18 May 2016

Dear Applicant,

Re:Youth Advice Worker (Support and Advice)

Thank you for your interest in the above post.

Enclosed is a job pack containing the following:

  • Welcome to Applicants
  • Job Profile
  • Policy on the Recruitment of Ex Offenders
  • Guidelines for working with Young People and Vulnerable Adults
  • Aims & Purposes of the YMCA

I have also enclosed an application form for your completion. Please be aware that the closing date for this vacancy is Monday 6th June2016 at 9am and the interview date is Friday 10th June 2016.

Please return email applications to or hard copies by hand or post to Human Resources, Reed House, 47 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2BE.

When completing the application form, make sure you refer to the requirements of the role as set out in the job profile, as short listing for interview rests on how well you meet these criteria.

We look forward to receiving your completed application. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application was not successful on this occasion.

YMCA DownsLink Group requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Yours faithfully,

Emily Whiter

Recruitment & HR Systems Co-ordinator

About Us

Thank you for your interest in this role and I hope you find this pack and our website answer your questions. You probably will have heard of YMCA, the largest and oldest youth charity in the world but you may not have heard about us. YMCA DownsLink Group (YMCA DLG) was formed in April 2014, bringing together Guildford and Sussex Central YMCAs into one organisation. So while we have a long heritage we are a young organisation and a new team of Chair and Chief Executive.

We believe that we do really interesting and valuable work. Children, young people and families are at the heart of our work with a particular focus on the needs of young people who find themselves on the fringes of society and need support. We provide a wide range of services including the provision of housing for some 513 people and providing them with support. Last year we made a difference to the lives of over 10,000 children & young people in a variety of ways.

We operate from locations across the South East with our Head Office in Hove. We are one of 125 YMCAs in the UK linked through YMCA England. As part of this federation of YMCAs, we are each an independent, self-governing charity and YMCA England supports us by giving us a national voice.

YMCA DLG has around 400 staff and 150 volunteers and our current turnover is £11.1m. On an annual basis, we collect £4.5m in rent; make over 350 lettings each year and deliver housing support contracts in excess of £2.5m. We also have a development programme with the HCA to bring into management a further 100 units of accommodation over the next 3 years.

Vision

Our vision is of an inclusive Christian movement transforming communities so that all young people can belong, contribute and thrive. You will need to demonstrate a commitment to our Christian aims, but do not have to be a practicing Christian. We value diversity in our staff team to reflect the people that we work with.

Values

We seek out – we actively look for opportunities to make a transformative impact on young lives in the communities where we work, and believe that every person is of equal value

We welcome – we offer people the space they need to feel secure, respected, heard and valued; and we always protect, trust, hope and persevere

We inspire – we strive to inspire each person we meet to realise their full potential in all they do

We speak out – we stand up for young people, speak out on issues that affect their lives, and help them to find confidence in their own voices

We support others – we are committed to the wellbeing of the communities we serve and believe in the positive benefit of participation, locally and in the wider world

Job Profile:

Job Title / YouthAdvice Worker
Reporting to / Advice and Volunteer Coordinator
Service Area / YAC – Children and Young People’s Directorate
Location / YAC, Brighton
Contract Type and Employment Period / Part time – 16 hours per week
Fixed term for 1 year
Salary Band / B2

Job Purpose:

This role is part of the YMCA DownsLink Group Youth Advice Centre (YAC) team.To provide advice, information, support & guidance to vulnerable young people around a wide variety of issues affecting their well-being. To actively engage & educate young people informally, to provide intensive support where necessary, and to undertake a programme of information, advice and support work in the community.

