Young people intensive key work practitioners jobs

37 hours per week / £32,565 per annum / fixed-term Maternity cover (12 Months) / working Monday - Thursday 9.00-1700, Friday 9.00-16.30.

At YMCA DownsLink Group,is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

YMCA is our specialist project supporting children and young people across Sussex and Surrey who are affected by, or at risk of, exploitation. Through education, awareness-raising and empowerment, we help young people understand healthy relationships, recognise harmful behaviours, and build safety and resilience.

We now have an exciting opportunity to join our WiSE team as a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Practitioner. In this vital role, you will work alongside the Service manager, an Early Intervention worker, and two experienced Practitioners. You will be co-located with the Exploitation team at Guildford Police Station, working collaboratively with partner agencies to support young people and contribute to multi-agency safeguarding responses.

The role involves a significant amount of lone working and frequent travel across Surrey to meet clients and attend meetings, with occasional travel further afield. Therefore, a full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential.

What you will be doing

In this role, you will hold a caseload of young people aged 10–25 who are vulnerable to sexual or criminal exploitation, providing intensive, person-centred support. You will work closely with professionals across multiple agencies to promote safety, disrupt exploitation, and empower young people to move towards safer, more stable futures. Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of vulnerable young people, helping them stay safe and move away from the influence of perpetrators.
• Work collaboratively with partner professionals to design and deliver tailored support packages, offering specialist consultation where needed.
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to clear, timely, and professional reports.
• Liaise effectively with Children’s Services, Surrey Police, and other agencies to disrupt abuse and support safeguarding and prosecution processes.
• Deliver training and awareness workshops to professionals, foster carers, and partner agencies to strengthen community understanding and responses to exploitation.
• Contribute to strategic development, deputising at relevant meetings and helping shape best practice across the service.

This is a challenging role; many of the young people you support may not recognise the risks they are facing or the abusive dynamics within their relationships. Supporting victims can at times be emotionally demanding and distressing. To ensure you feel supported and able to deliver high-quality practice, you will receive:

• One-to-one clinical supervision
• Weekly team meetings
• Regular line management supervision focused on both casework and wellbeing

 We recognise the emotional weight of this work and prioritise a reflective, supportive environment for all team members.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we’re looking for.

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

We are looking for someone who brings a strong combination of professional understanding, practical experience, and a commitment to safeguarding young people. You will ideally have:

• A relevant qualification in Youth Work, Social Work or an equivalent field — or significant comparable experience working directly with vulnerable young people.
• Proven safeguarding experience involving children and young people, with the ability to identify, respond to, and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Direct casework experience supporting young people aged 10–25, delivering structured, person-centred interventions.
• Experience facilitating group work that engages, educates and empowers young people.
• Experience delivering and risk-assessing outreach work, ensuring safe, effective practice in community settings.
• A strong understanding of the risks faced by vulnerable young people, including sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, and harmful sexual behaviour.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 29 March at midnight. 

PLEASE NOTE that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.

Key Information:

LOCATION: Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, London and Manchester (hybrid working pattern). We are prioritising applications for the Nottingham and Newcastle locations in line with our regional development strategy.

HOURS: 37.5 hours per week (flexible working around core hours of 10am-4pm)

START DATE: 10th August 2026

DURATION: 18-month graduate programme with optional apprenticeship opportunity upon completion. Permanent contract from August 2026. 

SALARY: £27,375 per annum (Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham and Newcastle), £30,025 (London).

DEADLINE: Thursday 2nd April at 12pm (noon).

The application process: written application > video interview > assessment centre.

Assessment Centres will take place between 20th April and 8th May 2026. They will be conducted on Zoom and consist of 3 tasks: An interview, a written exercise and a group task (with up to 3 other candidates)

In keeping with upReach's mission and values we would particularly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups and those with lived experience of barriers to social mobility.

We encourage all applicants to review our Application Pack before submitting your application.

About upReach

Do you think that your socio-economic background should determine your career prospects?

upReach’s vision is of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential. Our work is important because right now a student from a disadvantaged background who gains a first-class degree from a top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2.

We are an award-winning charity employer working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. We help undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment. 

To find out more about how we support our students, visit our website and read our Annual Report, and Impact Report. 

