Youth Support Worker

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex County Council is seeking a Youth Support Worker to help develop the community youth work offer. You will work face to face with young people as part of a team, helping them identify what matters to them and developing engaging activities with them.

The role requires flexibility, including evenings, weekends and residentials, and a driving licence or alternative mobility. You will join an experienced youth-work team in diverse settings, with safeguarding at the core of practice.

Qualifications

• Qualified at level 2 or above in a JNC recognised Youth Work Qualification or prepared to undertake training.
• Good numeracy and literacy.
• Experience of working with young people and communities, including voluntary roles.
• Ability to build relationships and work in a changing environment.

Responsibilities

• Identify needs and opportunities to develop youth provision within the community.
• Support development of youth services by helping communities enhance skills for independent design and delivery.
• Negotiate involvement of young people and communities in programme planning and evaluation.
• Promote the programme to ensure accessibility for all who wish to participate.
• Involve young people in decision-making and responsibilities within projects and community.
• Respond to individual and group needs, supporting self-awareness and self-esteem.
• Deliver or support youth work programmes, including residential experiences.
• Participate in supervision and staff development; complete required training within 2 years.
• Follow Child Protection Guidelines and comply with health and safety and equal opportunities policies.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with post as directed by Youth Work Commissioner.

Skills

Youth work

Relationship building

Teamwork

Numeracy

Literacy

Flexibility

Mobility

Education

Level 2 Youth Work Qualification

Job description

Youth Support Worker

Permanent, Full Time

£25,580 to £26,225 per annum

Location: Harlow

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 30th September 2026

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

We are currently seeking a Youth Support Worker to support the development of youth work in the community.

Working face to face with young people as part of a team, you will ensure young people have positive experiences, by working with them to identify what's important to them and then being part of developing good youth work activities with them

You will need to be someone who can focus on putting young people at the heart of your work. Working flexible hours, including evenings, weekends and residentials, you will join an experienced team of youth workers in a variety of youth work settings.

Accountabilities

• Identify areas of need and opportunity within the community where a youth work programme can be identified to support the development of youth provision delivered by the community.
• Support the development of youth services by working with the community to enhance their skills so they can be more independent in design and delivery of services.
• Negotiate with young people and their communities on their involvement in the programme planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Contribute to and promote the programme to ensure that opportunities are accessible to all who wish to become involved.
• As part of the team involve young people in the decision-making processes whereby individuals and groups take on responsibilities for themselves and others in their project and the wider community.
• As part of the team respond to individual and group needs, this includes issues affecting young people, promoting self-awareness and self-esteem.
• To deliver or support the direct delivery of youth work programmes as may be required, to include residential experiences for young people.
• Take part in management supervision and the staff performance management scheme, to identify priorities and learning needs and to be responsible for the learning and development of self and to complete all required training and accreditation within 2 years of starting employment.
• Follow Child Protection Guidelines and report any concerns using the correct procedure and comply with individual responsibilities for staff and young people, in accordance with work role, for health and safety in the workplace.
• Ensure all duties and services provided are in accordance with the County Council Equal Opportunities Policy and Practice.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the level and accountabilities of the post as directed by the Youth Work Commissioner.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Qualified at level 2 or above in a JNC recognised Youth Work Qualification or be prepared to undertake training
• Good level of numeracy and literacy
• Experience of working with young people and communities which may be in a voluntary role
• Ability to build relationships and relate well to people
• Ability to work in a changing environment
• Commitment to challenging prejudice and ignorance
• Ability to develop work with young people and communities to achieve planned outcomes
• Ability to work as part of a team

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

To read more about us please visit: Education

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [e-mail]

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