Responsibilities:

  • To actively engage young people using the general advice drop-in, to provide information and advice and where relevant sign post/refer to specialist services in YMCA DownsLink Group & other agencies.
  • To sensitively deliver information, advice and support to young people on sexual health, physical and mental health, substances, education, employment and training, benefits and housing advice, family issues and community safety issues.
  • To coordinate the drop-in when on duty, and be a point of contact for other workers ensuring that the service is delivered to a high standard and in accordance with policy and procedures.
  • To be able meet with new clients through initial home or school visits (if necessary) and occasionally accompany clients to appointments at other services or organisations; in accordance with YMCA DownsLink Group’s Risk Assessment and Lone Working Policies and Procedures.
  • To carry a caseload of clients with multiple needs, assessing their current situation and providing a series of intensive, structured interventions, either as lead professional or as part of an agreed joint agency package.
  • To facilitate targeted intervention sessions to groups of vulnerable young people in community venues such as schools and specialist projects.
  • To receive young people who have appointments with other workers from Support Services, YMCA DownsLink Group and other agencies across the city.
  • To ensure that adequate records and case notes are maintained.
  • To liaise with other partner agencies using the Centre and to make referrals to specific services within YMCA DownsLink Group and other external organisations.
  • To assist with the collection and co-ordination of information and advice resources in the centre.
  • To adhere to best practice around advice giving and work with young people.
  • To record client monitoring and outcomes on relevant organisational and city wide databases.
  • To keep statistical information and to collect feedback for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
  • To maintain the confidentiality of the service in line with information sharing protocol.
  • To work with the Advice Co-ordinator and Advice Services Manager to promote the work of Advice Services to young people and other agencies and to represent YMCA DownsLink Group and Advice Services at meetings and forums locally.
  • To be responsible for building security at beginning and end of the shift, where necessary.
  • To assist with the updating of the Youth Advice Centre’s policies and procedures.
  • To work constructively as part of a team and participate in staff development, skill sharing, training and supervision as required.
  • To work in accordance with YMCA aims and purposes.
  • To carry out any other tasks as may be required in accordance with capabilities.

Nature and Scope:

The significant challenges of this role will be…

  • To consistently deliver a professional service.
  • To ensure that there is appropriate staff/volunteer levels to operate service.
  • To make the appropriate professional decisions in relation to theoretical models and practice in relation to their caseload, service users and key working.
  • To refer and alert Service Manager of any potential risks in terms of safeguarding or other professional concerns.
  • To refer and alert the manager of any concerns relating to health and safety, failure to follow YMCA DLG policies and procedures and poor practice.
  • To ensure volunteers are fully supported.
  • To work within YMCA DLG’s policy on Equal Opportunities and Diversity.
  • To be aware of the Christian aims and purposes of YMCA DownsLink Group.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Job Related Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

Experience / Essential / Desirable
Experience of working with young people (aged 13-25) / *
Experience of working an advice or support setting / *
Experience of working with young people in crisis / *
Experience of working with young people with mental health issues and learning difficulties / *
Experience of working in a voluntary organisation / *
Skills & Abilities
Good written and verbal communication skills / *
Good organisational and administrative skills / *
Competent with IT systems- Word, Office, Excel etc… / *
Ability to work until 6pm and occasional evenings / *
Ability to manage challenging or difficult behaviour / *
Ability to manage work load and time effectively / *
Ability to develop and maintain networks / *
Ability to work under pressure / *
Ability to relate to young people with varying needs/issues / *
Ability to work as a member of the team as well as independently / *
Ability to negotiate and advocate for young people with other agencies / *
Ability to be assertive when necessary / *
Ability to work in a trauma informed and strengths based way / *
Qualifications & Training
Training focussed on working with young people / *
Dip. Youth work or similar relevant qualification / *
Knowledge
Knowledge of issues facing young people, especially those who are socially excluded or from hard to reach groups / *
Knowledge of benefits and welfare legislation / *
Understanding of children and young person’s safeguarding / *
Knowledge of specialist social care and health services / *
Basic knowledge of the education system and post 18 pathways to work / training / education / *
Knowledge of national policy and local strategies effecting children and young people / *
General
A commitment to the aims and purposes of YMCA DownsLink Group / *

*Competence that involves the application of knowledge in a broad range of complex, technical or professional work activities performed in a variety of contexts and with a substantial degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. Responsibility for the work of others and the allocation of resources is often present.

Key Competencies for this role

  • Teamworking and Co-operation

The post holder will be expected to achieve and where possible exceed goals and objectives, demonstrating a co-operative and flexible attitude and being enthusiastic and responsive to new challenges.

  • Communication Skills

Formal verbal and written skills, including producing guidance documents, promotional materials, policies and information. Develop and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally.

