Youth engagement worker jobs

The St Matthew’s Project is looking for a passionate and experienced Wellbeing and Outreach Worker to help strengthen our trauma-informed approach and support young people through our Fit 4 Life programme.

This role is at the heart of our work with young people facing disadvantage and navigating key transition points in their lives. You’ll deliver 1:1 and group wellbeing support, work closely with families, contribute to staff wellbeing, and help shape a supportive, trauma-informed environment across the organisation.

We’re particularly interested in candidates with experience supporting young people affected by trauma, strong relationship-building skills, and an understanding of community-based work. Lived experience is valued.

The role includes a mix of weekday, evening, and Saturday sessions across community settings in Brixton / Tulse Hill.

If you’re committed to making a meaningful impact and want to be part of a small, dedicated team, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note: This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Our Youth and Play Practitioners will play a pivotal role in the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) team, working as a core team of practitioners to ensure the smooth running of our programmes and services. In this role you will be part of a small and dynamic team which delivers a wide range of programmes and activities, both from Tulse Hill Adventure Playground and in conjunction with local schools. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse and varied. Our current services include open access adventure play and youth activities at our Adventure Playground, school holiday programmes with off-site trips and activities, mentoring, a Young Leaders programme offering paid work experience to young people, and working together with our youth partnerships Building Young Brixton and Lambeth Peer Action Collective.

We are in an exciting time of development for the team. To support our range of children and young people, our team will be made up of specialist Youth Workers and Play Practitioners bringing in relevant skills and experience. Whilst you will work across all of our Children, Young People and Families services you will have a specific focus:

As a Youth Worker you will:

• Focus on supporting our secondary age cohort
• Plan and run appropriate and engaging activities
• Provide structured interventions to support vulnerable young people
• Work with referral partners to provide additional support and activities
• Foster relationships with families and local schools

As a Play Worker you will:

• Focus on our primary age cohort
• Use your knowledge of Playwork Principles to plan and run appropriate and engaging
  activities
• Foster relationships with families and primary local schools

Both roles will include an element of mentoring, relevant training will be provided to give you the necessary skills to deliver this.

To be successful in this role, you will act as a trusted practitioner in all our service delivery, advocating for children’s right to play throughout our programmes. You will work as part of the team on the delivery and planning of all sessions, ensuring that the children’s and young people’s ideas are central to the construction of a varied and engaging play environment. You will understand the wide-ranging challenges facing young people and will be flexible in adjusting your practice to meet these needs. While practitioners may have a primary focus (primary or secondary age), all staff are expected to work flexibly across all age groups, programmes and delivery model including open access play, targeted youth work, mentoring and school link sessions.

At Base71 Youth Zone, we believe every young person deserves access to a safe, welcoming and inspiring place where they can have fun, feel supported and realise their potential. Since opening our doors, we have already welcomed nearly 8,000 young people, creating opportunities for them to build confidence, develop friendships and access life-changing experiences.

We are now looking for an outstanding Head of Youth Work & Partnerships to help lead the next stage of our journey. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop our universal youth work offer, inspire and lead our delivery teams and strengthen partnerships across Barnsley to ensure young people receive the very best support and opportunities.

About the Role

This is a rewarding senior leadership role for an experienced and passionate youth work professional who believes in the transformative power of youth work and the potential of every young person.

We are looking for someone who can lead with energy, creativity and purpose — someone who is ambitious for young people and motivated to create outstanding experiences that help them thrive. You will lead a dynamic team of Youth Workers, Managers and volunteers, creating a culture that is inclusive, supportive and focused on high-quality delivery. With a hands-on and solutions-focused approach, you will bring fresh ideas, drive innovation and ensure young people remain at the heart of everything we do.

No two days at Base71 are ever the same. You will oversee a wide-ranging youth work programme across Junior, Senior, Inclusion and Holiday Club provision, ensuring our offer remains engaging, safe and responsive to the needs of young people. Alongside operational leadership, you will build meaningful partnerships with schools, community organisations, funders and key stakeholders, helping to strengthen the impact and reach of Base71 across the borough.