About the FCLP

upReach is recruiting for our unique Future Charity  Leaders Programme (FCLP). This is a great opportunity for anyone who is passionate about social mobility, and looking to gain exposure to various aspects of charity management whilst working with university students who are exploring their career options. We welcome applications from those in the corporate world who are looking for a career change as well as recent graduates wanting to kick-start their career in the third sector.

upReach’s Future Charity Leaders Programme (FCLP) combines delivery work (supporting our Associates) with exposure to a range of aspects of charity management.

As a Programme Coordinator on the FCLP, you will deliver personalised, employment-focused support to a cohort of approximately 80 Associates, helping to transform their lives by equipping them with the necessary skills to secure a top graduate job. During a typical week, you should expect to be working across a range of projects including:

• 1:1 undergraduate coaching

• Events organisation

• Application support

• Partnership management (with university partners or employer partners) 

• and more!

In addition to this, the programme offers the opportunity to develop skills in key areas of charity management by participating in 3 rounds of six-month 'rotations' across different functions. After your initial 18 months and the completion of 3, six-month rotations, you will have the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship in Leadership and Management to further develop your skills and gain a level 3 qualification.

Throughout the programme, you will receive dedicated internal training developing your leadership skills and building your confidence in the role.Through our partnership with The Circle Line, you will be part of a supportive peer group, offered regular personal development training workshops online and in-person on their '12 Tools for Life'. You will also be able to choose your own practitioner to support you in 1:1 sessions throughout the programme to help you unlock more of your unique potential.

What will I be doing?

The FCLP is a fast-paced but rewarding role. Programme Coordinators spend 80% of their time (4 days per week) working directly with Associates to enhance their career knowledge and skills and 20% (1 day per week) on a charity management rotation (or an apprenticeship after 18 months). No two days are the same, but your responsibilities may include:

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with Associates, helping them to achieve their career goals 

• Developing and delivering professional development-focused support

• Individual and small group work with Associates 

• Assisting Associates with their applications to undergraduate positions and graduate jobs 

• Developing sector and/or employability skill knowledge while building resources to aid all Associates 

• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with university and/or employer partners 

• Delivering informative workshops to enhance sector knowledge and employability skills

• Planning, delivering and reporting on events and workshops with partners

When applying for this role we ask that applicants are able to commit to the full 18-month training programme, and we encourage participation in the apprenticeship scheme beyond this. As you will be working directly with our beneficiaries throughout their degree, this consistency will allow you to build bonds with your Associates and ensure continuity, thus allowing us to have the most impact for the young people we work with.

What Skills and Experience do I need?

This programme would be suited to individuals who are committed to upReach’s mission, motivated to work with undergraduates and interested in learning about, and gaining experience in, charity management. We are looking for people who are passionate about social mobility and believe that background should not be a barrier to graduate employment. 

Essential Skills/Experiences:

• Working in a fast-paced environment and working independently to find solutions to problems

• Strong organisational and time management skills with a keen eye for detail and the ability to manage a varied workload

• A University degree in any discipline, or equivalent experience

• Self-motivation and an ability to work in a small team as well as solo

• Excellent communication skills and strong written English

• The ability to engage and communicate confidently with undergraduates, corporate volunteers (mentors) and employers via phone, email, and in person

• Confidence with public speaking or facilitating workshops

Desirable Skills/Experiences:

• Knowledge of the graduate labour market in the UK and experience supporting individuals through an application process 

• Working in one or more of the career sectors that upReach support Associates in applying to.

Team Culture & Benefits: 

By joining the upReach team, you will be joining a team who are dedicated to encouraging you in your career journey and fostering an inclusive culture. 

We offer: 

• Flexible working, hybrid working and reduced Summer Hours (June-August)

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days, plus bank holidays. (This increases to 27 days entitlement after 2.5 years and then to 30 days after 5 years of working with us)

• Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members

• 1 day of Birthday leave, 1 day of Volunteering leave and discretionary annual wellbeing days

• Optional extended unpaid leave

• 3% Pension Contribution, this increases to 5% after 5 years of working with us 

• Cycle-to-work scheme, Tech scheme

• Monthly socials, Annual in-person Team Day

• Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aid Training 

• A range of discounts through the Charity Workers Discount and Tickets for Good websites

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Diverse Roots Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

  • Parents and Carers Network

  • Socio-Economic Background Network

  • (Im)Migrants Network

Ready to apply?

We are dedicated to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. 

Unfortunately, upReach is unable to offer Visa Sponsorship.

Applications close at 12pm on Thursday 2nd April

Equal Opportunities

At upReach, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Thus, we encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities, those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+.