Senior Youth Worker (Rant Music Studio)

Portsmouth City Council; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is seeking a part-time youth worker to support sessions for young people aged 11–25, including those with learning difficulties. You will help run music activities, recordings, songwriting and rehearsals at Rant Music Studio and other sites across the city.

You will need NYA Level 2 in Youth Work Principles & Practice or equivalent, excellent communication, and a flexible, patient approach. DBS enhanced checks and safeguarding duties apply.

Qualifications

• Experience with young people aged 11–25 years and ability to build relationships in a youth music setting.
• NYA Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles & Practice or equivalent.
• Excellent communication skills with staff, young people and stakeholders.
• Ability to converse with ease in English, essential for this post.
• Plan group activities onsite and off-site that engage young people and support development.
• Be self-directed, work in a team, model professional practice and engage effectively.
• Recognise issues in young people and provide signposting to other services.
• Make sound decisions to ensure safety and wellbeing of young people, staff, and community.
• Be friendly, approachable, patient and empathetic; anti-discriminatory practice is essential.
• Experience with LDD/SEND and neurodivergent young people is desirable.
• Experience with care-experienced young people and ACEs.
• Be open-minded and non-judgemental; challenge inappropriate behaviour when needed.
• Experience using Logic Pro in a recording capacity and playing instruments.

Responsibilities

• Support young people in recording music, songwriting and band sessions.
• Assist with planning and running music sessions and activities.
• Contribute to off-site events and activities around the city as part of the youth club service.

Skills

Youth work experience

Excellent communication

Engagement with young people

Restorative practice

DofE experience

Flexible schedule

Team player

Signposting

Education

NYA Level 2 Award

Youth work qualification

Tools

Logic Pro

Music recording

Job description

14 hours per week (including some daytime hours and some evenings from 18:00 - 21:00 TBC). Location: Rant Music Studio, Buckland, Portsmouth. Staff need to be flexible in terms of availability as well as working from different sites.

The Role

The youth service aim to improve outcomes for young people aged 11yrs- 19yrs and up to 25yrs for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. We do this through, Information, Advice, Guidance and a range of activities provided through our youth clubs and projects. We support vulnerable young people who are at risk or future risk of further problems such as substance misuse, youth offending, teenage pregnancy and homelessness.

You can find out more about PYC here: pycportsmouth.co.uk

You’ll be working with young people aged between 11-19 years, and up to 25 for those with learning difficulties and disabilities, in a specific youth project based in Rant studio. You will encourage young people’s participation in the project and in planning and running activities and sessions with them. Building relationships with these young people is critical, by being a good listener, allowing the young people to lead the sessions, as well as supporting them in a non-judgemental way, including signposting them on to other services as and when required.

You will be expected to support the work under the direction of the project co-ordinator. Your duties could include supporting young people with recording their music, songwriting, band rehearsals, playing an instrument, or any other music-related activities. Occasionally, you will support some off-site activities and events across the city as part of our wider youth club service.

Who is the person?

• Have experience of working with young people from age 11-25 years, be enthusiastic and able to make and maintain effective relationships in a youth music setting.
• NYA Level 2 Award/Certificate in Youth Work Principles & Practice or equivalent experience or similar qualification.
• Have excellent communication skills and be able to engage effectively with young people, staff, and stakeholders in a restorative way.
• The ability to converse at ease with young people and are key partners in Children's Social Care, whilst providing advice in accurate spoken English, which is essential for this post.
• Be able to plan group activities onsite and off-site that engages young people and encourages learning and self-development, including taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) programme.
• Be self-directed, able to work as part of a team, and role model professional practice to staff, demonstrating effective ways of engaging young people, and measuring/evaluating their progress, participation, and development.
• Be able to recognise when young people are having issues and be able to respond appropriately, offering support and signposting to other agencies.
• Be able to make sound decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of young people, staff, and the wider community.
• Be friendly and approachable with a sense of humour and lots of patience.
• An understanding of anti-discriminatory practice is essential, along with the empowerment and safeguarding of young people.
• An understanding of and/or some experience in working with young people who have LDD/SEND and young people that are neurodivergent.
• Have experience of working with young people who are care experienced as well as experience of working with young people who have experienced ACE's
• Be open-minded and non-judgemental but recognise and challenge inappropriateness in a young person’s behaviour or language when needed.
• Experience of using Logic Pro in a recording capacity and a preferred instrument such drums bass guitar or vocal.
• Be flexible in your hours of work as you will need availability to work in the evenings daytimes and occasional weekends as well as working from different sites.

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.

Additional Information

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Previous applicants need not apply.

Our recruitment process

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.

If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

Inclusion & Equality

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.

You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.