Senior Youth Worker

Portsmouth City Council; England; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is seeking a dedicated Youth Worker to engage 11-19 year-olds in youth clubs and community settings. You will plan sessions on key topics, run inclusive activities, and help create a safe, welcoming space. Detached outreach across Portsmouth will build trust and guide young people to support services.

The role emphasizes active community involvement, safeguarding, and responding to issues with empathy, plus evening and some weekend work to meet service needs.

Qualifications

• Have previous experience of working with young people aged 11 - 19 years.
• Excellent communication skills and be able to engage effectively with young people, staff, and stakeholders.
• The ability to converse at ease with service users and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
• Be able to plan group activities onsite and off-site that engages young people and encourages learning and self-development, including for the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) programme.
• Be self-directed and able to work as part of a team.
• Be able to role model professional practice to other staff and demonstrate effective ways of engaging young people.
• Be able to recognise when young people are having issues and be able to respond appropriately, offering support and signposting to other agencies if necessary.
• Be able to make sound decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of young people, staff, and the wider community.
• Have an understanding of anti-discriminatory practice, this is essential.
• Be open minded but recognise and challenge inappropriateness in a young person's behaviour or language when necessary.
• Be flexible in your hours of work as you will need availability to work in the evenings and occasional weekends for off- site activities, and to work City Wide if required to meet the needs of the service.
• Be prepared to attend supervision, appropriate training relevant to the post, and team meetings as required.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead sessions on topics such as relationships, sexual health, bullying, racism and substance misuse.
• Facilitate activities like sports, dance, cooking and creative projects.
• Manage spaces such as the coffee bar and support a welcoming environment.
• Handle challenging behaviour with empathy and professionalism.
• Take part in detached outreach work, engaging with young people in hotspot areas across Portsmouth.
• Build trust, offer guidance, and signpost to other services when needed.

Skills

Experience with youth

Communication skills

English proficiency

Activity planning

Self-motivation

Teamwork

Professional conduct

Safeguarding awareness

Flexibility of hours

Job description

As a Youth Worker, you'll be at the heart of our mission-engaging with young people aged 11-19 in youth clubs and out in the community. You'll help them shape their own experiences by encouraging participation and co-creating activities that matter to them.

• Planning and leading sessions on key topics like relationships, sexual health, bullying, racism, and substance misuse.
• Facilitating fun and inclusive activities such as sports, dance, cooking, and creative projects.
• Managing spaces like the coffee bar and supporting a respectful, welcoming environment.
• Handling challenging behaviour with empathy and professionalism.
• You'll also take part in detached outreach work, connecting with young people in hotspot areas across Portsmouth - whether in parks, on the seafront, or in shopping precincts. You'll build trust, offer guidance, and signpost to other services when needed.

This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about youth work, enjoys being active in the community, and wants to make a real difference in young people's lives.

Skills:

You need to:

• Have previous experience of working with young people aged 11 - 19 years.
• Have excellent communication skills and be able to engage effectively with young people, staff, and stakeholders.
• The ability to converse at ease with service users and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
• Be able to plan group activities onsite and off-site that engages young people and encourages learning and self-development, including for the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) programme.
• Be self-directed and able to work as part of a team.
• Be able to role model professional practice to other staff and demonstrate effective ways of engaging young people.
• Be able to recognise when young people are having issues and be able to respond appropriately, offering support and signposting to other agencies if necessary.
• Be able to make sound decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of young people, staff, and the wider community.
• Have an understanding of anti-discriminatory practice, this is essential.
• Be open minded but recognise and challenge inappropriateness in a young person's behaviour or language when necessary.
• Be flexible in your hours of work as you will need availability to work in the evenings and occasional weekends for off- site activities, and to work City Wide if required to meet the needs of the service.
• Be prepared to attend supervision, appropriate training relevant to the post, and team meetings as required.