Young people intensive key work practitioners jobs

Are you passionate about working 1-to-1 with young prison-leavers from a variety of backgrounds; many of whom are from marginalised communities, to help them lead more stable, rewarding lives?

As a Switchback Mentor, you will play a vital role in transforming the lives of young prison-leavers, helping them break free from the justice system and build stable, rewarding futures. You will be responsible for building your own caseload by engaging directly with young men in prison and providing intensive support after their release. In addition to working with those you meet in prison; you will also support Trainees referred to the programme after they have already been released.

Once on the programme, you will maintain regular contact with Trainees, meeting face-to-face at least once a week to help them navigate the challenges of being recently released from prison and work towards their goals. Most importantly, you will do this in a way that reflects Switchback’s core values: putting Trainees at the heart of everything we do, setting high expectations, and building authentic, supportive relationships that enable lasting change.

It is essential that Mentors can confidently and professionally engage with all Trainees who meet the eligibility criteria for the Switchback programme, providing them with the support and guidance needed to move forward positively.

What you’ll get when you work for us:

Switchback takes the development of Mentors very seriously. Switchback Mentors are the drivers of our impact, and we will help to build your expertise as a practitioner through our in-house training in our unique change model. This is complemented by a comprehensive training and supervision package including: regular psychologically informed 1:1 clinical supervision and group reflective practice sessions and an annual, individualised training budget. You will also join a structured progression pathway which can provide opportunities to further develop management skills and technical expertise, informed by your own learning goals.

Switchback understands the challenges and complexities faced by the young people we work with. To ensure Mentors can provide the highest level of support, we intentionally keep caseloads low. This allows Mentors to dedicate the time and resources needed to build strong, meaningful relationships and offer Trainees the intensive, tailored support they need to make lasting change.

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.