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will also contribute to the strategic development and future growth of Base71, helping to shape a Youth Zone where young people feel safe, valued, supported and inspired to achieve their full potential.

About You

We are looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about empowering young people
• An experienced leader within open-access youth work, community provision or a similar setting
• Skilled in developing and motivating high-performing teams
• Confident in leading safeguarding processes and responding to complex situations
• Experienced in partnership development and stakeholder engagement
• Organised, resilient and able to manage competing priorities effectively
• Committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and amplifying young people’s voices

 You Will Have Experience Of:

• Leading youth programmes for diverse young people aged 8–19, including up to 25 for young people with additional needs or disabilities
• Safeguarding leadership, ideally as a Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Building strong relationships and communicating effectively with a wide range of audiences
• Managing staff performance, rotas, budgets and operational delivery targets
• Understanding the challenges facing young people today and the role youth work plays in improving outcomes
• Holding a relevant degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, ideally supported by a youth work qualification

To Apply:

To apply, please email a CV and cover letter (no more than two pages) in response to the
person specification and questions below

1. Why do you want to work for us?
2. Looking at the person specification, briefly describe how your skills and experience
(including any lived experience) make you a good candidate for this role. (200 words
max)
3. How would your previous experience support you to be a strong leader at Base71? (200
words max)
4.How you demonstrate your commitment to fairness, equity and respect.
5.Confirmation you are eligible to work in the UK (the successful candidate will be required
to provide documentary evidence before a job offer confirmed).
6.Any reasonable adjustments we can make to assist you in your application or the
selection process.
7.This role will be based in the Youth Zone and therefore require an Enhanced DBS.
a.Do you have any unspent conditional cautions or convictions under the Rehabilitation
of Offenders Act 1974?
b.Do you have any adult cautions (simple or conditional) or spent convictions that are
not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions)
Order 1975 (Amendment) (Englandand Wales) Order2020

Main Purpose of the Job:

•Support implementation of the HyPE programme across six key local authority Youth Offending Service areas in East London.

•Manage referral networks including Youth offending services, Youth Courts, Virtual school networks, local MASH networks, and social workers and Feltham and HMP ISIS YOIs.

•To manage a team of specialist support services and partners supporting key aspects of the HyPE scheme

Programme Delivery & Coordination

•Oversee and coordinate weekly HyPE Job Club and associated green-skills and personal developmental activities delivered at New City College and community venues.

•Coordinate and oversee our experienced free-lance delivery team and ensure they are contracted, supported and empowered to lead daily sessions

•Lead delivery partners, to ensure high-quality and consistent programme involvement overlays with renewable energy partnerships, workshops and visitations.

Outreach Housing Support Worker 
Salary Banding: £28,893.00 per annum with potential to progress through salary band.
Contract: 12 month Fixed Term contract
Hours: Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week 
Location: Hatfield / Hybrid / Hertfordshire travel  - Candidates must have a full driving license and use of own vehicle for business purposes

About us 

Herts Young Homeless is an independent charity that has supported vulnerable young people across Hertfordshire since 1998.

We’re a passionate, professional and supportive team, working together to prevent and relieve youth homelessness and help young people build safer, more stable futures.

 About the Role

We’re looking for an Outreach Housing Support Worker to join our team and provide high‑quality housing advice and support to young people aged 18–24.

This is a flexible role that responds to the needs of young people in the community, helping them navigate housing challenges and avoid or move on from homelessness.

The Difference You’ll Make

In this role, you’ll deliver tailored housing advice that helps young people understand their realistic options and take positive steps forward—particularly during times of crisis.

You’ll play a key role in preventing both first-time and repeat homelessness by building strong relationships and supporting meaningful engagement.

The young people we work with are resilient and inspiring, but may face complex barriers with limited support. We’re looking for someone who brings empathy, patience and determination, and who is committed to helping others grow in confidence and independence.