  • Customer Focus

Actively seek feedback from customers and service users, making suggestions to improve services to meet customer needs. Being responsive, friendly and approachable and making changes and improving services to meet client needs.

  • Planning and Organising Activities

Organisation and prioritisation of their own tasks and activities. To contribute to team discussion and planning and attend strategic meetings on behalf of the organisation.

  • Creativity/Adaptability

To contribute fresh ideas and ways of working in the team and being responsive to the needs of whole team issues and ways of working.

  • Integrity and Ethical Behaviour

Understand the Christian aims and purposes of the YMCA, the values of the organisation including our commitment to equality and diversity, the nature of our activities and programmes and commitment to improving the lives of young people, children and families.

  • Self Management

The post holder will be expected to set a good example of excellence in their day to day conduct at work, understanding their own strengths and weaknesses and being committed to continually improving their own professional development.

Policy on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders:

YMCA DownsLink Group actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, with the right mix of talent, skills and potential, and applications are welcome from a wide range of candidates.

We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any applicant on the basis of a criminal record or other information revealed. Criminal records and other information will be taken into account for recruitment purposes only when they are relevant.

We select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience. We ask all applicants called for interview to provide details of their criminal record. Depending on the nature of the position applied for, YMCA DownsLink Group may request details of your entire criminal record or only of ‘unspent’ convictions as defined in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

We request that this information is sent under separate, confidential cover to a designated person within YMCA DownsLink Group and we guarantee that this information is only seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process. We would point out that for the successful candidate, this information will be verified by requesting a Disclosure[1] statement from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.

Failure to reveal information that is relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment or subsequent dismissal.

We ensure that all those in YMCA DownsLink Group who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences. We also ensure that they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex offenders e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

At interview, or in separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matters that might be relevant to the position.

For those positions where a Disclosure is required, application forms and guidance notes will contain a statement that a Disclosure will be requested in the event of the candidate being made a conditional offer of employment.

We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with YMCA DownsLink Group. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of any offences. However, as the nature of the YMCA DownsLink Group’s work brings its employees & volunteers into contact with young people (those under 18 years old) and/or vulnerable adults, a criminal record or other information which makes an application unacceptable for a position of trust will render the applicant unsuitable.

As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, this policy complies with the DBS Code of Practice.

Declaration of Criminal Background & Guidelines for Working with Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 sets out to help people who have been convicted of a criminal offence and have not been convicted again in a specified period. This period is known as a rehabilitation period. Once a rehabilitation period has expired and no further offending has taken place, a conviction is considered to be ‘spent’. Once a conviction is spent, the convicted person does not have to reveal it or admit its existence in most circumstances.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order) gives some exemptions from the Act, whereby details of ‘spent’ convictions have to be declared. One of these exemptions is working with young people and/or vulnerable adults. When recruiting people to work in such positions of trust an employer is entitled to ask for details of all convictions, spent and unspent.

If you are invited to an interview please bring with you a completed Declaration of Criminal Background Form which is enclosed in this application pack. It asks for details of spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings. You should complete the form and place it in an envelope marked ‘Private and Confidential’, addressed to the Interview Panel. Your name should be clearly stated on the front.

The information relating to criminal convictions will only be seen by the interview panel if we are considering offering you employment. If you wish to discuss the information that you have given, please mention this to an interviewer. Having made its selection, the panel may wish to discuss any information given with you. Having a conviction will not necessarily bar you from consideration for the post. Criminal records will be taken into account only when they are relevant to the position for which you are applying. The information you provide will remain confidential.

If you are made a conditional offer YMCA DownsLink Group will apply for an Enhanced DBS Disclosure depending on the nature of the job.

The DBS offers organisations a means to check the background of job applicants to ensure that they do not have a history that would make them unsuitable for the post. DBS Disclosures are provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, an executive agency of the Home Office. Enhanced disclosures provide details of a person’s criminal record including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings; they also contain details from lists held by Government departments of those considered unsuitable for this type of work. Organisations using the DBS process must comply with the Code of Practice, a copy of which is available on request.

If you have any queries, please speak to a member of the HR team.

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[1]Applicants for certain positions who are made a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a criminal record check – known as Disclosure – from the Disclosure and Barring Service