Youth Development Practitioner - One Adoption West Yorkshire

Kirklees Council; Russan; Sur place; EUR 29 000 - 37 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A local authority in the UK seeks a Youth Development Practitioner to lead youth programs for adopted children. The role emphasizes relationship building, safeguarding, and program delivery. Ideal candidates will have experience working with young people and a Level 3 qualification in Youth Work. The position offers a competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for professional development.

Prestations

Competitive salary and annual leave

Membership in the West Yorkshire Pension Fund

Flexible and hybrid working arrangements

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience working directly with adopted children and young people in groups.
• Ability to create and deliver engaging youth work sessions.
• Knowledge of child care legislation and safeguarding procedures.

Responsabilités

• Lead and deliver youth work projects focusing on adopted children.
• Conduct needs assessments and develop supportive programs.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance service delivery.

Connaissances

Experience working with adopted children and young people

Ability to plan and deliver youth work programs

Strong communication skills

Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare

Formation

JNC endorsed Level 3 NVQ / VRQ Initial qualification in Youth Work

Description du poste

Overview

Kirklees Council, advertising this role on behalf of One Adoption West Yorkshire, is seeking a Youth Development Practitioner to lead the delivery of youth groups and peer group offers across the Yorkshire and Humber region. You will create opportunities for adopted children and young people to meet, develop mechanisms for consistent feedback, and ensure their voices are heard in service development and delivery. If you are committed to safeguarding, promoting diversity, and making a difference in the community, we want to hear from you.

You will thrive on making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people, empowering and supporting adopted children and young people to realise their potential. You will foster a positive and inclusive environment and work to promote diversity, safeguarding, and the needs and aspirations of the youth you work with. You will contribute to professional practice and raise service standards to improve and innovate in your role.

This role is hosted by Leeds City Council and is one of the largest employers in the region. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Youth Development Practitioner, you will bring to the role:

• Experience working with adopted children and young people
• Ability to plan and deliver youth work programs
• Strong communication skills
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare

What we offer you

We take pride in offering a positive employee experience, with benefits including:

• A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• A range of staff benefits to boost wellbeing and financial wellbeing

Job details

Job purpose
To lead on the delivery of youth work projects, focusing on leadership of professional practice and raising standards of services. To ensure that planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of Youth Work programmes are responsive to the needs of young people and align with One Adoption West Yorkshire priorities.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with adopted children and young people to develop and maintain relationships to identify starting points, needs and aspirations
• Deliver youth groups alongside other One Adoption staff
• Develop and co-deliver the peer group offer to adopted children and young people across the region
• Contribute to the improvement of the service’s offer to adopted young people and create opportunities for innovation
• Work in partnership to assess needs and provide a well-planned and resourced programme of activities and services using youth work methodology
• Ensure adopted children and young people participate in designing, delivering and reviewing their programmes and involvement at governance level where possible
• Undertake research with adopted children and young people and other stakeholders to respond to changing priorities
• Contribute to staff development through training opportunities, forums and dissemination of good practice
• Explore partnerships to improve outcomes for adopted children and young people
• Act as a mentor, coach and role model to help develop professional practice
• Work with other community provision to secure appropriate facilities for group work
• Provide written updates and plans for service delivery to the management team as needed
• Use a Restorative Practice approach as an overarching ethos
• Ensure safeguarding procedures are followed and the welfare of children is prioritised
• Adhere to health and safety policies and support equal opportunities policies
• Work within relevant policies, procedures and systems and support the Council’s values
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the post

Qualifications

Minimum JNC endorsed Level 3 NVQ / VRQ Initial qualification in Youth Work is essential.

Essential requirements

Candidates will be shortlisted if they demonstrate the following:

• Ability to work effectively with adopted children and young people in groups and secure learning outcomes
• Ability to audit needs and plan and deliver a youth work curriculum
• Ability to communicate with the voluntary sector, agencies and the local community to develop initiatives
• Ability to safeguard welfare of young people
• Ability to deploy resources to benefit young people
• Ability to manage conflict
• Ability to plan and organise own workload with minimal supervision
• Ability to respond to immediate health and safety issues
• Effective written and verbal communication with people at all levels
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Disseminate Youth Work knowledge and develop skills of the team
• Reliable, flexible and dependable
• In-depth understanding of issues affecting adopted children and young people
• Knowledge of the voluntary sector, agencies and local community
• Awareness of child care legislation including Adoption Services National Minimum Standards
• Understanding of other key agencies and links to social work practice
• Knowledge of child protection and welfare issues
• Knowledge of local and national policies related to Youth Work
• Knowledge of Health and Safety issues relevant to the post
• Good knowledge of Outcome Based Accountability, Restorative practice and Child Friendly City priorities

Experience Required

• Experience working within diverse communities, including with adopted children/young people
• Strategic development of face-to-face practice in youth services
• Substantial experience with young people in diverse youth work environments
• Experience enabling young people to work effectively in groups
• Experience planning youth work sessions aligned with Children’s Services priorities and targets
• Experience recording and evaluating youth work sessions and producing reports within timescales

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours
• Commitment to continuous improvement and delivering the Best City Ambition for Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Understand and observe council policies and procedures
• Comply with Health, Safety and Wellbeing responsibilities
• Participate in appraisal, training and development actively
• Flexible and adaptable to change
• Support equality and diversity and act anti-discriminatorily
• Challenge racism, bullying, harassment, and abuse and report concerns
• Respect the flexibility protocol of the Council

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How to apply

Please complete the online application form. Read our guidance for advice on completing your application. For queries or an informal chat about the role, contact Charlotte Barnes, Team Manager, by phone or email (contact details will be provided in the posting).

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from women, carers, veterans, LGBTQ+ communities, ethnically diverse, disabled and care-experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. The right to work in the UK must be evidenced prior to commencing employment. Sponsorship considerations are available where applicable.

Leeds City Council Job Profile and Special conditions apply. A higher level DBS check may be required. The role may involve other duties commensurate with the job and policy framework.