Youth engagement worker jobs

One YMCA provides housing, health, wellbeing, children’s, youth and community services across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. We are committed to helping people reach their full potential and strengthening communities through inclusive, high-quality programmes.

Are you an experienced youth worker ready to take the next step in your development?
Do you enjoy leading sessions, supporting colleagues, and shaping meaningful opportunities for young people?

We are seeking a Senior Youth Development Worker to support the development and delivery of One YMCA’s Universal Youth Work provision in Bedford.

The Role

Reporting to the Youth Work Coordinator, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality youth work for young people aged 9–18. You will lead engaging sessions, support and supervise sessional youth workers, and contribute to the growth and development of One YMCA’s youth work offer in line with the YMCA Youth Work Strategy.

This is a hands-on role combining direct youth work, team support, and partnership engagement. You will help ensure young people feel safe, included, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver and evaluate inclusive youth work sessions for young people aged 9–18
• Lead sessions and act as a positive role model for young people
• Support and supervise sessional youth workers during delivery
• Build and maintain positive relationships with partners, schools and external agencies
• Maintain accurate records to monitor attendance, engagement and outcomes
• Contribute to the development and expansion of One YMCA’s youth work offer, including partnership and funding opportunities
• Promote safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of work

About You

You are passionate about youth work and committed to making a positive difference in young people’s lives. You are confident leading sessions, supporting others, and working collaboratively as part of a team.

You will have:

• Experience delivering youth work (paid or voluntary)
• Confidence leading group sessions and supporting small teams
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• An understanding of inclusive and safeguarding-led practice
• A Level 3 Youth Work qualification, or willingness to work towards one (essential)

Hours and Contract

• Part-time role
• 18 hours per week, salaried on a monthly basis
• Working pattern is flexible but will include evenings and weekends, with most delivery taking place after school

Additional Information

• Interviews will be held on a rolling basis, so early application is encouraged
• Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available)
• This role may require a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, subject to a conditional offer

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: At One YMCA, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We actively promote equality of opportunity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, communities, and experiences.

Accessibility & Adjustments: We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know if you require any support to participate fully.

One YMCA provides housing, health, wellbeing, children’s, youth and community services across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. We are committed to helping people reach their full potential and to strengthening communities through inclusive, high-quality services.

Are you passionate about youth work and ready to lead and shape provision for young people aged 9–18?
Can you inspire, motivate and support young people while coordinating engaging, safe and impactful youth programmes?

One YMCA Youth Clubs provide welcoming and supportive spaces where young people can build confidence, develop life skills, and feel a strong sense of belonging. We are now seeking a Youth Work Coordinator to lead the development and delivery of our Bedford Town Centre Youth Clubs.

The Role

As Youth Work Coordinator, you will take a lead role in the planning, coordination and delivery of youth clubs and activities. You will be responsible for setting up and developing new sessions, coordinating day-to-day delivery, supporting youth workers and volunteers, and ensuring high-quality youth work practice in line with the YMCA Youth Work Strategy and Principles.

You will also work closely with local partners, schools, and community stakeholders to strengthen engagement and create positive opportunities for young people. This is a hands-on role combining direct youth work, outreach, and leadership responsibilities.

The role includes working 2–3 days per week after school, with some evening work required. Additional daytime hours are allocated for planning, coordination, partnership working, and administration, bringing the total to 37.5 hours per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver centre-based and outreach youth work sessions
• Lead the development of new youth clubs and activities
• Support, mentor, and coordinate youth work staff and volunteers
• Build positive relationships with young people aged 9–18
• Work collaboratively with local partners and stakeholders
• Ensure safeguarding, health and safety, and quality standards are met
• Contribute to planning, monitoring, and evaluation of youth provision

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in youth work or a related field (paid or voluntary)
• A strong commitment to inclusive, young person–centred practice
• Ability to coordinate sessions and support a small team
• Strong communication, organisational, and partnership-working skills
• Willingness to undertake a Level 3 or Level 6 qualification in Youth Work (essential)
• An understanding of both outreach and centre-based youth work

What We Offer

• Opportunity to accrue up to 5 additional days of leave
• Paid training and tailored learning and development opportunities
• Free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (including counselling and GP access)
• Employer contributory pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and compassionate leave
• Health and wellbeing initiatives
• Employee discount scheme (brands, travel, groceries, and more)

Additional Information

• This is a full-time role (37.5 hours per week)
• Working pattern includes shifts over 7 days, including evenings
• Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available)
• The role may require a Basic or Enhanced DBS check following a conditional offer

At One YMCA, we actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to our dedicated Youth Work team at One YMCA.

