Adolescent Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing support

Leave and pension benefits

Training and development

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Brighton and Hove City Council seeks a dedicated worker for its Adolescent Service to support young people affected by substance use and related concerns. The role focuses on assessment, structured support, and co-design of harm-reduction initiatives with the youth service and schools.

You will work with children in care, families, and partner agencies, requiring safeguarding knowledge and a DBS check. The post emphasises anti-discrimination and flexible working as part of the service offer.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with adolescents and/or families.
• Experience and knowledge of risk assessment.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures.
• Knowledge of child development.
• Motivated, reflective and creative practice.

Responsibilities

• Build strength-based relationships with young people whose lives are affected by substance use, sexual health, mental health or exploitation.
• Assess and provide structured, ongoing support to young people addressing drug and alcohol use.
• Co-design harm reduction campaigns, interventions and service developments with the young people the service supports.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions with young people's networks.
• Work with education settings and statutory and community agencies to deliver substance-use intervention.
• Work proactively with local schools to identify children at risk of suspension, exclusion or disengagement.
• Advise and support schools to maintain placements, improve outcomes and reduce barriers to learning.
• Support Children in Care to receive educational opportunities, stability and advocacy.
• Advise and support parents and carers about their child's substance use, including where the young person is not engaged with support.
• Work in partnership with other teams in the service and with community organisations across the city.

Skills

Adolescent work

Risk assessment

Safeguarding

Child development

Reflective practice

Job description

This fixed-term post sits in the RU-Ok? team within Brighton and Hove City Council's Adolescent Service, working with young people whose lives are affected by substance use and related concerns. The core work is assessment and structured support for young people addressing drug and alcohol use, plus work with their networks and parents and carers. It also covers schools, with a particular focus on Children in Care. Risk assessment and safeguarding knowledge is needed, and the post requires a DBS check.

What the job involves

• Build strength-based relationships with young people whose lives are affected by substance use, sexual health, mental health or exploitation
• Assess and provide structured, ongoing support to young people addressing drug and alcohol use
• Co-design harm reduction campaigns, interventions and service developments with the young people the service supports
• Deliver evidence-based interventions with young people's networks
• Work with education settings and statutory and community agencies to deliver substance-use intervention
• Work proactively with local schools to identify children at risk of suspension, exclusion or disengagement
• Advise and support schools to maintain placements, improve outcomes and reduce barriers to learning
• Support Children in Care to receive educational opportunities, stability and advocacy
• Advise and support parents and carers about their child's substance use, including where the young person is not engaged with support
• Work in partnership with other teams in the service and with community organisations across the city

Experience

• Experience of working with adolescents and/or families

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of working with adolescents and/or families
• Experience and knowledge of risk assessment
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
• Knowledge of child development
• Motivated, reflective and creative practice

Checks & eligibility

• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

Other

• Commitment to challenging racism, racial inequality and all forms of discrimination

What’s offered

• Wellbeing support
• Leave and pension benefits
• Training and development
• Flexible working arrangements