Youth Support Worker

**About us**

Bank Youth Project (BYP) runs an independent youth centre in the centre of Ashburton. Our goal is to empower and support children and young people to improve their life opportunities by helping them grow as individuals and members of the community. For almost 25 years, we have offered a safe space that local young people can call their own, where they can relax, be creative, have fun, make friends, develop interests and skills, discuss, increase self-awareness, take on responsibility, and seek advice and support.

Housed in a former bank building, BYP's space includes a kitchen/snack bar, a computer suite, an outdoor courtyard, art supplies, and games equipment for pool, table tennis, table football and more. Our team of part-time youth workers run activities and offer support both in the centre and sometimes at other facilities in town (such as the swimming pool, recreation ground and sports courts). BYP is a registered charity, guided by a management group of trustees with support from the local community. BYP is currently supported by the National Lottery Community Fund.

We are looking for an additional member of our Youth Work Team to help develop and support young people's social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing through activities, advice and mentoring. You would help support young people in their transition to independence by engaging them in activities that redress inequalities, value opinions and empower individuals to take action on issues affecting their lives.

You would contribute to the development of the programme of social, educational and developmental opportunities for young people at BYP to meet their needs and interests. **Key tasks include**:

- help run our weekday evening club nights in our building and elsewhere for occasional off-site activities.
- support BYP members to fully and actively participate in the programme and services, including one-to-one support (on issues such as sexual health, mental health, drugs and alcohol, bullying, money and employment, education, social media and more)
- ensure BYP members have the opportunity to influence the planning, delivery and review of BYP's programme and services
- assist the Lead Youth Support Worker in ensuring health and safety, equal opportunities, child protection and all other BYP policies and procedures are observed and implemented
- assist the Lead Youth Support Worker in ensuring that outcomes, indicators and activities in the BYP Project Management Plan are achieved
- attend regular supervision sessions, team meetings and training programmes, as well as have DBS and other necessary checks as required by the BYP Management Group

**Essential skills and abilities**:

- ability to contact, engage with and motivate young people
- able to communicate effectively with individual young people - and groups - from a variety of backgrounds
- able to work as part of a team of paid staff and volunteers
- good written, verbal and numerical communication skills
- good attention to detail
- ability to cope in sometimes stressful situations and to work well under pressure of time and the demands of others for sometimes immediate decisions and action
- the confidence and respect for inclusivity and confidentiality to mentor and offer guidance to young people on topics such as sexual health, mental health, drugs and alcohol, bullying, crime, racism, money, employment, etc.

**Essential experience and knowledge**:

- experience of working with young people, preferably in a youth work setting
- an understanding of and empathy with the issues facing young people, ideally with some experience of offering confidential information and guidance on topics such as sexual and mental health, drugs and alcohol, etc.
- an understanding of equal opportunities policies and their implementation, preferably in a youth work setting

**Desirable to have**:

- an understanding of health, safety and welfare issues, preferably in a youth work setting
- an understanding of child protection issues
- experience of observing and implementing policies, plans and procedures, preferably within a youth work setting
- experience of advice, information, support and development work for young people seeking education, training or employment
- experience of community outreach, promotion and fundraising work, preferably in a youth work setting

**Desirable qualifications**
- a youth work qualification, preferably to a minimum of NVQ Level 2 or equivalent
- GCSE’s or equivalent qualifications in English and Maths
- a qualification in an activity or activities relevant to the youth work curriculum
- previous training in health and safety, first aid, sexual health, and/or child protection

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 8-12 per week

**Salary**: £10.35-£12.00 per hour

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Sick pay

Supplemental pay types:

- Bonus scheme

Application question(s):

- Will you be able to reliably commute