social worker Wigan, England
Job description
SKATE PARK YOUTH WORKER
ROLE PROFILE
POST: SKATE PARK YOUTH WORKER
SALARY: £10.61 per hour
LOCATION: Wigan Youth Zone
REPORTING TO: Head of Sports
CONTRACT:
Permanent – part time 30 hours 1 to 2 Roles
Wednesday 4-8pm
Thursday 4-9pm
Friday 4-9pm
Saturday 11-9pm
Sunday 11-7pm
BENEFITS:
Gym access; Training opportunities and CPD delivered in-house or by partner organisations (such as Wigan Council and the OnSide Talent Academy) – including First Aid, Safeguarding and Health and Safety; Career Development Opportunities; Birthday Off; Employee Assistance Programme (EAP); Cycle to Work Scheme; Strong team culture.
We are a proud Supporter of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, first of its kind in the UK, which aims to improve employment standards across GM. #GoodEmployment.
ROLE PURPOSE:
To work in the XSports(Skate Park team) as part of the sports department at Wigan Youth Zone. Working in a fun an exciting sports department the skate park offer is always a popular place for all young people and we are looking for the right person to deliver fun and new sessions and help develop talent in line of the TRY,TRAIN,TEAM ethos we have at WYZ.
The role will require a high level of health and safety checks due to the nature of sports offered in the department. We have high quality Junior and Senior BMX/Scooters and skateboard equipment with all the correct PPE for young people to use at WYZ.
ABOUT WIGAN YOUTH ZONE
We’re Wigan Youth Zone and our vision is to inspire and empower young people in Wigan and Leigh to fulfil their potential. We do this by giving young people in Wigan and Leigh aged 8-19 (up to 25 with additional needs) the freedom to discover themselves in an innovative, safe and social environment and to support their transition into adulthood.
Centrally located in Wigan Town Centre, Wigan Youth Zone is the largest youth club in Europe and makes a bold statement about the importance of giving young people high quality places to go in their leisure time. The two-storey building has a four-court sports hall with climbing wall, a fully fitted fitness suite, a boxing gym, dance and performing arts studios, as well as music, media and visual arts facilities.
There is also a cafe, together with recreational and social areas. Externally there are four all-weather kick-pitches and full-size skate park. In addition to the work which happens in the facility, there is also a team who work across the borough to meet young people on their turf – whether this is through street-based youth work or via a satellite centre.
The services provided by the exceptional Wigan Youth Zone staff are delivered 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, providing local young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to. Since opening, the Youth Zone has facilitated over 675,000 visits to over 29,000 young people with impressive outcomes for those members across a range of measures such as confidence
building, facilitating positive relationships and instilling ambition for adulthood.
THE POWER OF YOUTH WORK
We believe all young people deserve the opportunity to shine. But opportunity is about more than bricks and mortar, sports courts and sound studios. The amazing equipment in our Youth Zones is important. But their real impact comes from the life-changing youth work that is at the heart of everything we do.
With every workout or kick a bout, every mock interview or muck around with mates, young people develop the resilience to face challenges and the skills to solve problems.
They find confidence to aim high and the determination to become who they want to be. They build positive relationships based on being given the space to talk, an understanding of their own self-worth, and a sense of belonging to something bigger.
This approach, since opening in 2013, has led to the work of the Youth Zone generating a social value for the community of over 2:1 – meaning that for every £1 generated into the charity, the impact is more than doubled. These outcomes have been continually recognised locally, regionally and nationally by a variety of award-giving organisations such as UK Youth, Children and Young People Now and the North West Charity Awards.
That’s the power of exceptional youth work.
INSIDE A YOUTH ZONE
Youth Zones give 8-19 year olds, and up to 25 for young people with additional needs, affordable access to a broad range of services. Containing state-of-the-art facilities, Youth Zones give young people the opportunity to take part in over 20 sporting, artistic, cultural and recreational activities every evening and weekend throughout the year plus all through the school holidays.
Facilities include an indoor sports hall; music room and recording studio; training kitchen; boxing gym and mixed martial arts studio; enterprise and employability room; outdoor 4G sports MUGA; wellbeing room; climbing wall; café; media room and more.
Employing high ratios of exceptional youth and activity workers and volunteers, our Youth Zones change the lives of many thousands of young people each month, delivering social impact on an incredible scale.
Wigan Youth Zone is a place of activity, adventure and fun for all young people where they can try new experiences and learn new skills. Wigan Youth Zone supports young people to reach their full potential, grow their dreams and achieve their goals.
