Child and Young Person Mentor

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Building Lives Project CIC are looking to fill a child and young person mentor position across Essex on a 3 year fixed term contract. Building Lives Project CIC are a non-for-profit organisation birthed out of Reach Every Generation LTD. The project operates across Essex and is aimed at children and young people aged between 10-18, who are vulnerable and at risk of criminal exploitation, involved in criminal activity, serious violence, county lines and anti-social behaviour, and at risk of school exclusion and underachieving with particular concern of criminal exploitation. **_This project has been funded by National Lottery community fund. _**
- **Building Lives Project CIC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. **_

BLP are currently recruiting 1 mentor to deliver 1:1 mentoring/coaching sessions to children and young people aged 10-18. Each mentor is to manage a full case load (approx. 12-15 open cases over a set period of time)

Previous experience is desired but not essential as it is important that potential mentors can show understanding and real desire to instigate change and make a difference in preventing young people getting involved criminal activity and exploitation.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

- 1:1 mentoring session’s in schools and the community across Essex
- Carry out professional assessments to Identify the needs of young people, to create achievable action plans
- Support young people to identify their vulnerabilities to create action plans
- Work towards strengthening child/young person to reduce the chances of being groomed into crime and violence.
- Ensure young people are involved in their own sessions and are led by them
- Attending professional multi-agency meetings
- Liaise with other professionals regularly
- Record case notes and significant information (record and report accordingly)
- Manage own diary and arrange sessions/visits/meetings
- Facilitate parenting awareness sessions.
- Regularly review cases to ensure cases are always moving forward and progress is being made.
- Compliance with local and national safeguarding and child protection legislation.

Job Type / Category:

- Mentors will be expected to work full 37.5 hours a week

Required Education, Skills, Experience and Qualifications:

- Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people (Essential)

**Recent experience working with ‘hard to reach’ young people. (Favourable)**
- Experience working with young people involved in criminal activity, risky behaviours, and violence (Favourable not essential)
- Managing a caseload and own daily schedule/diary (Favourable)
- Multi-agency working. (Favourable)
- Experience in working with a person-centred approach. (Favourable)
- Experience of delivering training or sessions. (Favourable)
- Reporting and recording any concerns/allegations/safeguarding issues appropriately and effectively remaining constantly complaint with national and local legislation. (Essential)

**The ability to analyse situations ensuring best outcomes. (Essential)**
- Ability to Undertake thorough and effective assessment of need. (Essential)
- Passionate about seeing young people’s lives changed for the better. (Essential)
- Skill to engage young people using flexible and innovative methods. (Essential)
- The ability to communicate well in meetings. (Favourable)
- Good understanding of current social climate and how this effects young people. (Essential)
- Knowledge of the local areas. (Favourable)
- Driving Licence (Essential)
- Motivation to work with children and young people.
- Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people;
- Emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours;
- Attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline.

**Education**:

- GCSE's not essential but favourable.
- Any qualifications in children/youth work will be favourable when applying.

**Benefits**:
Training will be provided internally which you will be mandatory to attend, specific training will include but not limited to:

- Safeguarding and child protection
- Data protection and information sharing
- Criminal justice workshops
- Specialist crime and violence training level 1 and 2
- Specialist mentor training.
- Recording and Reporting
- Monthly supervisions and team meetings

**If staff voice the desire for certain training to enhance their practise, this will be supported and funded by management if considered appropriate.**

Additional Information

The aims of BLP CIC recruitment policy are as follows:

- To ensure that the best possible staff are recruited based on their merits, abilities and suitability for the position
- To ensure that all job applicants are considered equally and co