 What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll have a varied and rewarding role, including:

• Delivering high-quality housing advice and guidance to young people aged 18–24
• Supporting individuals to understand their housing rights, options and responsibilities
• Building trusting, professional relationships to encourage engagement and positive outcomes
• Working with colleagues and external partners to prevent homelessness and coordinate support
• Managing a varied caseload with competing priorities and timescales
• Identifying and responding to risk, including safeguarding concerns
• Supporting young people through crisis situations and helping them plan next steps
• Maintaining accurate, timely records and case notes
• Promoting independence, resilience and informed decision-making

What We’re Looking For

We’re keen to hear from people who are:

• Passionate about supporting individuals with diverse and complex needs
• Committed to providing inclusive, compassionate and person-centred support
• Knowledgeable about the challenges facing young people experiencing homelessness
• Skilled at building rapport, motivating others and maintaining professional boundaries
• Confident managing workloads and balancing competing priorities
• Well organised, with strong administration and IT skills (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook)
• Clear on confidentiality, safeguarding and professional integrity
• Able to work independently and collaboratively within a team
• Flexible, adaptable and committed to ongoing learning

You’ll also need:

• A full, clean UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle

Experience in the voluntary sector is helpful but not essential—we value transferable skills, lived values and a willingness to learn.

This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with children or young adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced disclosure will be sought through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) as part of Herts Young Homeless’ pre-employment checks. Please note that additional information referring to the DBS is in the guidance notes to the application form.

What We Offer

We want you to feel valued, supported and able to thrive. We offer:

• A supportive, knowledgeable and collaborative team
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising to 28 with service)
• An extra day off for your birthday ��
• Holiday purchase scheme and hybrid working opportunities
• Mileage paid for work-related travel
• Pension scheme and Group Life Insurance
• BHSF Health Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme
• Blue Light Card discounts
• Company sick pay (subject to eligibility)
• Ongoing training and development, including secondment opportunities
• Long service awards, refer-a-friend scheme and monthly staff draws

How to Apply

To apply, please visit our website and submit:

• Your CV
• A covering letter or short video highlighting your skills and experience

Closing date: 4th June 2026 
Recruitment afternoon: 11th May 2026 
(Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a further interview stage)

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know—we’re committed to supporting you.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, and actively challenge discrimination in all its forms.

Our Promise to You

We will always handle your personal data with care, integrity and respect, and will never share your information without your knowledge and consent.

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping over 60,000 young people each year at its 46 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for graduates who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as an Education Worker on IntoUniversity’s Graduate Scheme, helping to change the lives of young people.

We believe that our Graduate Scheme is one of the most exciting in the charity sector, an excellent career opportunity with exceptional training and hands-on experience, opportunities for promotion, and the chance to work with young people and colleagues who will challenge and inspire you.

Contract

Full-time, permanent 

Start date

July 2026

Working hours

Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00

Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

(Some out-of-hours work will be required from time to time - for example, early starts to deliver workshops in schools.)

Education Workers are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres.

Salary

£28,250 per annum

Location

We have positions available in Hull 

Annual leave

33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days) 

Application deadline

9am Wednesday 27th May 2026

Selection Day (online)

Tuesday 16th June 2026

We may hold a further selection day on Friday 19th June 2026 if we receive a high volume of applications. 

Interview Day (online)

Wednesday 24th June 2026 

Please ensure that you are available on these dates

Do you have experience working with families and children aged 0-13, a good understanding of the needs of vulnerable families and a relevant vocational or academic qualification?

Welcare is recruiting an experienced Family Support Worker to deliver a broad-based preventative and responsive support service for families with children up to the age of 13 in partnership with schools, churches, the local authority and other agencies, in the London boroughs of Bromley and Greenwich.Local knowledge of Bromley and Greenwich areas would be an advantage.

