Youth Worker (Part Time)

The Winch; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

The Winch seeks a Youth Worker to support and empower young people at our Camden-based venue in London. The role involves planning, delivering and debriefing youth sessions, with a focus on underserved communities and a strengths-based approach.

You will collaborate with the Youth Work Manager and wider team to shape provision and ensure safeguarding and quality standards are met. Ideal candidates will have at least two years’ youth work experience, strong communication skills and a commitment

Qualifications

• Two years' experience working with young people in a professional setting.
• Experience delivering youth work, including setting up and closing activities.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and child protection understanding.
• Experience working in a coordinated team of youth workers.
• Understanding of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in youth work.

Responsibilities

• Support young people to gain skills, confidence and agency to shape their futures.
• Plan and deliver high-quality, engaging youth sessions (open access, workshops, half term activities).
• Encourage expression, development of talents and celebration of achievements.
• Lead outreach to grow reach and work with co-design approaches.
• Ensure activities align with organisational goals, values and safeguarding policies.
• Maintain timely records and contribute to evaluation and reporting.

Skills

Youth work

Planning

Team collaboration

Safeguarding

Communication

Job description

Hours of work: 15 hours per week. The role is based around young people, so will entail planned evening and weekend work

Contract: Permanent

Accountable to: Youth Work Manager

Location: Based at 21 Winchester Road, Camden, London, NW3 3NR

The Youth Worker will play a critical role in ensuring young people are engaged and supported in our activities. They will support in planning, preparing, delivering and debriefing youth sessions as assigned. They will have experience of working directly with young people from underserved communities, using a holistic strengths-based approach. The Youth Worker will also be expected to support the Youth Work Manager in shaping the growth of the provision on offer to the young people, as well as being involved with the wider team (fundraising, Senior management team and other partners) to ensure we are catering for the hopes and needs of young people.

They will be expected to identify the challenges and issues young people face in today’s society, and then work with the youth team and the young people to develop meaningful solutions. The youth worker will be expected to take part in the necessary training and learning as well as being committed to their own professional development and the continuous improvement of their work. They will welcome opportunities for reflection, learning and feedback. They will be a genuine collaborator and team player, with the capability to build trust in relationships, and have strong organisation and administration skills.

Job Description

• Support young people to gain skills, confidence, and the agency to shape their own futures and step into their power.
• Support in planning and delivering high quality, engaging universal and targeted provision activities including but not limited to: open access sessions, targeted workshops and half term activities and trips for young people.
• Encourage young people to express themselves, explore their interests, develop their talents and celebrate their achievements.
• Lead and grow our reach and group work by using co-design and co-production approaches, within our participatory commitments.
• Ensure that activities for and with young people advance the programme aims and are firmly aligned to the Winch's organisational goals, objectives and values by promoting joyful moments, showing care and modelling courage.
• Ensure safety is the highest priority by adhering to safeguarding policies and procedures, as well as providing feedback for continuous improvement.
• Create a space for young people where we, as workers, can identify the challenges they face and work with them to develop meaningful solutions.
• Support in the planning and set up of sessions: feedback on session plans, prepare and set out relevant supplies and materials, scan for and alert Youth Work Manager of any health and safety risks.
• Be an active, contributing member of the Winch Youth Team, supporting the wider programme offer and collaborating across the organisation to strengthen our collective impact.
• Stay up to date with the external context and draw on your professional networks, resources and connections to enrich the Winch’s mission.
• Take responsibility for maintaining timely and accurate records, including undertaking regular evaluation activity and completing Upshot database inputting of records.
• Work within the framework of our commitment to AMBIT (Adaptive Mentalization Based Integrative Treatment), and MQF (Mentoring Quality Framework) providing evidence-informed approaches that support young people facing complex challenges.
• Explore, capture, interrogate and share learning, applying appropriate theoretical and quality frameworks.
• Ensure internal and external reporting deadlines are met.
• Commit to ongoing learning and continuous improvement of your practice.
• Ensure effective risk management, through risk assessment, planning, coordination and taking action.
• Engage constructively with our learning partners, supporting our ambition to effect change.

General Duties

• Attend and participate in individual, staff, trustee and team meetings, supervision, and appraisals, as required.
• Work collaboratively with and provide cover where necessary to other Winch programmes, including attending trips and residentials during school holidays.
• Conduct local outreach to maintain connections with local young people outside of the programmes.
• Demonstrate and model the Winch’s values of Joy, Care and Courage, and advance the principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrate commitment to, and take responsibility for, safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk, in the context of your role.
• Take responsibility for your professional development and learning.
• Adhere to and help develop the policies, guidelines and processes of the Winch.
• Make a significant contribution to the Winch’s strategy, ethos and development.
• Demonstrate and model commitment to the principles of justice, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Act as an ambassador for and champion of the Winch.
• Work as part of the Winch’s wider team, ensuring support, collaboration and coordination with colleagues.

Person Specification

• At least two years’ experience of working and engaging with young people in a professional role.
• Experience of delivering youth work to young people including planning, set up and closing activities.
• Robust working knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection for young people.
• Experience of working in a coordinated team of youth workers.
• Understanding of the principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and demonstrable ability to apply these principles in youth work practice with young people and their communities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and relational skills.
• Experience of supporting young people with significant vulnerabilities.
• Experience of navigating interactions with parents and carers.
• Relatable life experiences to the young people we engage.