Role:Youth Engagement Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Role:Youth Engagement Officer

Department:Octavia Foundation

Reporting to: Youth Engagement Team Lead

Location:BASE, Westminster

The context of this job

The Octavia Foundation work with people affected by unemployment, ill health, social isolation or low incomes to connect them with opportunities for positive personal change. Our unique activities are built around the diverse and changing needs of individuals and we welcome people of all ages to benefit from and be inspired by our jobs, training and volunteering opportunities, our regular groups and activities or our innovative one-off projects. We deliver services in five key areas:

• care and support for older and vulnerable people
• work with young people
• help with training and employment
• help with money and debt
• involving the community

Our vision is to build stronger, happier and healthier communities in central and west London to help create an enriched life where we live.

BASE is the Octavia Foundation's free cultural and creative club for young people aged between 7- 25yrs (older if disabled or with additional needs). Whilst the Octavia Foundation provides a range of activities for young people, the emphasis is on creating a user-led programme of events that explore and develop young people’s skills.

The purpose of this post

To help the Foundation implement itsyouth development strategy.

What is the focus?

• To deliver Octavia Foundation’s youth & community development strategy and priorities- through our BASE programme
• To effectively and efficiently deliver youth activities including monitoring and evaluation and meeting all agreed targets, outputs and outcomes
• To undertake youth projects, in partnership with individuals, tenants, community groups, voluntary and statutory agencies where applicable.

• To work with other teams and departments at Octavia Housing, where applicable, to ensure that projects are accessible to all tenants

Key tasks

1. Deliver the Foundation’s youth and community projects at our creative youth space, BASE.

1. Plan and deliverhigh quality, innovative activities for children and young people that enable them to explore and develop their skills, encourage confidence, expand their opportunities and promote inclusive local neighbourhoods, working in partnership where possible.

1. Organise and facilitate regular ideas forums to encourage the participation of children and young people to plan and develop their annual youth programme

1. Consult the wider community to identify specific areas of interest or concern of children and young people and work with your line manager to develop projects, activities or proposals to address these

1. Assist children and young people to learn about the world they live in and its diversity. To encourage them to think about their place in the world, their ideas and aspirations. And to appreciate different perspectives through thought-provoking, engaging sessions in a safe and inclusive environment

1. As part of the Acorn programme- provide personalised therapeuticone-to-one support for children and young people to explore issues that concern them and to overcome barriers such as isolation, lack of confidence, and access to opportunities

1. Work with individuals on CV writing, interview skills, applications and job search techniques; to build the capacity of each individual client to lead their own employment search plan

1. Adhere to the Octavia Foundation’s Safeguarding policies and procedures to reduce the risk of harm to children and young people

1. Deliver agreed projects and outcomes in agreement with your line manager and any external funders, ensuring that monitoring information and paperwork is completed efficiently and effectively

1. Keep full and comprehensive records of all activities and projects undertakenand carry out monitoring and evaluation to identify whether agreed targets, outputs and outcomes have been met

1. Carry out regular evaluation with participants, tenants, local residents and staff to gain essential feedback for learning

1. Promote the work of Octavia Foundation’s Employment and Training team and other Youth activities- to assist young people in accessing employment and training opportunities, ensuring that project targets are met

1. Attend community days, jobs fairs where required, with a view to meet and engage young people and/or promote the work of BASE and Octavia Foundation

1. Where possible, negotiate for reduced rates for activities/trips and/or gifts in kind

1. Able to work flexible hours including weekly evening sessions, school holiday periods and occasional weekend days.

Generic

How will the post holder know if they are performing?

A number of performance targets will be planned and agreed each year with the line manager and these will be monitored at regular meetings. Regular feedback will be provided by the line manager and opportunity provided to discuss any problems, personal and team matters and personal development issues.

Generic requirements

The post holder will be expected to comply with the Foundation’s policies and procedures at all times. These include, but are not limited to equal opportunities, confidentiality, data protection and health and safety.

Tenant/client involvement is an essential part of all roles within the Foundation and all are expected to support the policies and procedures relating to the involvement of tenants/clients and to contribute to the Foundation’s and Octavia Housing’s action plan.

In order to do their job the post holder will be trained and coached in the procedures and policies of the Foundation. They will be expected to familiarise themselves with the association’s procedures and policies and to seek advice and guidance from the line manager if required.

The key tasks listed above are only an indication of the main tasks required to be performed. It is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to amendment to take account of changing circumstances. Any changes will be made following discussion with the post holder. The post holder will remain co-operative and flexible in line with the needs of the post and the Foundation.

Please see the person specification overleaf for use in your application

OCTAVIA FOUNDATIONPERSON SPECIFICATION

Role: Youth Engagement Officer

The Person Specification states the minimum knowledge, skills and experience required to carry out the job and is used for both short listing candidates for interview and to identify the areas to explore in an interview. Please show examples of how you meet the essential criteria in your application.

E = Essential criteria;D = Desirable criteria

• Experience of working directly with young people
• Experience of planning and delivering high quality youth and community activities/projects
• Experience of forming/managing youth forums
• Developing printed material and other publicity
• Developing surveys and systems for evaluation and feedback
• Working in a multi-cultural environment
• Experience of marketing a project or service
• Experience in outreach and/or detached work

• Knowledge of key methods to engage, consult and involve young people in their provision
• Understanding of the impact of poverty, discrimination, disability and societal values has on a child or young person
• Knowledge of the roles of community organisations, in regeneration and community development
• Knowledge of the issues that face young people in inner-London; such as territoriality, policing
• Knowledge of safeguarding children and young people
• Understanding of therapeutic approaches to working with children and young people
• Understanding of the developmental stages of child and adolescent development inc. attachment theory

• Ability to negotiate financial and in-kind contributions by external agencies to partnerships
• Ability to identify opportunities and potential partners
• Ability to work with a wide range of individuals, statutory agencies and community organisations and to represent Octavia on external forums
• A clear and effective verbal and written communicator who is able todo so effectively and creatively with diverse audiences
• Proficient in the use of outlook, word and excel

• Willing & able to work flexible, unsociable hours including regular evenings and potential weekends
• Commitment to the organisation’s Diversity Policies

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