You will be delivering practical and emotional support to enhance the lived experiences of children and families through one-to-one support and group work programmes.  The post requires working with families in person and online remote working.  The office base is in Community House, Bromley.

Please refer to the job description and person specification for further details.

Are you passionate about seeing young people flourish?
Do you long to build authentic relationships, create safe and joyful spaces, and help young people explore faith, purpose and belonging?​

We are seeking a creative, relational and faith-filled Christian Youth & Community Worker to pioneer and grow youth ministry among 11–18s in Furzedown and the wider local community.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop a vibrant youth ministry in a warm, inclusive, multicultural church that seeks to Love God, Love People and Love Life.

We’re looking for someone who:

· Loves Jesus and is committed to helping young people encounter faith in authentic and relevant ways

· Can build strong relationships with young people from diverse backgrounds

· Is excited by both hands-on youth work and long-term vision building

· Can develop engaging youth programmes, discipleship opportunities and community outreach

· Enjoys working collaboratively within a church and community setting

· Will become an active part of the worshipping and relational life of the church

The role includes:

· Leading weekly youth sessions and discipleship groups

· Building connections with local schools and the wider community

· Mentoring and supporting young people pastorally

· Developing volunteers and young leaders

· Helping shape intergenerational worship at MLBC

· Creating welcoming spaces where every young person is valued and included

The role includes regular evening and Sunday working as part of the contracted hours, with active participation in Sunday worship forming a core part of the role. We are also open to conversations around part-time working, job share arrangements, paid student placements linked to relevant training courses.

Location: Mitcham Lane Baptist Church, Furzedown, South London

Hours: Full Time – 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £30,000–£32,500 (depending on experience)

Contract type: 3 Year Fixed-Term Contract​

We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences who can help us reflect the inclusive heart of Jesus in our community.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our dynamic NYAS Cymru team.  We are currently seeking to appoint a Project Worker to conduct Return Home Interviews with children and young people living in South Wales, who have returned after being missing from home or care. This role will be full time, working 35 hours per week, and will be fixed term for 6 months with the possibility of extension (maternity cover). The role will be home based with some travel to a Basic Command Unit in Swansea Neath Port Talbot or Cwm Taf Morgannwg (Bridgend, Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taff). 

Working alongside our project worker team and partner agency, South Wales Police, you will provide support for children and young people to explore the reasons for being missing, identifying risks and vulnerabilities to exploitation, ensuring reports are completed within the agreed timescale.

The successful candidate will work on an agile basis and will primarily involve extensive travel across the Swansea Neath Port Talbot area or Cwm Taf Morgannwg area with occasional requests for return home interview support across the force wide area.

About you

We are looking for a proactive and dynamic team member with significant experience of direct work with children and young people, within a social care environment, including those who have been and / or at risk of being exploited.  You will have the ability to work creatively with children and young people, responding to high service demand, with excellent interpersonal and report writing skills.

If you feel you could be an ideal candidate to join our NYAS Cymru team, we would love to hear from you.

You will receive a full induction with ongoing opportunities for continued professional development. With regular support and supervision from your line manager and the opportunity to partake in various staff wellbeing activities and initiatives.

When completing the application form, it is important that you refer to the person specification within the job description and detail how you can evidence the criteria.

The job description can be located at the right hand side of this page.

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references, South Wales Police Vetting and a Digital Risk Assessment.

In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.

We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

 NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.

Work with us to help change young lives.

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We have embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

It is an exciting and important time to be joining us at Crisis. We work with thousands of people across England, Scotland, and Wales so they can leave homelessness behind for good. We have recently adapted the way our services work to maximise our impact in ending homelessness. We have increased our capacity to work with people one to one and strengthened our ability to support those people facing the most barriers to preventing or ending their homelessness.

We offer people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless housing and benefits advice, 1-2-1 coaching, advocacy, courses and peer group sessions alongside practical services of showers and laundry for street homeless.

