Youth worker jobs in Liverpool

This is a service commissioned by Liverpool City Council to deliver Children's residential support in line with statutory requirements, utilising therapeutic approaches.

The service provides a nurturing environment within our high-quality home, supporting the needs of children who have experienced trauma, neglect, rejection, and whose basic needs have not been met.

Our home offers children a safe space to enjoy themselves with activities such as karaoke, pamper, movie and games nights alongside encouraging them to enjoy a wide range of community based activities.

Children also benefit from having the opportunity to enjoy an annual holiday/short break. 

We support our children to learn independence skills e.g. cooking meals, baking, budgeting, completing domestic tasks etc.

In line with Barnardo's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion values, we promote awareness and acceptance in a variety of forms, including monthly theme nights.

On top of that, Saturday is takeaway night, so you even get a night off from cooking!

The support we provide today is vital in sustaining our children in the next chapter of their lives. You would play a huge part in this exciting role, making a real impact to changing the lives of our children.

The home provides a truly therapeutically focussed environment that can meet the needs of children who require support to manage their behaviours safely, develop their resilience and prepare them for the demands of future life with their own families or within other settings.

As a Senior Residential Children & Young People Worker you will, on a rota basis, undertake the following:

• 3 on 4 off pattern across the year, with rotas completed at least one month in advance.
• Sleep ins - approximately 2 per month with an additional payment of approximately £68/sleep,
• Waking nights (approximately 2 per month)
• Opportunities to complete additional hours at an enhanced rate of pay.
• Some weekend working, on a rota basis
• Some bank holiday working – enhanced rates of pay for bank holiday working.

Designated days off are given following sleep ins and waking nights to promote wellbeing and recovery.

Your role:

• Engage with and support children in all aspects of their lives, attending to their practical, physical, and emotional needs, whilst safeguarding each young person at all times.
• Support allocated keyworkers to ensure all information pertinent to the child's everyday life is completed and collated, to demonstrate the journey of the child whilst residing at the home.
• Provide practice based supervision to our As & When (bank) workers, liaising with managers to ensure continuity of care, Continued Professional Development and regulatory compliance.
• On a rota basis you will support the management team to provide out of hours on call cover, for which you will receive an additional payment.
• On a rota basis, you will also share the responsibility (alongside other SRCYW) of being allocated as shift leader; ensuring each day is purposeful and coordinated, enhancing opportunities for positive achievements and outcomes for the children.
• Support children to engage in education and enhance their social opportunities by accessing hobbies & activities in the home and in the community.

If you have residential experience, are passionate about making improved changes to childhoods and can show understanding, tenacity, consistency of care and the ability to engage with a wide range of children – this may be the opportunity for you!

For a full description of the role, please refer to the Job description & Person specification.

What you'll get from us

In addition to the extensive organisational benefits identified below, you will receive:

• A full induction within our trauma informed charity,
• Ongoing comprehensive training package,
• Be part of a team supported by a Therapeutic Co-ordinator and also receive reflective group/individual sessions with our consultant psychotherapist,
• Monthly practice focussed supervision,
• On successfully passing probation, enrolment on a fully funded residential Diploma (if not already held)

Quote from a young person who previously lived in the home:

“…You've all really helped me become the person I am today. The amount of love you all put in, you all wanted the best for me. I'm going to miss the team of great people I have had around me”

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values

Role Summary

The Pathways Youth Worker is responsible for supporting young people aged 16–19 who are not in education, employment, or training to move away from harm and progress towards positive, sustainable futures.

They build trusted, consistent relationships with young people facing complex barriers, providing tailored one-to-one support that promotes independence, resilience, and informed decision making. Through skilled assessment, planning, and delivery of targeted interventions, they help young people reduce risk, disengage from harmful lifestyles, and develop the confidence and life skills needed for adulthood.

Working in partnership with families, local services, and professional networks, the Pathways Youth Worker ensures young people receive coordinated, high-quality support that is rooted in safeguarding, youth voice, and strengths-based practice. Their work enables young people to access education, training, or employment and to sustain positive change over time

Role Information

• Location: The Shrewsbury House Youth & Community Centre (The Shewsy), Liverpool, L5 3PE 
• Salary: £29,000 – £31,000 (depending on experience) 
• Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week, including 3 evenings per week) 
• Contract: Permanent 
• Annual Leave: 22 days + bank holidays 
• Benefits: NEST Pension, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Professional Development Opportunities

Key Responsibilities 

1. Engagement, Intervention & Relationship Building 

• Assess individual needs and risks, then design and deliver tailored interventions, both one-to-one and in groups, to support behaviour change and personal progression. 
• Use trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches to build trust and promote positive change 
• Empower young people to set and take ownership of their own goals and progression plans 
• Coach and guide young people in developing life skills, emotional regulation, and positive decision-making, while constructively challenging and supporting them to leave harmful behaviours behind. 
• Maintain comprehensive case management records, documenting interventions, progress, and outcomes for each young person 

2. Pathways, Partnerships & Opportunity Creation 

• Build strong relationships with local employers, training providers, and community organisations to develop pathways into employment, apprenticeships, and further education 
• Work in partnership with schools, colleges, youth offending services, and other agencies 
• Advocate for young people with employers, colleges, and agencies to overcome barriers to engagement 
• Support young people to sustain placements, courses, or employment through ongoing mentoring 
• Track progression destinations and longer-term outcomes 

3. Work Readiness & Life Skills Development 

• Ensure life skills delivery directly supports young people’s readiness for work, training, and independent adulthood, including. 
• Prepare young people for the world of work by developing their CV writing and application skills, equipping them for interviews, and fostering an understanding of workplace expectations and behaviours. 
• Support access to accreditation and recognised qualifications where appropriate 

Additional Responsibilities 

• Maintain clear professional boundaries and work in line with safeguarding, data protection, and information-sharing policies 
• Contribute to risk management and contextual safeguarding discussions where required 
• Create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment 
• Contribute to wider youth provision where needed 
• Work flexibly to meet the needs of young people, including evening work, with patterns reviewed as engagement becomes established 
• Contribute to continuous improvement and organisational development 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Level 3 (or above) qualification in Youth Work or related field 
• Experience working with 16–19-year-olds, particularly those who are NEET or at risk 
• Experience delivering targeted interventions and behaviour change support 
• Strong relationship-building and engagement skills 
• Ability to assess risk and develop intervention plans 
• Experience working in partnership with external agencies 
• Understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries 
• Strong organisational and communication skills 
• Experience managing a caseload and evidencing outcomes 
• Ability to maintain high-quality case notes and monitoring data 
• Confidence working with young people experiencing multiple and complex needs 

Desirable 

• Knowledge of youth justice, exploitation, or contextual safeguarding 
• Experience supporting young people into employment or training 
• Understanding of emotional regulation or trauma-informed practice 
• Knowledge of the local Liverpool context 
• Understanding of employability frameworks, NEET reduction, or transition programmes 
• Experience of delivering group programmes or structured courses 
• Knowledge of benefit systems, post-16 pathways, or barriers to participation 

Personal Qualites

• Passionate about improving outcomes for young people 
• Able to challenge and support in equal measure 
• Resilient and calm under pressure 
• Proactive and solutions-focused 
• Committed to The Shewsy value: People matter more than things 
• Able to work independently, using professional judgement while maintaining accountability