Be the Difference – Work for us

Youth Worker – Cycle Enterprise

Full Time, 40 hours per week / 22,500 per annum, pro rata / FYZ, Harpurhey, Manchester

We’re looking for an individual focussed on young people, with excellent communication skills, to help us provide the best quality experience for the young people of North Manchester.

We have developed a workshop and programme which allows young people to learn new skills around bicycle maintenance under the brand of “Bike to The Future”. Young people build their own bikes, thereby gaining new skills and learning about team work and commitment, we want to continue this offer for our young people and to grow the enterprise strand of the work so young people are learning through enterprise as well as a passion for bikes.

You will be first and foremost a Youth Worker – We will pay for you to gain the relevant qualifications in order to deliver the bicycle aspect of the role, you will have an interest in engineering and bikes but a desire to make a difference to the lives of young people is of the greatest importance.

You will be using your youth work skills whilst working with small groups of young people, reflecting on their learning, setting goals and inspiring young people to have pride in what they do and having something to be proud of.

As aYouth Worker, you’ll work in our busy Factory Youth Zone …

The Factory Youth Zone first opened to young people in 2012 as an independent charity. Being located in the heart of North Manchester in Harpurhey enables us to reach those young people who need “Somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk”.We currently have around 2,100 members with over 1,000 visits by young people each week to the Youth Zone.

We work with young people aged 6-19 and up to 25 for those with additional needs, offering provision during the day for targeted young people and each evening for universal provision.

The Factory Youth Zone has an excellent reputation in a number of areas including safeguarding, working with young people who are “at risk” of criminal exploitation, mentoring and employment skills. We have invested strongly in partnership working, becoming a community asset responding to the needs of young people and the local community of North Manchester.

We work with a number of youth organisations in North Manchester to develop and strengthen youth services in the area. As the largest single youth provider in North Manchester The Factory accepts its leadership responsibility for the sector in growing youth provision across the North in terms of quality and reach. We aim for a rich diversity of provision available to all young people and able to meet their needs.

We have successfully bid for a two year contract from Young Manchester to manage youth work through a network of providers across North Manchester. This is the third partnership contract where The Factory Youth Zone will work with other youth providers to extend both provision and reach based upon what young people tell us and a strategic needs analysis of North Manchester.

If you’re passionate about providing an exceptional service to young people, we’d love to hear from you!

STUFF WE’LL TRUSTYOU WITH / YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Establish a network of key partners and ensure they are involved within the work of the bike project enriching the experience for young people.
  • Create and implement a suitable timeframe of learning, constantly evaluating and implementing recommendations.
  • Develop individual action plans for the young people, identifying training needs and milestones highlighting progress.
  • Deliver high quality workshops and recruit young people to engage in safe, fun and developmental sessions.
  • Develop the young people’s knowledge of social enterprise, providing them with the information and guidance to establish a sustainable project.
  • Work directly with young people during The Factory Youth Zone sessions.
  • Encourage the participation of young people post-project, and monitor their attendance at The Factory Youth Zone.
  • Provide regular written project reports, providing funders and other internal and external stakeholders with an accurate account of progress.
  • Ensure that provision is of the highest quality and achieves positive outcomes for children and young people based on the youth work and play curriculums.
  • Effectively resolve issues that may arise in a positive manner during Youth Zone sessions.
  • Actively contribute to the process of feedback and review of the Youth Work delivery.
  • Deliver the cycle and enterprise work within a safe environment.
  • Work a flexible pattern including evenings and weekends in line with the role/team requirements.
  • Adhere to The Factory Youth Zone policies at all times with particular reference to Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding and GDRP.
  • Ensure that all volunteers and trainee staff are made to feel like an integral and valued part of The Factory Youth Zone family.

