service for children and young people who have been reported as missing from home or care.
The issue of children being missing from home or care is a safeguarding concern and although the majority of children return safely or are found quickly, all children who go missing - irrespective of the length of time that they are missing for - are at risk. Independent return interviews are therefore an important tool to hear the child or young person’s voice, wishes and feelings regarding their reasons for going missing, whilst also informing assessments, interventions, wider care planning and placement stability.
The successful candidate will be a qualified, highly experienced Youth Work Practitioner that has the skills and ability to enable them to deliver an exemplary service to children and young people.
The team provide a seven day a week service and therefore the successful candidate will be expected to work evenings and weekends on a regular basis, including regular Friday and Saturday evenings until 10:30pm. You will have a young person-centred approach and have the ability to engage with vulnerable children and young people in a positive and meaningful way.
If you have previously applied for this role, you do not need to reapply.
For more information or an informal discussion please contact Ravinder Kumar on 07891 277553
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job Purpose
In Leeds, youth work is delivered as a preventative and early intervention service for young people. As such, it plays an integral part in delivering the outcomes of the Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan and is a key component of achieving our ambition of being a Child Friendly City. Locality youth work is predominantly delivered in areas of most need. By targeting youth work support towards those most vulnerable young people in the city at an earlier stage; particularly those adolescents on the edge of care; the need for more costly, longer term statutory services will be reduced. There are a number of models of youth work delivery. The most common ones are;
Detached youth work – occurs in places and spaces where young people are already spending their free time such as streets, parks, shopping centres. Youth workers go to them and work to the young people’s agenda.
Outreach youth work – is similar to detached as it takes place in the community but the youth workers will engage with young people with a pre-planned purpose for example; to promote a local youth provision or to conduct a consultation.
Centre based youth work – takes place in a school or community building. Usually there will be set times and days for specific sessions or projects and there will be a longer term plan, that has been developed in partnership with the young people.
Youth Workers lead on the delivery of youth work and ensure that the planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of Youth Work programmes are responsive to the needs of young people and are in line with Children’s Services strategic plan and priorities
Responsibilities
Work directly with young people to develop and maintain relationships to help identify their starting points, needs and aspirations
To work face-to-face for a minimum 70% of the role, undertaking a varied working pattern. This will include routinely working late in the evenings (particularly weekends) school holiday weeks and occasional residentials
To work in partnership to assess needs, provide and evaluate, a well-planned and resourced programme of activities, services and facilities for young people using youth work methodology
To facilitate the development of the service by planning, delivering, monitoring and reviewing youth work provision in line with the Youth Service Quality Assurance scheme
To ensure young people participate in designing, delivering and reviewing their programmes
Be a visible member of an integrated management team at cluster/area of citywide level (as appropriate) and contribute to departmental/ multi agency groups if required.
To explore partnerships and develop them to improve outcomes for young people
Support the Advanced Practitioner in ensuring that Youth Service performance targets are met
Support the Advanced Practitioner in ensuring the effective performance management of staff
Act as a mentor, coach and role model for other practitioners in order to help develop and broaden their professional youth work practice
Manage relationships to ensure effective working with all appropriate services and partners (including Elected Members)
To support the necessary day to day administration and finance including: budget control, health & safety, the banking of monies, ordering of equipment, inventories, records keeping, security and communication, to ensure the smooth running of the programme of activities, services and facilities
Key holder and alarm duties
To be contactable by telephone and deal with out of hours emergencies if required
To use a Restorative Practice approach as an overarching ethos
Be proactive in safeguarding and promoting welfare of Children & Young People
To be aware of and adhere to Leeds City Council Health and Safety Policy being responsible for your own health and safety whilst at work and that of your colleagues and service users.
To work within all relevant policies, procedures and systems established corporately or locally and to support the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policies.
To carry out duties in accordance with the Council Values and culture
Any other duties commensurate with the post
Special Conditions
This post is subject to a higher level check with the Criminal Records Bureau. In discharging its function under the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, the Directorate is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975 ) and any applicant is obliged to disclose ALL convictions and cautions, no matter how long ago they occurred and regardless of whether the offences were committed as an adult or a juvenile.
Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.
Essential Requirements
It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.
Qualifications
The minimum qualification for this post is a JNC recognised Level 3 Youth Work qualification
Skills Required
An understanding of the issues which concern young people today and an ability to assess and audit young people’s needs and plan and deliver a corresponding youth work programme
Able to empower young people to tackle problems, take appropriate actions and become active citizens
Able to work effectively with young people in groups and secure their commitment to achieving learning outcomes
Able to work with young people to safeguard their welfare
Ability to effectively manage conflict
Ability to plan and organise own workload
Able to support the advanced practitioner in addressing any HR related procedures, if required, in the management of Youth Service staff
Ability to carry out administrative duties and meet deadlines
Ability to publicise and market the work
Able to lead on responding to immediate health & safety issues
Knowledge required
NVQ/VRQ level 3 qualification in Youth Work
Knowledge of child protection and welfare issues
Knowledge of local and national policies and their relationship to Youth Work
Knowledge of Health & Safety issues affecting all activities within the posts remit
Good working knowledge and understanding of Outcome Based Accountability (OBA), Restorative practice, Re-think formulation and Child Friendly City priorities
Experience required
Working with young people in a diverse range of youth work environments
Enabling young people to work effectively in groups
Enabling young people to explore their values and self respect
Involving young people in the decision making process
Effectively planning youth work sessions with young people linked to Children’s Services priorities and youth service targets
Effectively record and evaluate youth work sessions, produce reports within specific timescales
A knowledge of, and evidence of the ability to communicate effectively with the voluntary sector, other agencies and the local community in order to develop initiatives and services for young people
Developing positive links/partnerships with the voluntary sector, the community and other agencies
Behavioural & Other Related Characteristics required
Conscientious, honest and reliable
Positive view of young people and a commitment to a young person-centred approach
Willing to have a flexible approach to meet the changing demands of the Youth Service and related funding streams i.e. ability to fully participate in the National Citizenship Service, including the residential element.
Able to undertake a flexible and varied working pattern i.e. late evenings, weekends, schools holiday weeks and some substantial residentials
No serious health problem which is likely to impact upon job performance (that is, one that cannot be accommodated by reasonable adjustments)
Good sickness/attendance record in current/previous employment (not including absences resulting from disability)
Committed to continuous improvement.
Ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunity Policy
To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies and Code of Conduct
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
Desirable Requirements
It is desirable that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Skills Required
Ability and Willingness to drive a mobile and mini bus