Youth Worker -Information, Advice, Guidance Youth Transitions Community Support Network (YTCSN)

Youth Worker -Information, Advice, Guidance --- Youth Transitions Community Support Network (YTCSN)

Salary: £24,000-£27,000 (plus benefits)

Purpose of Post:

(1)To work as part of a new multi-agency team to develop an innovative, integrated approach to the delivery of community support network services to young offenders leaving custody (or with recent experience of custody) and care leavers.

(2)To achieve the Project targets for securing Education, Training and Employment placements and Jobs for young offenders and care leavers and targets for the outcomes of the Project.

(3)To undertake face to face work with a caseload of young people to provide information, advice and guidance support and agree Action plans to help their transition into the community through building up Networks of support from a range of agencies in the community.

(4)To make contact with family members/carers of the young offenders and care leavers and provide a holistic package of support.

(5)To liaise with a range of statutory and voluntary support agencies with responsibilities towards young people and promote a coordinated agency Network response.

(6)To empower and engage young people as active participants in the planning and delivery of the project.

Location:Action Acton premises, 16-18 Crown Street, Acton, London W3 8SB —but providing a service as required across Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham and Hounslow.

Responsible to:Youth Transitions Community Support Network Manager.

Responsible for: Part time sessional staff, interns, volunteers and mentors as appropriate. .

This post is funded initially through a 3 year Big Lottery Youth in Focus grant.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Youth Worker-Information, Advice, Guidance --- Youth Transitions Community Support Network (YTCSN)

DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO: Youth Transitions Community Support Network Manager

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Part time sessional staff, interns, volunteers and mentors as appropriate. .

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To contribute actively to the achievement of all the outputs and outcomes of the Youth Transitions CommunitySupport Network (YTCSN).

Objective 1: To work as part of a new multi-agency team to develop an innovative, integrated approach to the delivery of community support network services to young offenders leaving custody (or with recent experience of custody) and care leavers.

(a) To work closely with Action Acton staff and core partners in the project (Pupil Parent Partnership (PPP) and Platform 51) to ensure successful co-ordination and delivery of work with young people in the project.

(b) To follow the YTCSN project delivery guidelines and also to use your experience and initiative to develop innovative work with young offenders and care leavers.

(d) To work effectively as part of a multi-agency team with a range of staff. Volunteers, ex-offenders and young people

(e) To link up with a wide range of agencies in West London who support young people in order to maximize their engagement in the project and the co-ordination of their services.

(f) To be aware of the duties and responsibilities arising in relation to the safeguarding of children and young people.

(g) To work as a team member, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the Project by sharing knowledge, information and skills

Objective 2:To achieve the Project targets for securing Education, Training and Employment placements and Jobs for young offenders and care leavers and targets for the outcomes of the Project.

(a)To have responsibility for an on-going caseload of individual young people; to act as ‘key worker’ for the young person; to undertake or arrange assessments of young persons’ literacy, numeracy, IT skills, family relationships and barriers to education/training/employment.

(b)To agree individual Action Plans with young people in order to secure short term outputs and longer term outcomes.

(c)To liaise with education and training providers as well as employers.

(d)To ensure that as many young people as possible secure positive education, training and employment outcomes.

(e)To work with volunteers and mentors to help young people achieve their targets.

Objective 3: To undertake face to face work with a caseload of young people to provide information, advice and guidance support and agree Action plans to help their transition into the community through building up Networks of support from a range of agencies in the community:

(a)To agree with each young person an individual ‘action plan’ designed to increase self-confidence and ability to access local support agencies, to achieve short term and long term outcomes of education, training and employment and other support in the community.

(b)To visit young offenders in custodial institutions prior to their release in order to prepare a community transition support programme and to visit young offenders and care leavers in the community in order to engage them actively in the project.

(c)To develop, contribute towards and participate in programmes of intervention designed to prevent re-offending, individually and in group work settings.

(d) To engage with young people in Action Acton premises, other statutory and voluntary sector agency premises and youth and community outreach venues.

(e)To research and develop links with all relevant statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies who can assist young people in trouble; to empower young people to access these services; to improve knowledge of all services and to help co-ordinate and increase co-operation between agencies.

Objective 4:To make contact with family members/carers of the young offenders and care leavers and provide a holistic package of support.

(a)To assess family relationships in discussion with each young person and to identify opportunities to strengthen family support for young people where appropriate.

(b)To engage parent(s), carer(s) and extended family members in supporting young people to achieve their Action Plans and support networks.

(c) To undertake home visits as appropriate.

Objective 5:To liaise with a range of statutory and voluntary support agencies with responsibilities towards young people and promote a coordinated agency Network response.

(a)To actively contribute to the building up of a directory of local agency support services for young people in trouble.

(b)To meet with staff of local agency services to open up support for young people in the project.

(c)To meet with staff of local statutory, voluntary and private sector agency services to share knowledge of how young people in trouble can access services easily.

(d)To work with young people in the project to empower them to be confident in accessing services from local support agencies.

(e) To develop a network of local support agencies for young people in trouble.

Objective 6:To empower and engage young people as active participants in the planning and delivery of the project

(a)To ensure that young people engaged in the project contribute actively to the project development and operation

.

(b)To engage young people in project steering groups, workshops and other ways of contributing to the project.

(c)To ensure that other young offenders and care leavers and young volunteers contribute their views actively to the project.

• Plus any other such other duties as May from time-to-time be requested.
• To display throughout a full understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities

JOB SPECIFICATION: QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

You need to be confident in face to face work with young offenders from diverse, inner city communities. You will be highly motivated, committed and persistent,with a track record of delivering targets, outputs and outcomesfor young people in trouble.

1.At least 2 years successful professional experience of direct face to face work with inner city, ethnically diverse young offenders.

2.Experience of partnership working with statutory and voluntary agencies working with young people in trouble.

3.Experience (or ability) to engage positively with education and training providers and employers to source opportunities for young people.

4.Demonstrated confidence and motivation to work with challenging young people and situations.

5.Track record evidence of working to and achieving performance targets for young people in education/training/employment.

6.Good interpersonal, communication and networking skills.

7.Experience (or demonstrated ability) of working with volunteers.

8.Ability to be self-motivated, manage own work and work as part of a teamand take responsibility for developments.

9.Experience of providing high levels of service and empowering young people.

10. Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines and to work flexible hours as required.

How to apply: Click here for the Application form: Application Form . Complete the Action Acton application form.Pay particular attention to describing how you meet each aspect of the Duties, and Job specification, Qualifications and Experience. Return completed application form by post or e mail to Patsy Bholdhoo, Office manager, Action Acton , 16-18 Crown Street, Acton, London W3 8SB Tel: 0208 993 9605 E mail:

Closing date is Sunday 9th September 2012 with interviews mid-September.

Further information about Action Acton can be found on