Youth Workers/Trainee Youth Workers (Ref. 00379)

Cultural Services

Community Services

West Berkshire Council Youth Service

£15,096 - £18,450 per annum. Grade D/E, SCP 15 – 22 (Trainee Youth Worker position)

£25,437 - £30,843 per annum. Grade I, SCP 32 – 39 (Youth Worker positions)

Full Time: 37 hours per week

Permanent

Youth Work Opportunities in West Berkshire

As a result of West Berkshire Youth service re-structure we are able to offer a ‘not to be missed’ opportunity to join us in our exciting future.

We are providing a diverse and challenging youth offer to young people and need your skills, enthusiasm and ambition to deliver high class outcomes.

We don’t just stop at developing young people either! We offer you the opportunity to use and develop creative methods of working to meet the very diverse needs of young people living in the different areas of West Berks. Youth workers are encouraged to develop their particular skill across all areas of the curriculum and will often find themselves working between urban and rural areas, thus ensuring the work environment keeps you ‘on your toes’ and is never dull

If you are enthusiastic, hard working and ‘up for the challenge’ we want to hear from you.

For an informal discussion please contact Maureen Phillips in the first instance on 01635 519558.

For an application form and information pack please call the 24-hour answerphone on 01635 519122 or email , quoting post reference number 00379. To be considered for this post, an application form must be completed. Please ensure that your completed form is with us by the closing date.

Closing Date: 26th July 2007

JOB DESCRIPTION

Authority: WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL / Department/Division: Culture & Youth Services
Post Reference No: / Location: Newbury Area Team
Job Title: Trainee Youth Worker / Grade/Salary Range: D/E
£13,863 - £16,944
JOB PURPOSE
This is a trainee post, requiring that the post holder is engaged in a recognised diploma/degree course in Youth and Community studies. The training costs will be funded by West Berkshire Council. Should the post-holder fail to successfully complete the course, he/she will be required to leave the Service.
The post-holder will, under supervision, be responsible for:
·  Contributing to the promotion and development of social education opportunities with and for the local community with a particular reference to young people.
·  Working face to face with young people in order to maintain projects or to develop new initiatives in a variety of settings.
·  Supporting voluntary and part-time youth workers.
DESIGNATION OF POST AND POSITION WITHIN DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE
This post will be located in the Newbury Area Youth & Community Team supporting youth and community work in West Berkshire.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1.  To assist in the development and maintenance of a programme of social education opportunities for young people throughout the year which contributes to the agreed youth work curriculum and the Council’s objectives for the youth service.
2.  To contribute to internal and external agency forums in order to plan and develop appropriate activity programmes for young people specifically during the school summer holidays.
3.  To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of any youth work programmes in which the post holder is involved.
4.  To suggest strategies for maximising the positive impact of West Berkshire’s Culture and Youth Service on the lives of young people.
5.  To develop skills in recruiting, supervising and supporting voluntary and part-time staff.
6.  To work with schools and other public agencies in developing a range of support services for young people.
7.  The post-holder will work with a range of other agencies, parish councils, schools etc to help to develop and sustain a vibrant range of active community organisations providing recreational and educational opportunities for local communities.
SCOPE OF JOB (Budgetary/Resource Control, Impact)
The post will develop supervisory responsibilities for part-time and voluntary staff at a variety of locations.
The post-holder will have significant contact with other agencies concerned with the provision of services for young people.
Additional Information
The work pattern for this post will by necessity be flexible, to meet the needs of the unit and the college study requirements. However, it will include weekend and evening work and an appropriate plan of work will be developed between the post-holder and his/her manager.


PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Trainee Youth Worker
/ Department/Division: Culture & Youth Services
Authority: West Berkshire Council / Post Reference No:
KEY CRITERIA / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Qualifications And Training / Acceptance on a recognised Youth and Community full time diploma/degree course / Evidence of commitment to lifelong learning and continuous professional development.
Recognised qualification as a part-time youth worker.
Competence Summary
(Knowledge, abilities, skills, experience) / An understanding of the issues that need to be addressed when working with young people.
Able to work collaboratively with other agencies, voluntary organisations, schools and parish/town councils in the development of new initiatives and projects. / Previous experience of working with young people in a variety of settings.
Work-related Personal Requirements / Able to develop effective working relationships with young people and adults in a variety of settings.
Other Work Requirements / Driving Licence
Able to work during the evenings and at weekends as required by the needs of the post.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Authority: WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL / Department/Division:
Cultural Services
Post Reference No: / Location:
West Berkshire Youth Service
Job Title:
Area Youth Worker / Grade/Salary Range:
BAND I (£25,437 - £30,843 )
JOB PURPOSE
To promote and develop social education opportunities with and for the local community with a particular reference to young people.
To work face to face with young people in order to maintain projects or to develop new initiatives in a variety of settings.
To support voluntary and part time youth workers, and voluntary youth club management committees in a variety of settings.
DESIGNATION OF POST AND POSITION WITHIN DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1.  To initiate, develop and maintain a programme of social education opportunities for young people.
2.  To implement the agreed youth work curriculum statement and interpret the Council’s objectives for the youth service in keeping with identified local needs .
3.  To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the youth work programme.
4.  To suggest strategies for maximising the positive impact of West Berkshire’s Youth Service on the lives of young people.
5.  To suggest working methods and youth work projects that maximises the effective use of resources for youth work.
6.  To be the main point of contact for one or more voluntary youth club management committees acting as their professional advisor in the operation of facilities and projects for young people.
7.  To recruit, supervise, support and train voluntary and part-time youth workers.
8.  To work with schools and other public agencies in developing a range of support services for young people.
9.  The postholder will work with a range of other agencies, parish councils, schools etc to help to develop and sustain a vibrant range of active community organisations providing recreational and educational opportunities for local communities.
SCOPE OF JOB (Budgetary/Resource Control, Impact)
There are no significant budgetary responsibilities attached to this post but financial skills will be needed in planning and accounting for neutral cost events and projects.
The post will have some supervisory responsibilities for part-time and voluntary staff at a variety of locations.
The postholder will have significant contact with other agencies concerned with the provision of services for young people.
Additional Information.
The normal working pattern for this post will include weekends and evenings. The working week is defined as 37 hours of which not more than 8 sessions per fortnight will be evening work.


PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Youth Worker / Department/Division: Culture & Youth Service
Authority: West Berkshire Council / Post Reference No:
KEY CRITERIA / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Qualifications and Training / Recognised JNC Youth Work Qualification. / Graduate.
Wide range of short courses relevant to youth and community work.
Competence Summary
(Knowledge, abilities, skills, experience) / A comprehensive understanding of contemporary issues in youth work including national trends and initiatives.
Ability to work as part of a team with an appreciation of the principles of community development, with particular reference to young people
Able to work collaboratively with other agencies, voluntary organisations, schools and Parish/Town Councils in the development of new initiatives. / 2 years post qualification experience in a youth work setting.
Networking skills.
Work-related Personal Requirements / Able to develop effective working relationships with young people and adults in a variety of settings.
Good oral and written communication skills and competent in the use of information technology.
Other Work Requirements / ·  Driving Licence
·  Ability to work during the evenings and at weekends as required by the needs of the post.