Youth Worker

Job title: Youth Worker

Salary: JNC Points 12-15 (£30,745- £33,869)

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Technorth, 9 Harrogate Road LS7 3NB

As a Youth Worker, you'll thrive on being part of a team to support and achieve positive outcomes for the most vulnerable young people of Leeds.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Youth worker, you will bring to the role:

• Have a minimum level 3 JNC recognised Youth & Community qualification.
• Effectively record and evaluate Return Interviews, youth work sessions, produce reports within specific timescales.
• Able to undertake a flexible and varied and rota based working pattern i.e. late evenings, weekends, schools holidays.
• 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.

About the role

The successful candidate will be a qualified, experienced Youth Worker that has the skills and experience to enable them to deliver an exemplary service to children and young people.

The role of a youth worker is integral to the Return Interview Service, the team provide a statutory service to young people who have been reported missing to the Police with a return interview. 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 issue of children being missing from home or care is a safeguarding concern and although most 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. A return interview is an opportunity for young people to talk about why they were missing, where and who they were with, and to offer support where appropriate.

The team also provide street-based youth work in Leeds City Centre on Friday and Saturday evenings as part of a rota, which is shared amongst the team. 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 keep themselves safe and ensure they return to a place of safety.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Apply for this job online.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Ravinder Kumar, Team Leader. Call 07891 277553 or email ravinder.kumar@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children's barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, 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, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying

Job Description

Job Purpose: Deliver youth work and assist in the planning, delivery, evaluation, and review of youth work programmes that are responsive to the needs of young people and in line with the Youth Service Curriculum, Service, and strategic objectives. The role requires flexible working arrangements involving weekly activity rotas, evening activity sessions and weekend working.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with young people to develop and maintain relationships to help identify their starting points, needs and aspirations.
• Facilitate the social education of young people through the design and delivery of programmes that are responsive to their needs and aspirations and reflect the Youth Work curriculum.
• Assist in the development of the Service, by planning, delivery, monitoring and reviewing of youth work provision.
• Encourage young people to participate in designing, delivery and reviewing their programmes.
• Encourage young people to take responsibility for their learning and actions.
• Create an environment in which it is safe and appropriate to challenge young people's thinking, attitudes, and behaviour.
• Contribute to the Youth Services performance targets.
• Lead, support and develop staff for whom they have line management responsibility.
• Undertake relevant training according to the needs of the service, personal and professional development.
• Ensure that all aspects of the work are underpinned by the principles of equality and diversity.
• Create and maintain a safe youth work environment in accordance with Health and Safety policy and legislation.
• Maintain effective relationships with staff at all levels within the Directorate, other Council Directorates, Elected Members, external agencies, and the general public.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications Minimum JNC endorsed Level 3 NVQ / VRQ Initial qualification in Youth Work is essential.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Able to establish and maintain a constructive and purposeful relationship with young people to support the youth work process.
• Able to support young people in tackling problems, taking actions, and supporting the Youth Worker in Training.
• Able to work effectively with young people in groups and support the Youth Worker in Training.
• Able to work with young people to design and develop sessions.
• Able to work with young people to safeguard their welfare.
• Able to support young people to use their learning to enhance their future development.
• Able to record and evaluate youth work sessions.
• Able to develop programmes that recognise and challenge prejudices, stereotypes, and discrimination.
• Able to develop a range of activities and resources which promotes confidence and ensures all can participate.
• Able to have a flexible approach within a planned programme and meeting changing demands of the service.
• Knowledge of issues affecting young people and respond appropriately to these issues.
• Knowledge of child protection and welfare issues.
• Knowledge of local and national policies and their relationship to the youth work curriculum.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety issues affecting all activities within your remit.
• Experience of working with young people in a youth work environment.
• Experience of enabling young people to work effectively in groups
• Experience of enabling young people to explore their values and self-respect.
• Experience of enabling young people to use their learning to enhance their future development.
• Experience of working with young people to safeguard welfare and develop awareness for their self-identity.
• Experience of planning youth work sessions with young people linked to the curriculum and youth service targets.
• Experience of effectively recording and evaluating youth work sessions.
• Experience of working as an effective and reflective practitioner.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• Able to promote and develop effective team working.
• Able to lead on responding to immediate health and safety issues.