This is a full time position, 40 hours a week worked flexibly in line with the needs of the Youth Zone, the partners and key activities. This will involve working unsocial hours in evenings and at weekends for meetings and events as well as to maintain a good understanding of the Youth Zone and partner operations.
YOUR SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES
So what does it take to succeed in this role? We’re looking for someone who genuinely wants to make a positive difference in the lives of our young people.Good candidates for this role will be youth workers with a variety of experiences, enthusiastic about supporting young people to make positive choices. They will have a proven track record in delivering effective programmes and engaging young people. The candidate should have an interest in engineering and cycling. Cytech training will be provided for the successful candidate.
  • You must have a qualification at Level 2 or above in Youth Work, or equivalent demonstable experience. (Please see here for guidance)

  • We would prefer that you also have an L2 sports or arts coaching qualification, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
  • We would also prefer that you are qualified in First Aid and have undertaken the Cytec Training Course.

EXPERIENCE OF
  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience working with young people in a youth work, education, employment or social work setting.

  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience in the sports sector.

  • Delivering a youth work programme both on an individual and a group basis.

  • Developing a programme of work for young people to learn new skills, increase knowledge and support learning, creating clear individual action plans and tracking their development.

  • Delivering services, programmes and projects as part of a wider youth work curriculum.

  • Working with young people with additional needs, including complex safeguarding needs.
  • Working with young people in different environments including off site.
  • Developing and delivering school based work.
  • Experience of developing teams of paid and voluntary workers.
  • Working with key agencies and building rapport with colleagues.
  • Reporting on specific projects using a variety of tools and systems.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
  • Understanding of the principles of effective youth engagement.
  • Bicycle maintenance and repairs.
  • Able to work with colleagues in a multi-agency environment.
  • Have the skills to engage young people who have significant barriers.
  • Development, delivery and evaluation of activities within an equal opportunities framework.
  • Knowledge of health and safety, diversity awareness and safeguarding best practice and how these relate to the members of The Factory.
  • Ability to develop, deliver and evaluate programmes of activities and services that are safe, fun and developmental.
  • Ability to identify and challenge discrimination and discriminatory behaviour, taking appropriate action as necessary.
  • Ability to monitor and evaluate sessions and work flexibly to change delivery during sessions if required.
  • IT literate.
  • Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and within a team.
  • Ability to understand, follow and implement strategy, policy and procedure.

THE OTHER STUFF
  • Organised and efficient.

  • Willingness to drive a minibus would definitely be a bonus!

  • Excellent attention to detail, OCD optional.

  • Calm under pressure.

  • Commitment to personal and professional development - we love ambition!.

  • Interested in the developing the voluntary youth sector in the North of Manchester.

/ STUFFYOU TELLPEOPLE ABOUT
BENEFITSGOODSTUFF /
ONSITE GYM
Forgym bunnies or fitness fanatics /
PAID R&R
25 days paid holiday (pro rata) plus flexible statutory holidays /
PENSION
3% employer contribution after your first 6 months, but you pay 3% too…

LIFE INSURANCE
We got you covered, fingers crossed you don’t need it! /
LUNCHES
We have a great café and all staff pay only £1.50 for lunch! /
WORKING FOR A CHARITY
Get that warm fuzzy feeling
In accordance with our Recruitment and Selection Policy, we are not able to accept applications from current or former members, Young Leaders or regular service users for safeguarding reasons, for a period of at least one year since they last attended The Factory Youth Zone in this capacity.
All internal applicants will be guaranteed an interview, though will be assessed to the same criteria as external applicants and so are encouraged to submit a full and thorough application.
In accordance with our Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an enhanced DBS check.
The Factory Youth Zone is an equal opportunities employer and values diversity.
Application Information
Deadline / Monday30 April 2018 at 12 noon
Interviews / TBC
Apply / Download the Application Form from
We will not consider any application which is not submitted on this form
We politely request no contact from agencies.
More info / Please contact Tracy Sparkes, Head of Business

0161 203 5333

/ THEBORING
(but important!) STUFF