About the role

As Engagement and Assessment Worker, you will be the first point of contact for someone who comes to Crisis for help to end their homelessness. You will welcome people and listen carefully to their story whilst providing information, advice, and guidance. This role ensures that anyone who contacts the service will get an immediate response from the Engagement and Assessment team. The team will be making sure that anyone who would benefit from services, support and advice elsewhere will be signposted and referred. When we're best placed to help, people will be rapidly allocated a Crisis Lead Worker.

About you

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Experience of working with homeless or other vulnerable groups and understanding of the importance of respecting confidentiality, showing empathy and sensitivity, and working in a boundary way.
• Experience of assessing presenting needs and working in a Psychologically Informed Environment, and in a way that ensures that members with all levels of need can access the service.
• Excellent customer service skills with a commitment to delivering the highest standard of customer care and high quality IAG.
• Good knowledge of homelessness, housing and welfare legislation and Safeguarding procedures.
• Strong interpersonal skills including effective written and verbal communication skills and ability to deal with challenging situations with a calm approach.
• Ability to manage a caseload, and successful relationships with external service providers and partners.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds. 

Working at Crisis 

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including: 

• A competitive salary. Please note, our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5% 
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay
• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly and more! (Full list of benefits available on website) 

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career. 

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Sunday 14th June 2026 at 23:59

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 24th June 2026 at Crisis Skylight South Wales, 163 St Helens Road, Swansea SA1 4DQ

Interview process: Competency-based interview followed by a service user panel interview

AI in Job Applications

We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we want to learn more about you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences

Accessibility 

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please contact our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help. 

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094 

Sessional Youth Worker – Health and Wellbeing  

We are seeking a passionate and engaging Sessional Youth Worker to deliver health, wellbeing, mentoring, hair and beauty activities for young people in a vibrant community setting.

Position: Sessional Youth Worker – Health and Wellbeing
Salary: £14.80 per hour London Living Wage | £16.00 per hour for Saturday evening Senior shifts
Location: North West London
Working Pattern: Tuesday PM and Saturday PM
Contract: Sessional / Part Time
Closing Date: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to support young people through engaging health, wellbeing, mentoring, hair and beauty focused activities within a youth setting. You will help create a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment where young people can build confidence, develop skills and access positive support.

The role will involve working directly with young people during evening and weekend sessions, delivering fun and educational activities while helping to build strong, trusted relationships.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering health, wellbeing, mentoring, hair and beauty activities for young people
• Supporting informal education and issue-based youth work sessions
• Planning engaging and inclusive activities that reflect young people’s interests
• Encouraging participation and helping young people build confidence and self-esteem
• Supporting young people on a one-to-one basis where appropriate
• Maintaining a safe, welcoming and well-organised activity space
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and wider youth work teams
• Promoting safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion at all times

About You

We are looking for someone with experience of working with young people in group or one-to-one settings who can bring energy, creativity and positivity to every session.

You will ideally have:

• Experience delivering activities or support sessions for young people
• Level 2 Youth Work qualification or equivalent experience
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• A passion for supporting young people to achieve their potential
• Confidence delivering wellbeing, mentoring or creative activities
• An understanding of safeguarding and inclusive practice
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends

Experience in hair and beauty, wellbeing or mentoring activities would be highly beneficial.

About the Organisation

Our client is an independent charity and purpose-built youth centre for Barnet’s young people aged 8 to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs. They support North London’s young people with three things they deserve and need; somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to. Open 7 days a week including school holidays, their vision ensure every young person is supported and empowered to reach their potential.

Join them in making a difference and raising the aspirations of young people across North London. They embrace diversity and welcome applications from individuals with non-traditional backgrounds. Safeguarding is paramount, and an enhanced DBS check is required. As an equal opportunity employer, they value individuals regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Youth Worker, Youth Support Worker, Community Youth Practitioner, Wellbeing Coach, Youth Mentor, Activities Coordinator, Health and Wellbeing Worker, Outreach Worker, Session Worker, Support Worker, Engagement Worker or Youth Activities Lead. #INDNFP

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.

