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Job description

We're seeking an Assistant Youth Worker to join our Heroes Plus team as they make a real difference to the lives of young people who have been excluded from mainstream education and/or who have additional support needs.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the recruitment of project participants within agreed localities (focus on those young people excluded from mainstream education).
• Provide direct support to young people both individually and in a group environment, engaging and communicating with them in an open and business-like way.
• Following individual risk assessment and adopting a shared risk approach to working with young people with a diverse set of needs.
• Support young people to express their personal goals and aspirations in the development of an individual and group development plan.
• Have the competence to act as a positive role model to the young people they support.
• Assist with the delivery of youth work programmes and interventions under the guidance of the youth workers.
• Assist with gathering information to assist with the assessment of young people’s strengths, life skills and experience and attitudes towards good relations and diversity.
• Working as part of a project team to reflect on practice issues, identify and agree actions and to inform project development and evaluation.
• Working closely with the youth work team and finance team ensure the team and young people have access to resources.
• Undertake activities that ensure Volunteer Now makes a significant contribution to the increase of youth volunteering and youth social action activity in NI.
• Promote and support youth volunteering and youth social action in particular delivery of a #iwill movement, and other youth work/recognition programmes.
• Deliver youth work programmes (including residentials) that support young people to deliver youth social action/youth volunteering programmes that meet youth work policy and practice standards.
• Support increased recognition and value for youth social action and volunteering.
• Contribute to the effective use and development of Be Collective, Volunteer Now databases, website and other media forms.
• To contribute to health and safety of staff and programme participants.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• A relevant qualification minimum of OCN level 2 in youth work or two years’ experience in supporting young people within the last 5 years.
• 2 years’ experience of working with young people in a youth setting.
• Ability to encourage young people to try new activities and to mix with their peers.
• Ability to work with young people to organise an appropriate programme of activities that delivers the project outcomes.
• Experience of volunteering, promoting volunteering, social action and delivering support services.
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to our organisational values.
• Hold a full driving licence and/or access to a form of transport which will enable the post holder to carry out the duties of the post effectively.
• Ability to use basic IT packages.

Desirable Skills

• A youth work qualification.
• Understanding of barriers facing young people with social, communication or learning difficulties and how these can be overcome.
• Awareness of activities offered as part of youth work programmes.
• Awareness and enthusiasm for inclusive practices.
• Experience of supporting the delivery of youth social action programmes.
• Experience of planning and organising activities or events.
• Experience of record keeping and evaluation.

Further Information

Fixed term for 2 years (with possible extension subject to funding). Salary: £23,934 per annum (pro-rata for 25 hours per week), to be confirmed.

Application Information

Please email CV to: leah.mccann@volunteernow.co.uk Or go to www.volunteernow.co.uk/about-us/who-we-are/current-vacancies/ and download an application pack.