Youth Support Worker

Horizon Care and Education; Reading; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative provider of residential care and education is seeking a compassionate Youth Support Worker to empower young people in their transition to independent living. In this fulfilling role, you will offer emotional and practical support, develop personalized support plans, and help young individuals gain vital skills for independence. With a strong focus on safeguarding and resilience, you will play a crucial part in shaping their futures. The organization values its people and offers ongoing training, competitive pay, and a supportive work environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Access to Tastecard

Bluelight card discounts

Competitive pay rates

Christmas bonus

Generous Refer a Friend Scheme

Financial wellbeing service

Life Assurance

Ongoing training and professional development

Employee assistance programme

Supportive management

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in managing shared supported housing.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and assessment skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and practical support to young people.
• Develop and review support plans ensuring safeguarding.
• Help young people access education and employment.

Skills

Experience with vulnerable young people

Strong safeguarding knowledge

Excellent communication

Problem-solving abilities

Resilience and empathy

Job description

Bright Futures, Inspired By You. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping someone believe in themselves and have the confidence to celebrate their own uniqueness and achieve success that is personal to them.

At Horizon, we live up to our values, and we value our people. We are proud to be one of the most innovative providers of young people’s residential care and education in the UK.

Horizon Care and Education have an opportunity for a Youth Support Worker to join our team. As a Youth Support Worker, you will help young people transition to independent living. Your duties include:

1. Provide emotional and practical support, including out-of-hours on-call.
2. Develop and review support plans, ensuring safeguarding and risk management.
3. Help young people access education, training, and employment.
4. Manage properties and liaise with other professionals.
5. Support our young people to develop independent living skills to prepare them to live fully independently.

If you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people and enabling them to shape their own future, then we want you to be part of our team.

What we’re looking for from you:

• Experience working with vulnerable young people, ideally care leavers.
• Ideally, you would have at least 3 years' experience working in and managing shared supported housing properties.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and assessment skills.
• Ability to be resilient and empathetic when working with our young people.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Flexibility to work shifts including evenings and weekends.
• A driving license and access to a vehicle is desirable.

Why work for us?

• Access to Tastecard, Bluelight card, and MyGym discounts!
• Real Living Wage employer
• Competitive pay rates
• Christmas bonus
• Generous Refer a Friend Scheme
• Financial wellbeing service
• Life Assurance
• Ongoing training and professional development plus high-quality CPD opportunities
• Comprehensive induction programme including face-to-face training, online modules, shadowing, and local induction period
• Face-to-face therapeutic training and support for all colleagues via our SHINE programme
• Employee assistance programme – free, confidential support
• Supporting your wellbeing — supporting you to feel good about what you do. We’re in this together.
• Supportive management and senior leaders.