Background: The Link came into being in January 1997. It originated from a group of concerned local Christians who formed a Management Committee to take the project forward. The organisation now employs ten members of staff and has in excess of 45 volunteers working in a number of areas. The Link seeks to work with some of the most marginalized members of the local community.
Our provision includes:
- Community Relations and Community Development within the local community
- Youth Drop-in and programmes
- Link Addiction Support Services
- Totstime Parent and Toddler Group
- Senior Citizens Lunch Club
Post of Youth Worker at The Link.
Title: Youth Worker
Location: The Link, 14-16 South Street, Newtownards, BT23 4JT
Hours: 36 hours per week
Salary: NJC Scale 5 point 22, currently £18,450
Leave: 25 days plus 12 statutory days pro rata
Job Outline: The Youth Worker is a key member of The Link's staff team, supporting the Senior Youth worker in carrying out the organisation's strategy through its Christian ethos, community development model of practice and all organisational policies.
This is a challenging and creative post. The person appointed should be mature, capable of working within a small team as well as using his/her own initiative, and committed to the holistic development of young adults. He/she should have energy, enthusiasm and inter-personal skills which the job will require.
Key Tasks
Programme Design and Management.
- Working with young people, volunteers and staff to design and implement programmes and training appropriate to the needs of the young people.
- Working with the Senior Youth Worker on use of resources, funding applications and monitoring and evaluation.
- Responsibility for general youth work administration.
- Adhering to all policies and procedures within The Link.
- Involvement in promoting youth work of The Link through general publicity and inter-agency involvement.
Contact Work
- Initial contact work in drop-in- listening, arbitration, challenging attitudes and behaviour, encouraging positive decision making, discipline and assessing the needs of the young people.
- Identifying and researching major issues facing young people
- One to one work with young people including mentoring and interventions.
Inter-agency involvement
- Liaison and exchange of information with relevant statutory bodies and voluntary and community organisations.
- Representing The Link on inter-agency committees and forums as determined by the Senior Youth Worker.
- Utilising specialist services, e.g. counselling, access to financial support services, employment opportunities, benefit entitlement etc.
Facilitation of Involvement
- Using the community development ethos of The Link, enable young people to “have a voice” in the local community, including involvement in committees or forums.
- Facilitate active engagement in identity issues.
- Facilitate the development of I.T. research methods etc. with the young people.
- Organisation of community participation/help.
Training and Support
- Engaging in appropriate personal training.
- To support the Senior Youth worker in identifying training needs of staff and volunteers.
Accountability
- The Youth Worker will be directly responsible to the Senior Youth Worker.
- Will participate in weekly staff meetings.
- Will participate in weekly team meetings for the youth project staff and full time volunteers.
- Will engage in regular management supervision as well as off- line supervision.
Other Duties
- Liaising with and where necessary, assisting other members of staff.
- Any duties that reflect the nature of the job deemed necessary or appropriate.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- Relevant 3rd level education with at least 2 years experience with young people in an informal setting OR at least 4 years experience in a paid capacity with young people in an informal setting.
- Competent computer skills.
- Ability to organise and deliver training programmes appropriate to the needs of young people.
- Willingness to participate in professional development.
- Understanding of cultural and social issues affecting young people and the local community.
- Ability to work irregular hours. (Regular evenings, occasional weekends and overnight stays).
- Ability to observe the need for confidentiality.
- Self motivation.
- Good interpersonal and team-building skills.
- Clean current driving license.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of and affinity with the ethos of The Link Family and Community Centre.
- Good general health.
Desirable
- Significant experience of working with marginalised young people.
- Experience of working with volunteers and/or sessional staff, in a leadership capacity.
- Experience of utilising resources in a flexible and innovative manner.
- Experience of working alongside young people to provide relevant information and advice services.
- Ability to participate in active pursuits with young people.
- Knowledge of information and advice services.
- Ability to drive a minibus.
The post is funded by Children’s Fund NI to 31 March 2008, however, the employment contract may be extended subject to further funding becoming available.
Job Description (79Kb)
Application Form (102Kb)
Monitoring Form (96Kb)
It is anticipated that interviews will take place on Monday 9 July 2007
