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Leeds Youth Service are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about working with Young People.
In Leeds, youth work is delivered as a preventative and early intervention service for young people. As such, it plays an integral part in delivering the outcomes of the Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan and is a key component of achieving our ambition of being a Child Friendly City. Locality youth work is predominantly delivered in areas of most need by targeting youth work support towards the most vulnerable young people in the city at an earlier stage.

The Youth Service delivers a range of youth work opportunities for young people seven days a week. These include weekly detached, outreach, mobile, and centre based provision alongside a range of additional programmes throughout the school holiday period. Sessions take place predominantly outside of formal learning hours and therefore casual hours are offered for both evenings and weekends. Successful candidates will have a young person-centred approach and have the ability to engage with young people in a positive and meaningful way. All provisions are planned to ensure Young People are able to engage in sessions which meet their needs as both individuals and groups.

Casual workers will be expected to support our Youth Work team in the delivery of these session in line with both individual availability and service need.
If you are interested in joining our team please call James McCarthy – 07712214993 for an informal conversation.
Casual applications are reviewed monthly. Applicants will be contacted in a timely manner in line with service need.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

How to apply
Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact James McCarthy, Youth Service Manger on 07712214993 / [email protected]

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve.

Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list.

We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job description

Responsibilities

• Work directly with young people to develop and maintain relationships to help identify their starting points, needs and aspirations.
• To work face-to-face for with Young People engaging with Leeds Youth Service. This will include routinely working late in the evenings (including weekends) school holiday weeks and extended residentials.
• To support with our Youth Work team to assess needs, provide and evaluate, a well-planned and resourced programme of activities, services and facilities for young people using youth work methodology.
• To facilitate the development of the service by supporting the planning, delivering, monitoring and reviewing youth work provision in line with the Youth Service Quality Assurance scheme and the Leeds Vision for Youth Work.
• To ensure young people participate in designing, delivering, and reviewing their programmes.
• To support the Youth Work team to improve outcomes for young people.
• Support the Advanced Practitioner in ensuring that Youth Service performance targets are met
• To use a Restorative Practice approach as an overarching ethos
• Be proactive in safeguarding and promoting welfare of Children & Young People.
• To be aware of and adhere to Leeds City Council Health and Safety Policy being responsible for your own health and safety whilst at work and that of your colleagues and service users.
• To work within all relevant policies, procedures and systems established corporately or locally and to support the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policies.
• To carry out duties in accordance with the Council Values and culture
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Qualifications

• Qualifications are not required for the role of casual Youth Worker.
  Personal Specification

  
  Method of assessment will be through one or more of the following application form, test, interview, and certificate.

  
  Essential requirements

• It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
  Skills required.
• An understanding of the issues which concern young people today
• Able to empower young people to tackle problems, take appropriate actions and become active citizens
• Able to work effectively with young people in groups and secure their commitment to achieving learning outcomes
• Able to work with young people to safeguard their welfare
• Ability to effectively manage conflict
• Able to support the response immediate health & safety issues
• Ability to effectively manage role whilst undertaking conflicting priorities.
• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.

Knowledge required.

• Knowledge of safeguarding
• Knowledge of local and national policies and their relationship to Youth Work
• Knowledge of Youth Work methodology.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety issues affecting all activities within the posts remit
• Good working knowledge and understanding of Outcome Based Accountability (OBA), Restorative practice, Child Friendly City priorities and Leeds Vision For Youth Work
  
  Experience required
• Working with young people in a diverse range of youth work environments
• Enabling young people to work effectively in groups
• Enabling young people to explore their values and self respect
• Involving young people in the decision making process
• Effectively supporting youth work sessions with young people linked to
• Children’s Services priorities and Leeds Vision For Youth Work.
  Behavioural and other Characteristics required
• Conscientious, honest and reliable
• Positive view of young people and a commitment to a young person-centred approach
• Willing to have a flexible approach to meet and embrace the changing demands of the Youth Service
• Committed to develop co-operative and positive relationships at all levels with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunity Policy
• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under
• Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development

• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

  Desirable requirements

It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Skills required

• Ability and Willingness to drive a mobile and mini bus
• Knowledge required
• No addition to those listed in essential requirements.
• Experience required