Learn more here
https://www.wiganyouthzone.org/our-present-our-past-our-impact/
We are looking for someone who can deliver this aspiration for Wigan’s young people and share the following values:
Is a positive role model for young people and who believes in and recognises young people’s potential
Has a positive and “can do” attitude
- Takes responsibility for their own actions
- Is committed to a culture of continuous improvement and subscribes to a “tonight’s better than last night” philosophy
- Is willing to go the extra mile to ensure great provision for young people
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
- To work directly with children and young people to develop their social skills and build their confidence by delivering programmes of activities and services on our onsite Skate Park;
- Read and follow all risk assessments for delivered sports activities in WYZ sports skate park and sports areas
- To support and carry any other needs for sports department as directed by Head of Sport (line manager)
- To Ensure all participations are recorded onto WYZ salesforce by use of provided tablet during or at end of the session;
- To ensure that everyone who uses skate park equipment are wearing the correct PPE before use of equipment on WYZ outdoor or indoor skate parks;
- Daily Health and Safety checks are carried out and signed for each session;
- To directly deliver a high quality programme of Skate Park activities that is exciting, safe, varied, innovative, developmental and directly responds to the diverse needs, concerns and interests of the members;
- To establish positive relationships with children and young people;
- To respond to the needs of the young people through activities in the sports hall area and Skate Park outdoors in summer and indoor skate park during winter months;
- To support and motivate other staff and volunteers working in the skate park area;
- To work flexibly to ensure the needs of the members are met, including disadvantaged children and young people and those with disabilities or additional needs;
- To ensure that the members maintain a high standard of behaviour and discipline during sessions
- To ensure the participation of young people in activities and that their ideas contribute fully in the delivery and evaluation of activities;
- To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people at all times;
- To be an active member of the team and operate in line with the values and principles of Wigan Youth Zone;
- To Maintain the Skate Park equipment on a sessional, weekly and monthly basis.
- To be alert to issues of safeguarding child protection, ensuring the welfare and safety of Youth Zone members is promoted and safeguarded, and to report any child protection concerns to the designated Child Protection Officers using the safeguarding policies, procedures and practice (training to be provided);
- To assist with any promotional activities and visits that take place at the Youth Zone;
- To actively promote the Youth Zone and positively contribute towards increasing Youth Zone membership;
- To adhere to Wigan Youth Zone policies at all times, with particular reference to Health and Safety, Child Protection and Equal Opportunities.
- To carry out any other duty with the Youth Zone provision and facility operations, and within the competencies of the post holder, as directed by your line manager or a senior manager.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate these experience, skills, abilities and attributes.
SELECTION CRITERIA
REQUIREMENT
EXPERIENCE
Experience in riding BMX, scooters or Skateboards - Essential
Face to face activity delivery, working with children and young people (aged 8-19) both in groups and individually - Essential
Experience of delivering sports or targeted personal development programmes for Skate Parks - Essential
Experience of supporting young people who are disaffected, underachieving and / or have social / emotional barriers to participation- Essential
Experience of working in a team and alongside volunteers - Essential
Organising a programme of youth work activities - Desirable
Experience of working with challenging young people - Desirable
Residential work with young people - Desirable
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND APTITUDE
Ability to identify problems, maintain and fix BMX, Scooters and Skateboards - Essential
Strong commitment to children and young people and an ability to engage and build positive relationships with all young people, including disengaged and disadvantaged young people - Essential
Ability to develop good professional relationships with children, young people and adults - Essential
Ability to work with young people to develop their social education by providing programmes of activities, services and facilities that are fun and enable young people to develop - Essential
Ability to coach, encourage, motivate and provide reliable support to children and young people - Essential
Confident in managing a group of children and young people - Essential
Knowledge and Understanding
Understanding of issues affecting young people’s lives - Essential
Delivery of youth work within an equality framework - Essential
Knowledge of methods of organising and scheduling groups into teams and leagues for various sports activities - Essential
First aid knowledge - Essential
Qualifications
Introduction to Youth Work or Youth and Community Work NVQ / VRQ Level 2 - Desirable
IT literate - Essential
Personal attributes
A team player - Essential
Commitment to the Youth Zone’s mission and values - Essential
Able to negotiate and balance competing priorities with consideration to ethical implications - Essential
Passionate about helping young people access positive activities - Essential
A flexible attitude to work and a willingness to perform a variety of duties to ensure an efficient and effective service - Essential
Punctual and reliable - Essential
GENERAL INFORMATION
In accordance with our Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an enhanced DBS check and positive references.
Please note that, for Safeguarding reasons, all applicants have to be in-active as Wigan Youth Zone members for the last 12 months before applying for roles. Also, all applicants must be over 18 to work with the Juniors’ and Holiday Club and over 21 to work with the Seniors at WYZ.
APPLICATION DETAILS
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:
Sunday 20th August
START DATE:
ASAP
As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from under-represented groups; in particular from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals, people with disabilities and members of LGBTQ+ community. Our Senior Management Team, actively ensures a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive.
For information on how Wigan Youth Zone processes your data, go to
https://www.wiganyouthzone.org/privacy-policy/
Our Vision
Our vision is to inspire and empower young people in Wigan and Leigh to fulfil their potential.
Our Mission
Our mission is to give young people in Wigan and Leigh aged 8-19 (up to 25 with a disability) the freedom to discover themselves in an innovative, safe and social environment and to support their transition into adulthood.
Our Values
Y oung person centred approach
O pen, inclusive and respectful environment
U niversal programming consistently on offer which is inspirational and aspirational
T ruly meaningful opportunities for the youth voice and empowerment
H elping young people to build positive relationships to enable them to reach their potential
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Salary: £10.61 per hour
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company events
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Gym membership
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site gym
- Sick pay
Schedule:
- Every weekend
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Wigan: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Are you age 21 or over?
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 20/08/2023
