Youth Worker

**Youth Worker**

**Responsible to**: Youth Worker

**Responsible for**: NA

**Hours of Work**: Flexibile hours per week, Monday to Friday, with occasional weekends and public holidays.

**Work Location**: YMCA East London Youth work, Ventura Youth Work, RAF Northolt and may need to attend other YMCA St Paul's Group locations

**Job Purpose**

To support the running of youth activities and other centre duties. This will include engaging with the young people supporting preparation and running of activities and sessions.

**Organisation Context**

YMCA St Paul’s Group (SPG) is the largest YMCA in Europe and a leading provider of supported housing in London and beyond, providing a safe place to stay to about 1,200 young and vulnerable people each night.
- We provide housing and support to those in need of a place to call home and support them with services that empower them to build a positive future.
- We support children, young people and families to be safe, healthy, connected and confident.
- We bring people together by encouraging them to be healthy, physically and mentally.
- We help nurture an environment where people of all faiths and none have the opportunity to understand and express the love of God.
- We empower our residents, staff and users by providing them with excellent service and welcoming properties where they can thrive.
- We enable the Charity to respond to the future with an equipped and empowered workforce that is flexible and agile.
- The vision of YMCA St Paul’s group is to empower young people by providing the resources and support so they can thrive.  We wish to create inclusive, active and healthy communities where everyone can flourish.

Our approach is informed by our Christian faith and we work with fellow community collaborators to see this vision realised. Our core values underpin the way that we deliver our work and our aim is to create an inclusive culture where our staff, residents and customers feel a sense of belonging and are able to be their authentic selves.

We welcome everyone, strive for excellence in all we do, inspire hope in others for what they might achieve and strive to grow and develop both people and places.

**Duties and Responsibilities**

**Youth session lead/support**
- To attend work at specified hours as a responsible adult and assist with the setting up, packing down and running of activities for the children, young people and families.
- To encourage and support individual young people in working towards any outcomes that they have set.
- To help plan and prepare activities for youth centre users.
- To assist with briefings and evaluations before and after each session.
- To take on the role of lead Youth Worker for occasional sessions where the youth work programs officer may require it.
- To be responsible for opening up and closing the building when appropriate.
- To be aware of and ensure best practice is outworked for; First Aid, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Data protection procedures at all times.
- **Other**_
- Actively look for networking and outreach opportunities with partners and young people in the community.
- Use monitoring and evaluation systems to record and track young peoples attendance and key contact information.
- Work in partnership/collaboration with other YMCA SPG departments using the centres and faculties and offices.
- **General - All Staff**_
- Attend all relevant training and development programmes.
- Attend all relevant cross departmental, and Corporate Office meetings as and when required.
- Undertake any other duties as requested by line manager.
- To be able to respect the Christian ethos of the YMCA and uphold its values.

**Scope and Limits of Authority**

The post-holder will work within established guidelines, using initiative to handle most queries and refer to the Youth Work Programs 0fficer on any other matters

**Youth Worker**

Person Specification / Key Competences

**KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE**

**Essential**

An understanding of the issues facing young people.

Be aware of the limits that are required and the boundaries that between the youth/youth worker relationship.

**Desirable**

Level 2 Safeguarding An understanding of Safeguarding

NVQ Level 2 in Youth Work

**Essential**

Be able to show patience, tolerance and flexibility

The ability to treat young people's concerns with respect and sensitivity

Experience in engaging with young people

Experience in working in a youth club setting either paid or voluntary

To be a good role model to young people Modelling the behaviour we expected of them at the centre.

**Desirable**

An understanding of Safeguarding and good practise in a youth work setting

**KEY COMPETENCIES & SKILLS**

**Essential**

**Key Competencies**

**Customer and quality focus**

Focused first and foremost on the views and needs of the external and internal customers.

**Collaboration**

Able to develop and maintain positive working relationships with others

Able to form n