Senior Youth Worker 3 - Team Leader (Regional Specialism) - Connect Another Way

Education Authority; Belfast; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A public educational organization based in Belfast is seeking a Senior Youth Worker to provide leadership, emotional support, and training for a team of youth workers. The ideal candidate should have a qualification in youth work and a minimum of three years’ experience managing youth projects. This role involves direct work with young people, developing youth programs, and promoting youth engagement. The organization values equality and is committed to providing a supportive environment.

Benefits

Employee Training Programs

Supportive Work Environment

Qualifications

• Minimum three years’ post qualifying experience managing a Youth Centre or Youth Project.
• Experience managing youth work staff.
• Demonstrated ability to design and evaluate youth work training.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with young people by assessing their needs and providing a program of activities.
• Develop an Action Plan for the team project.
• Manage and evaluate programs and facilities for youth.

Skills

Youth Work Skills

Communication Skills

Leadership

Training and Support

Education

Qualified Youth Worker

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Overview

The “Another Way” project aims to reduce harm caused by paramilitary and organised crime groups by enabling safe and sustainable exit routes. This will be achieved through a focussed deterrence model that will be delivered by EA Youth Service based on referrals from the PSNI.

The team leader will be responsible for the provision of emotional support and reflective supervision to the team whilst also focusing on the co-ordination of the service and the stakeholder and policy development. The team leader will also engage in the delivery of the service.

Job Title and Reporting

JOB TITLE: Senior Youth Worker 3
REPORTS TO: Designated Youth Officer or Senior Youth Officer
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Line management responsibility for 3 FTE or more

Main Purpose

Assist the Youth Officer in promoting and supporting curriculum development in the division, in line with EA policies. This will include:

• Responsibility for a team of workers
• Managing a range of developmental youth work programmes across the team
• Responsibility for participative structures
• Providing training and support to youth units, youth workers and volunteers
• Monitoring youth units and workers

The Senior Youth Worker 3 post will make a substantial contribution to the delivery of an Area Plan and the development and management of youth services.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Managing & Developing a Range of Services at Divisional Level

• Work directly with young people by assessing their needs and providing an agreed programme of activities designed to meet those needs, in line with the Youth Service Curriculum for Northern Ireland.
• Develop an Action Plan for the team project and actively contribute to the Area Plan and the overall Strategic Plan for the Youth Service.
• Ensure the development of agreed participative structures for young people within the division.
• In consultation with the line manager/Advisory Committee ensure that objectives are achieved through implementation, monitoring and self evaluation of agreed work programmes.
• Establish contact with, listen to, befriend, advise, support and act as an advocate for young people.
• Encourage and participate in the residential and outdoor education elements of the programme.
• Promote and develop inter-community activities.
• Be responsible to the line manager for all management, administration and financial matters relevant to the duties of the post.
• Engage in appropriate fund raising related directly to the approved programme.
• Provide support for a range of youth groups and relevant organisations within the local community in the nominated youth service divisional area.
• Engage where appropriate in outreach or detached youth work programmes within the divisional area.

Developing Staff and Facilities at Divisional Level

• Work with staff and volunteers to develop, implement, manage and evaluate programmes of activities, services and facilities in line with the agreed priorities for the division.
• Ensure the induction, motivation, development, training, deployment and discipline of staff and volunteers.
• Be responsible for the provision of training and support to youth units, youth workers and volunteers across the division and the designated team.
• Assist the Area Youth Officer in the monitoring and quality assurance of youth units and workers across the division.

Working with Agencies to Develop Services at Divisional Level

• Work with relevant agencies to develop services and partnerships across the division.

Leading Project Development and Implementation at Divisional Level and/or Board-wide

• Carry out research, relevant to the needs of young people in the designated area and assist with the identification of gaps in the current provision.
• Support and develop curriculum projects, with a specific focus on youth participation, designed to meet the needs of young people aged 14+ and including initiatives for unattached young people.

Management Responsibility for Staff within the Designated Area

• Supervise appropriate staff, including the management and allocation of duties.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, please view the summary of terms and conditions (link not provided in this format).

Person Specification and Guidance

Notes to Job Applicants

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• The Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications/
Professional Membership

Be a qualified Youth Worker in accordance with the JNC Report for Youth Workers, Paragraph 5.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Experience

Have a minimum of three years’ post qualifying experience managing a Youth Centre or Youth Project.

Have a minimum of three years’ experience managing youth work staff.

Demonstrable experience of managing youth work projects across a range of settings.

Experience of leading practice that improves the specialism outlined in the job title.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge Demonstrable working knowledge of information technology systems to include the following Microsoft Office packages: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Skills / Abilities

Evidence of skills in designing, delivering and evaluating youth work training.

Proven skills in developing local assessments of need and evaluating impact.

Demonstrable ability to embed a Quality Assurance process.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Knowledge

Demonstrable knowledge of the following:

NI Youth Work Curriculum.

Risk management processes relative to the welfare of young people.

Department of Education Child Protection regulations.

Interview

Skills/
Abilities

In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of:

Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with young people.

Evidence of excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Practical experience of financial management processes.

Ability to use own initiative and make effective and objective decisions.

Ability to effectively manage people to deliver outcomes.

Ability to work under pressure to strict deadlines.

Interview

Values Orientation
Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Desirable Criteria

N/A

Shortlisting by Application Form

Our Values

The selection process seeks evidence that the personal values of candidates align with EA values, including commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you will be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of payment will be sent at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

To learn about the benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.