Youth Worker

Job Title Youth Worker / Senior Health Play Specialist – Grade Band 5 – Contract 7 months (Fixed Term), Part time 18.75 hours per weekJob reference: 200-7582900-DE-DG Employer St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NHS Site: St George's NHS Foundation Trust, Town: London)Salary: £37,259 – £45,356 p.a. pro rata inclusive of HCAS (Inner)Salary period: YearlyClosing date: 18/12/2025 23:59 Job Overview We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated, and compassionate Youth Worker to join the vibrant and well‑functioning Play Team at St George’s Hospital. The post holder will focus on supporting young people aged 11 years +, particularly those experiencing complex emotional, social or mental health challenges during their hospital stay. This role combines direct 1‑to‑1 youth work, small group sessions, and partnership work with clinical teams to help young people manage the challenges of illness, treatment and transition, and to promote positive health outcomes and wellbeing. You will join a friendly, skilled and supportive team where professional development and reflective practice are highly valued. You will be supported by senior play and psychological therapies staff, with access to regular supervision and CPD opportunities. We welcome applicants from a range of youth work, community, or health backgrounds, especially those with experience supporting young people facing adversity or mental health challenges. For an informal discussion please contact Dr Zoe Berger, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Head of Paediatric Psychological Therapies, on 0208 725 2214 or email Zoe.Berger@stgeorges.nhs.uk. Main Duties and Responsibilities To provide skilled, evidence‑based youth work support to young people (aged 11 – 18 years) within acute and outpatient paediatric settings, promoting emotional wellbeing, resilience and positive engagement with healthcare. The role will include individual work, group facilitation and the development of a hospital youth forum. The post holder will work as part of the Play Team, under the clinical governance and supervision of the Paediatric Psychological Therapies Service. Clinical / Therapeutic To work primarily with children and young people 11+ years experiencing difficulty in managing hospital admission/procedures, using evidence‑based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions. Plan, deliver and evaluate individual and group youth work interventions tailored to developmental, emotional and social needs. Use knowledge and understanding of child development to contribute to assessments and long‑term care planning. Support young people in managing the impact of illness, treatment, and hospitalisation. Liaise with medical, nursing and psychology teams to integrate youth work approaches into care planning. Monitor, evaluate and modify interventions in order to measure child’s progress and ensure effectiveness of care planned. Provide early intervention and support for young people presenting with distress, risk or mental health needs, escalating concerns appropriately. Support young people to access community services and continue progress post‑discharge. Support children, young people and families or carers under stress and in crisis. Participation and Engagement Develop, lead and sustain a Youth Forum of patients and siblings aged 11–18, promoting youth voice and co‑production in service improvement. Facilitate regular feedback opportunities for young people to share their experiences and influence service design. Communication and Record Keeping Establish effective communication, both verbal and written, with all members of the multidisciplinary team in child health and in other departments of the hospital where children and young people are treated. Maintain accurate, timely records in line with Trust policy and information governance standards. Communicate effectively with young people, families, and professionals using age‑appropriate and trauma‑informed approaches. Promote awareness of youth work and adolescent engagement across the hospital. Leadership, Supervision and Training Provide guidance to students and colleagues on youth engagement and adolescent development. Participate in the supervision of students on placement (e.g. play specialists or student nurses). Engage in supervision, reflective practice and CPD in line with Trust and professional standards. Service Development and Governance Contribute to service audits, evaluations and quality improvement initiatives. Support the development of youth‑friendly environments and resources within paediatric areas. Participate in Trust‑wide youth participation networks and events. Professional Responsibilities and Professional Ethics Work within the NHS values and Trust safeguarding policies, maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality. Respect and respond sensitively to diversity in culture, faith, gender, sexuality and disability. Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of child development, safeguarding, and adolescent mental health. Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs. Demonstrate the ability to reflect on ethical issues and provide guidance to junior staff as necessary. Management Prioritise own caseload in accordance with individual and service needs. Ensure effective planning and safe running of youth forum sessions. Person Specification Qualifications Degree or equivalent in Youth and Community Work Certificate in working with Children and Young People or equivalent Level 3 Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development Recognised play or childcare qualification Additional training relevant to the role Experience Demonstrable experience of working with adolescents, including individual and group work with children from diverse backgrounds. Experience of working with children and young people with mental health issues. Awareness of current issues pertinent to the adolescent age group. Experience with family‑centred work. Experience of audit procedures. Good clinical experience with a wide range of children and families in the hospital setting and community. Experience with children or young people with disabilities or complex needs, including children with challenging behaviour. Experience of running youth participation projects. Skills General knowledge of the Children’s Act and relevant health legislation. Good knowledge of the cultural needs of young people. Flexible approach to work and changing service needs. Understanding of confidentiality with staff, management and practice issues. Ability to recognise stress in self and others and take appropriate action. Ability to mentor, motivate and support junior members of the team in liaison with senior management staff. Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities. Sound communication skills, using both verbal and written observations. Ability to act as an advocate for the service. Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance. Ability to organise and respond efficiently to varied information. General awareness of health and safety issues and risk management involved with service delivery. Ability to contribute to and implement teaching programmes for students and the multi‑disciplinary team about the particular needs of adolescents. Ability to research, implement and evaluate independent projects within the workplace. General knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance and Information Governance. Knowledge of a wide range of relevant medical and surgical terminology and general anatomical knowledge. Specialist knowledge and application of therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to patient group and treatment plan. Applied knowledge of the effects of hospitalisation, treatment and long‑term chronic illness on children, young people and their families. Personal Qualities Commitment to patient/family‑centred, non‑discriminatory practice. Sensitive and empathic to children, young people and families in hospital. Confident advocate of the service. Good communication with appropriate interpersonal skills. Confidence and mentorship abilities. Proactive, self‑motivated attitude towards teamwork. Maintain professional image. Punctual. Adaptable and flexible. Willing to learn new skills. Your Recruitment Team The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team and will support you at every stage of the process. For queries, contact: krft.askrecruitment@nhs.net. Your Application Please ensure your supporting statement clearly reflects the job description and person specification, as shortlisting will be based on these criteria. Refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role. Use of Artificial Intelligence We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to draft your application. We value authentic, individual responses that reflect your own experience and communication style. References Please provide a minimum of 3 years’ employment and/or education history, including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre‑employment checks. Closing Date To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications. Shortlisting If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly. Application Feedback If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion. Safeguarding and DBS Checks We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role. Employer Certification / Accreditation Badges This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Application Numbers This vacancy may have an application cap, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. Ensure your supporting statement clearly shows how you meet the job specifications. ContactDr Zoe BergerHead of Paediatric Psychological TherapiesEmail: Zoe.Berger@stgeorges.nhs.ukTelephone: 0208 725 2214 #J-18808-Ljbffr