Family Help Youth Workers

Walsall is implementing the Families First Programme, based on the National Children’s Social Care Review and Stable Homes Built on Love. To do this we are creating a combined, multi-agency locality Family Help Service. A key part of this new service will be the development of a strong Adolescent Offer. We are expanding our targeted youth provision to support this work with the creation of 4x Family Help Youth Worker positions.

About the job

Councils have a statutory duty to provide a local youth offer for young people. In line with strengthened guidance published on 28 September 2023, local authorities are required to ensure that their local youth offer is responsive to the needs of young people.

The updated statutory guidance for local authorities provides greater clarity on what is required and specifies the need for high quality and effective practice provided by trained and qualified youth workers. The purpose of Youth work is to provide holistic support for children and young people which facilitates their wellbeing, social, and emotional development. It also promotes engagement with formal education and empowers young people to actively participate in their communities.

Family Help Youth Workers will work in partnership with other youth workers in their service to coordinate, deliver and oversee/manage targeted youth work programmes and support focused across the four localities within Walsall (although a borough-wide approach will generally be expected).

Post holders will undertake, coordinate, and deliver evidenced-based youth work and services through identified venues, including outreach, detached work, mobile multi-media youth bus, and youth participation (1-2-1 and group-work).They will enable children and young people to access a wide range of opportunities and receive information and support while targeting the most vulnerable children and young people with the greatest need. They will provide high-quality informal education, prevention, and early intervention opportunities for children and young people to help achieve their personal and social development, make informed decisions, have a place in their community, ensure their voice is at the centre of all youth work, reach their potential and make a successful transition to adulthood. They will work with and alongside the voluntary and community sector to maximise youth work resource and build capacity developing a strong youth offer in each of the localities across Walsall.

This role sees you work flexibility, your focus will be meeting the needs of children and young people, which sometimes means this will be outside of 9-5.

About you

We are looking for individuals who have experience of working with children, young people and their families.

We are looking for individuals who hold a JNC Youth Work/Level 6 integrated Youth Worker Apprenticeship qualification.

Read more about our benefits at https://go.walsall.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers-/benefits-of-working-for-us

If you would like to know more about this role, please contact: Rachael Phillips, Head of Early Help, Family Support and Youth Justice: Rachael.phillips@walsall.gov.uk 01922 652725

View Job Description & Employee Specification

Closing date for applications: Monday 14 October 2024
Interview scheduled for Wednesday 23 October 2024

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children and young people entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for this role.

Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.

This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The postholder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. See our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.