Assistant Youth Support Worker

Job Background 
Ashton Community Trust wishes to engage casual youth support workers to support the delivery the following programme for young people: 
•    New Lodge Youth Centre –Assistant Youth Support Workers will support young people through facilitation of a wide range of youth work activities with children and young people from across the North Belfast area including mentoring support, group work facilitation, Youth Centre drop-in facilitation, residential based activity, outdoor activities, and accredited training facilitation.
If successful you will be required to attend training as part of your induction to the organisation.
Job Duties:
•    To encourage a fun, positive, participative, youth-centred atmosphere
•    To ensure that young people play an active role in group and work towards a model of youth participation.
•    To communicate effectively and develop a rapport with young people (and their families). 
•    Support young people in their understanding of risk and challenge and in taking action to address key issues in their lives.
•    To work directly with children and young people through the provision of programmes of activities that 
•    Support their mental and emotional wellbeing and enable them to express and realise their goals
•    To support children and young people for whom there are barriers to learning/educational aspiration and attainment and school readiness or children presenting with behaviour difficulties
•    Implement Ashton Community Trust’s Child Protection Policy and Equal Opportunities Policy and work with young people to safeguard their welfare and the welfare of others.
•    To monitor and record participant’s attendance and development  
•    To enable young people to work effectively in groups.
•    Any other reasonable duties to support the delivery of programmes at New Lodge Youth Centre. 
 

Essential criteria –      Assistant Youth Support Worker
1.    Experience of working with children and young people in a youth setting
2.    An understanding of the issues facing children, young people and their families from disadvantaged communities.
3.    Strong communication skills and an understanding of the need for empathy and building rapport. 
4.    Ability to work in a team. 
5.    Ability to work on own initiative, be creative and flexible. 
6.    Child protection training undertaken in the last 2 years, or willingness to complete training. 
7.    Able and willing to work unsociable hours including weekends and holidays.
8.    Commitment to equality and challenging all forms of discrimination