JOB DESCRIPTION

Role:Detached youth worker

Department:Octavia Foundation

Reporting to: Youth Programme Manager

Location:South Westminster and various locations in West London

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 its detachedyouth development strategy.

What is the focus?

  • To effectively and efficiently plan and deliver youth activities as part of the detached youth work programme
  • To effectively monitor and evaluate the work you do and meetingall agreed targets, outputs and outcomes
  • To identify and broker potential partnerships with other departments at Octavia Housingand external community groups, individuals, voluntary and statutory agencies where applicable- to ensure that projects are accessible to all local young people and Octavia Housing tenants

Key tasks

  1. To contribute to the development and delivery of a diverse programme of street and hub based activities, encouraging the participation of young people aged 7-25yrs (up to 30yrs if they have additional needs)
  1. To deliverprojects with a focus onenabling access to activities, information and personal support, encouraging young people to develop confidence and skills to become creative, active participants in their community
  1. To deliver activities for young people that promote inclusive local neighbourhoods, awareness of diversity and the world they live in through creative and interactive sessions
  1. To identify and respond to individual and group needs, including those engaged in anti-social behaviour and where appropriate refer them to internal projectsincluding the Future Foundations for support with employment and training or to external local services
  1. To ensure young people feel safe and are safeguarded, by adhering to the pan London and Octavia Foundation’s safeguarding policies and procedures. To carry out the necessary risk assessments for activities and all other Health and Safety procedures relating to the role
  1. To promote the Foundation’s current and future youth programmes including BASE Pimlico, BASE Kensington (opening 2016) and media projects by inviting and chaperoning young people to satellite sessions
  1. To organise and facilitate regular consultations through forums, surveys, Vox pops to encourage the active participation of young people in developing activities for the detached and BASE youth programmes
  1. To consultthe wider community to identify specific areas of interest, concern or need and work with your line manager to develop projects, activities or proposals to address these
  1. To promote the expansion of the Foundations youth work to BASE Kensington through the development of a youth steering group- providing a platform for potential members to give ideas and plan projects to deliver as part of the new programme in 2016
  1. To work with the Youth Programme Manager to identify local schools and youth organisations in close proximity to BASE Kensington and build relationships that will encourage participation in the future youth programme
  1. To work alongsidelocal voluntary and statutory agencies and professionals, where applicable, in order to maximise access to provision for young people and to effectively identify risk issues
  1. To attend public events, community days, jobs fairs and multi-agency meetings where required, promoting the work of the Foundation and ensuring positive outcomes.
  1. To organise surveys of young people’s needs, compile and present the results of such surveys, making recommendations for improvement or development of activities to meet identified needs
  1. To keep up to date with research and key developments in youth policies and legislation
  1. To deliver agreed projects and outcomes in agreement with the Youth Programme Manager and any external funders, ensuring that comprehensive monitoring and evaluation information is completed efficiently and effectively

Generic

How will the post holder know if they are performing?

A number of performance targets will be planned and agreed 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, safe-guarding and health and safety.

Tenant/client involvement is a 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 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:Detached Youth Worker

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

Essential Criteria
1 / Experience:
  • Significant experience of working directly with young people in a detached youth work setting
  • Experience of working effectively with other professionals
  • Experience of managing/delivering positive youth activities and projects
  • Experience of forming/managing project steering groups
  • Developing printed material and other publicity
  • Experience in collecting, recording and maintainingeffective monitoring and evaluation information
  • Working in a multi-cultural, inner cityarea
  • Experience of marketing a project or service
/ E
D
E
E
D
E
E
E
2 / Knowledge:
  • Knowledge of current, regional, community issues and agendas
  • Knowledge of methods to engage, consult and involve young people
  • Knowledge of the roles of community organisations, in regeneration and community development
  • Understanding of safe-guarding policies, legislation and procedures;
  • Understanding of the issues that impact on the lives of young people, particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
/ D
E
D
E
E
3 / Skills:
  • Ability to engage a diverse cohort of young people
  • Ability to plan effective interventions and activities, both street based and within a hub
  • Ability to identify and work with a range of individuals, statutory agencies and community organisations and to represent Octavia on external forums
  • Able to communicate effectively and creatively with diverse audiences
  • Proficient in the use of outlook, word and excel
/ E
E
E
E
E
4 / Other:
  • Willing & able to work flexible hours including regular evening and potential weekends
  • Commitment to the organisation’s Diversity Policies
/ E
E

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