Head of Programmes

Already working as a line manager in the youth sector but looking for a new challenge, a place to develop your skills, or a chance to make a big difference to the lives of learning disabled and autistic young people?

Ready to be part of the senior leadership team at a community youth organisation based in Westminster, at an exciting time as we are half-way through our strategy?

We are Caxton Youth Organisation. We are a specialist youth club, creating community, breaking barriers and empowering learning disabled and autistic young people.

Over the next three years and beyond, will we will continue to implement our new strategy, reaching more disabled young people and becoming more youth-led; and you could help make that happen.

There are many reasons why the work Caxton Youth Organisation does is important. At Caxton Youth Organisation, we want to shape a more inclusive society free from disabling barriers where all young people can lead happy, healthy and more independent lives. Our team of qualified youth workers and practitioners create a safe, welcoming and inclusive space in the community where disabled and autistic young people can make friends, learn new skills, build confidence, and be themselves.

We're a small charity but our work and impact is long-lasting and holistic. For everyone who works at Caxton, it's more than just a job. All the team want to make a lasting difference to the young people we work with.

What were looking for:
The benefits of working at Caxton
- A flexible approach with a mix of home and office working
- 25 days holiday a year plus bank holidays.
- Access to Wellbeing services via Bright HR and Westminster Talking services.
- A proactive organisation that is currently developing a new development and reward plan for staff. We want to know how you’d like your career to develop with us and to have your voice heard.
- Access to Bright Exchange, which offers discount codes.
- Occasional offsite access to other workspaces via our corporate partners.
- Centrally located (just a 7-minute walk to Victoria station), at our youth club - with a wide range of shops, cafes and bars right on the doorstep - and where you will be directly getting to know the local community that Caxton work closely with, as well as opportunities to take part in fun activities with our young people.
- Access to cooking facilities during lunchtime and access to sports and recreational equipment such as table tennis during breaks.
- Opportunities to take part in our monthly staff wellbeing sessions.
- Access to training opportunities via partnerships and our memberships

**Length of Post**: Permanent

**Location**: Predominantly Westminster

**Reports to**: Chief Executive Officer

**Responsible for**: Youth Workers, Sessional Workers and Sessional Volunteers

**Hours -** Full time - 37.5 hours per week, including evenings.

**Availability**: Must be available to directly lead 1-2 of the evening sessions each week on either Monday (6.30-9pm), Wednesday (6.30-9pm) or Friday (6.00-8.30pm), and to work the occasional residential trip.

**Salary**: £36,000-£41,000 (depending on experience)

**What will you be doing?**

You will be joining Caxton Youth Organisation during an exciting time in our strategy, as we aim to maximise our reach and support the wellbeing of over sixty learning disabled and autistic 11-25-year-olds in Westminster each year, by creating communities, breaking barriers and empowering young people through youth work. You will be central to this, developing a team of youth workers and ensuring our programmes are delivered successfully, maintaining top quality accessible activities, embedding referral and activity partnerships.

**Service Delivery & Partnership**
- Responsible for the management and oversight of youth programmes and activity delivery, developing youth work that meets the needs of learning-disabled young people through direct and partnership delivery with third sector providers.
- Oversee the development of a varied term-time and holiday youth provision, inclusive of sports, arts, cultural and recreational activity that promote the development of physical and emotional well-being.
- Develop a meaningful dialogue with learning disabled and autistic young people and families, with the purpose of creating youth-led services.
- Establish an inclusive culture; where all are welcome and supported to participate.
- Develop initiatives and partnerships to build strong links with the local community and support the growth of positive perceptions of young people.
- Organise regular outreach to facilitate the involvement of young people from across the borough, and oversee the referral process for new young people.

**Social and Emotional Wellbeing Programme**
- You will work alongside a sessional youth worker to develop and deliver our social and emotional wellbeing programme, running workshops and 1:1 activities and activities with partners, to promote the 5 ways to wellbeing and d