Hours 25 Hours Per week across 5 days – to include daily play sessions 4-6pm each day. 

Manchester Young Lives is offering an exciting opportunity to join our team as an Early Intervention Worker, providing high-quality pastoral and therapeutic support for children and young people aged 6–14 years.

Following successful delivery for the last three years, we are delighted to be recruiting to a vacancy within our Early intervention team. The Early Intervention role focuses on providing support specifically for children and young people suffering increased levels of anxiety, loss of confidence and self-esteem, missing school or other types of isolation and trauma.

This role involves working directly with children and young people through face-to-face support, while also integrating into Play and Youth Sessions at our Adventure Playgrounds. You will work closely with families, schools, and other education and support agencies to help create the best possible opportunities and outcomes for the children and young people we support.

Based at our Adventure Playgrounds in Moss Side and Ardwick, the successful candidate will bring enthusiasm and passion for working with children and young people, the ability to use creative and innovative approaches to engage, support, and reassure them alongside a strong commitment to making a positive difference within local communities.

Working hours include after-school sessions and evening work, Monday to Friday, with some weekend work required to respond to local needs. Staff may also be required to work across a number of locations as part of the wider team.

ROLE OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE

This is a specialist youth work role with two complementary areas of practice focus: (a) gender-responsive work with girls and gender-diverse young people experiencing or at risk of violence, harmful practices, exploitation, and coercive control; and (b) inclusive practice with neurodivergent young people whose support needs are routinely missed by mainstream youth provision.

VAWG specialism is the primary area of expertise for this role; SEN-aware practice is a complementary area of focus, supported by mentorship and consultation from Angel Shed Theatre and external SEN expertise where deeper input is needed. The role is designed to ensure that the cohorts most often underserved by violence-reduction provision — particularly neurodivergent girls — are reached and supported well.

The post holder will work within MGWT's trauma-informed practice framework, in close collaboration with the Dahlia Project on harmful practices, and within Andover's operational vision.

KEY AREAS AND OUTCOMES

Specialist practice — VAWG and gender-responsive work

• Lead on the design and delivery of a weekly girls and gender-diverse group at Andover, with structured progression and trauma-informed group work practice

• Provide 1:1 keywork to young people experiencing or at risk of gender-based violence, harmful practices (FGM, forced marriage, breast ironing), online and image-based abuse, and coercive control

• Hold a clear understanding of safeguarding pathways for harmful practices and serious youth-on-youth violence, working closely with MGWT's Safeguarding Lead and the Dahlia Project

• Support the wider Andover team to develop gender-responsive practice across all sessions

• Contribute to safety planning for individual young people in collaboration with the Safeguarding Lead

Specialist practice — SEN-aware and neurodivergent-inclusive work

• Co-design and deliver a sensory-aware parallel offer for neurodivergent young people, in partnership with Angel Shed Theatre

• Provide adapted 1:1 support to neurodivergent young people, including those with and without formal diagnosis

• Build and sustain referral relationships with SEN services, schools' SENCos, and partner organisations including the LYTP SEND project

• Support the wider Andover team to develop SEN-aware and trauma-informed practice across all sessions

Outreach, engagement, and youth voice

• Build and sustain trusting relationships with young people from the cohorts the role is designed to reach

• Lead on outreach and engagement activity to reach young people not currently accessing the service, particularly girls, gender-diverse young people, and neurodivergent young people

• Support the embedding of youth voice in the design and review of the specialist offer, with paid lived experience contributors where appropriate

Safeguarding and partnerships

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding pathways relevant to VAWG, harmful practices, and SEN-related vulnerability

• Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead in line with policy

• Work in partnership with the Dahlia Project, Angel Shed Theatre, and external specialist organisations to maintain the quality of practice

• Participate in multi-agency meetings as needed for individual young people

Reporting and learning

• Maintain accurate records of 1:1 keywork, group sessions, and outcomes

• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the VRU Stronger Futures programme and other relevant funded streams

