Y Mentoring Coordinator

**Definition of the Role**:
YMCA St Helens delivers youth work services and support programmes as part of a new Childrens and Young People Mental Health early intervention hub, providing activities and support to young people aged between 11 and 25.

**Purpose of the Role**:
This post is part of the national YMentoring programme and will involve working closely with colleagues in YMCA England & Wales, YMCA Scotland and those other YMCAs across the UK who are delivering the programme. It will also involve working locally with colleagues in social work, education and local grass-roots organisations to develop mentoring pathways and community engagement to enable young people locally to access the programme and the wider support of the Youth Hub.

The post holder will recruit, train and support a team of volunteer mentors to prevent vulnerable young people from developing mild to moderate mental health difficulties by engaging them in a range of positive activities. The role involves engagement with other professionals to ensure appropriate referrals and appropriate monitoring of safety and progress throughout the mentoring relationship.

The post holder will work as part of a team delivering a range of youth work interventions, support and guidance. They will contribute to the national Y Mentoring programme to record and monitor outcomes and to deliver best practice and engage in peer support, as well as work towards developing the evidence base for mentoring in the field of early and effective intervention across the UK.

**Main Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Recruitment, training and on-going support for a team of volunteer mentors.
- Delivery of training, recruitment, support and development activities for volunteer mentors.
- Effective management of all aspects of the project to support children, young people and families.
- To ensure 100% data required is collected and recorded on to relevant reporting databases.
- To support and engage with the local and national programme evaluation and development of best practice.
- Play a key role with professional partners in the identification, referral and monitoring of young people and ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are upheld.
- Effective representation of YMCA St Helens Youth Hub and the national Y’s Girls programme to professional partners, community organisations and in dissemination of programme outcomes.
- Effective management of all aspects of the project including administration, budgeting and data collection.
- Effective implementation and management of best practice policies and procedures.
- Participation in monthly line management meetings with and accountability to your line manager.
- Participation in YMCA St Helens Youth Hub staff meetings and other national and residential events.
- Participation in Y Mentoring national Programme events, including meetings, training and peer support.
- Other tasks appropriate to the role of Project Coordinator as required by your line manager.

This Job Description is not an exhaustive list of required activities, but an indication of the duties and responsibilities required to fulfil the remit in a satisfactory manner.

**Skills and Attributes**:
**Essential**:

- Experience of working directly with young people between the ages of 8-25 for at least 3 of the past 5 years.
- Evidence of effective contribution to project delivery and interagency partnership working in a youth work setting.
- Experience of working with marginalised young people.
- Relevant project management/volunteer management experience.
- Relevant third level youth work/ social work/ education qualification.
- Full driving licence.
- Knowledge of core principles of youth work and of cognitive behavioural approaches.
- Knowledge of local community.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- The ability to engage meaningfully with diverse young people and their families. Evidence of effective teamwork and leadership.
- Ability to empathise with, lead and motivate adults and young people
- Experience of collecting data for monitoring and evaluation.
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in a variety of formats.
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate others.
- Flexible and adaptable.
- Commitment to working evenings and weekends as required.
- Demonstrates independence, self-motivation and initiative.
- Ability to prioritise and manage multiple demands.
- Ability to manage time effectively.
- Agreement to work within the CORE VALUES OF YMCA St Helens
- Demonstrate an understanding of key issues concerning young people aged 11-25 and the impact of intersectionality.

**Desirable**:

- Experience of working with families/parents.
- Experience of managing volunteers
- First aid qualification
- Evidence of undertaking opportunities for personal and professional development in a range of relevant areas.
Specific training related to young people and mental health.
- Ability to design and develop innovative youth