• Contribute to learning and reflective practice across the Andover team

This job description is a broad outline of your main responsibilities. Manor Gardens' employees may be required to undertake other work at times in order to provide flexible services. In addition, all employees are required to:

• Support the broader mission and objectives of MGWT and contribute to its overall strategy

• Contribute to the shared operational effectiveness of MGWT through attendance and contribution to organisational team meetings and working groups

• Ensure organisational data collection and reporting processes are completed as required

• Know and adhere to MGWT policies and procedures

PERSON SPECIFICATION

a)  Specialist knowledge and experience of working with women, girls, or gender-diverse young people affected by violence, harmful practices, exploitation, or coercive control

b)  An understanding of neurodiversity, with willingness to develop SEN-aware practice further through mentorship from Angel Shed Theatre and external training

c)  JNC qualification in youth work, social work, or a related qualification (or working towards), or equivalent specialist experience

d)  At least two years' experience of working with young people in a youth work, community, or specialist support setting

e)  A strong understanding of trauma-informed practice and the principles of safe disclosure

f)  Knowledge of the safeguarding landscape relating to VAWG, harmful practices, and exploitation, including referral pathways in Islington or comparable boroughs

g)  Experience of running group work for young people, including closed groups, with structured progression

h)  Experience of 1:1 keywork or casework with young people experiencing complex harm

i)  Strong relational and communication skills with young people whose trust is hard-won

j)  Ability to work flexibly across after-school and school holiday provision, including evening hours

k)  Lived experience of any of the issues this role addresses is welcomed and valued, although not required

l)  A mature, thoughtful, and reflective approach to equalities, diversity, and the intersection of gender, race, disability, and class

m)  Good IT skills and the ability to maintain accurate records

n)  Willingness to engage in regular reflective supervision

Young People Support Worker

If you are the successful candidate, you will be joining a very tight-knit & supportive team that works tirelessly to ensure some of the most vulnerable individuals in the borough are well-cared for.

Location: Islington

Salary: £29,336 per annum

Closing Date: 21 May, 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5

About the Role

Make a meaningful impact every weekend by supporting young people to build the confidence, skills and resilience they need for independent living. In this 8 placement supported accommodation service, you’ll deliver focused, strengths based support, complete SMART outcome driven plans, and lead risk and needs assessments—helping clients progress with purpose while maintaining a safe and positive environment.

As Young People Support Worker at our service in Islington, you’ll run one to one and group sessions, support new residents to settle in, and work collaboratively with statutory partners to provide joined up, personalised support. With creativity, empathy and strong safeguarding awareness, you’ll motivate clients to engage in education, training, employment and community activities, all under Depaul’s assets based, psychologically informed approach.

Please note that this job opportunity is offered as a full-time (37.5 hours a week), permanent role.

In this role, you will:

· Deliver strengths based, outcome focused support that builds young people’s skills, confidence and independence.

· Complete risk/needs assessments and create concise SMART support plans.

· Run focused 1:1 and group sessions that boost resilience and engagement in EET/volunteering.

· Maintain a safe, positive accommodation environment with strong safeguarding practice.

· Support move ins, tenancy sustainment and day to day wellbeing in the service.

· Work collaboratively with statutory partners and contribute to rota, H&S and team duties.

About You

You believe in people — their strengths, their rights and their potential. You bring empathy, energy and a solution focused mindset to your work. You communicate clearly, stay organised and adapt well in a fast moving environment. You’re committed to inclusion, fairness and continuous learning, and you turn values into meaningful action, whatever your role.

What You’ll Receive

· Tailored training and development

· Flexible working options where suitable

· 26 days annual leave, rising with service

· Family friendly leave policies

· Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%

· Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access

· Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more

· Cash health plan for you and your family

· Death in service benefit

· Access to legal and practical support

Safer Recruitment

The charity is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

About The Organisation

In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 the charity was born.

What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, the charity provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.

#INDNFP

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.