Overview   

At Young Roots, we want to see a compassionate and welcoming society for young people seeking safety. We work alongside young refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, building trusted relationships, providing practical and emotional support and promoting young people’s rights and power.  

Our youth clubs and casework are transformative for young refugees, allowing young people who have fled danger, experienced traumatic journeys, and are often here alone to find community and connection, a space to be a young person, and access support to address a range of practical challenges they face. We also draw on our evidence from working every day with young refugees and asylum seekers to call for change to the laws and policies which are harming young people.  

About the role  

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner with both youth work and casework experience to make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people in the UK asylum system. You will support young people aged 18-25, including those age-assessed as 18+, living in contingency and dispersal accommodation, helping them access social, emotional and practical support as they navigate the asylum system. 

Working closely with Youth Welfare Caseworkers who hold more complex, long-term cases, you will provide early intervention and short-term casework support alongside consistent, relational youth work. You will also contribute to the ongoing monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the service, as required, helping to evidence impact and inform service development. 

This role is primarily based in Brent, where you will coordinate the delivery of the Ahlan youth club with another Youth Welfare Officer and contribute to regular outreach to young people living in local hotels. You will help plan and deliver group sessions, trips and activities, creating safe, engaging and empowering spaces for young people. You will act as a trusted point of contact, building strong relationships, offering one-to-one support, and accompanying, referring and signposting young people to appropriate services, while working closely with colleagues to ensure safeguarding and wellbeing are prioritised. 

You may also be required to support the delivery of our other Youth Welfare youth clubs in Croydon and King’s Cross, and some evening work may be required as part of the role. All work is delivered in line with Young Roots’ values, using a trauma-informed, asset-based and youth-led approach. 

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a personal statement by the closing date outlining how you would be a great fit for the role. 

Your personal statement should be no more than 800 words, answering the following questions: 

1. What is your motivation for working with Young Roots? 
2. What is your motivation for applying for this role specifically? 
3. What skills and experience would you bring that will enable you to be successful in this role?

Please ensure you refer to the minimum requirements on the person specification and provide examples to demonstrate how and where you meet the criteria. 

You may submit your personal statement in writing or via video. 

Please submit your application via CharityJobs. 

Please note that Young Roots is closed from Wednesday, 24 December 2025, and will reopen on Monday, 5 January 2026. There may be a delay in getting back to you during this time. 

No agencies, please. 

Closing date: Midday on Monday, 5 January 2026 

Interviews: week commencing Monday, 12 January 2026 

Young Roots recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equity and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those who face disadvantage in employment, such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities. As an organisation that supports refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, we particularly welcome applications from people within these communities. We offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with lived experience of the asylum system and those with disabilities, where they meet the essential elements of the person specification. If aspects of the application process create barriers to you applying, or if you'd like any adjustments to the process, or an informal discussion or advice on your application, please get in touch. We would also like to alert you to organisations that support people from under-represented groups and can advise you on applying for this role - for example, Scope, Young Women’s Trust, and Experts by Experience.

Young Roots is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. We take this duty very seriously.

Our work is underpinned by policies and procedures which promote safe working practices. We have a training and supervision framework that everyone is expected to comply with, along with systems for monitoring, quality assurance, and collecting service user feedback. Upon joining, you will be expected to be part of this approach to safeguard our service users.

All posts are subject to safer recruitment protocols, which include vetting checks such as enhanced criminal records and barring, scrutiny of employment history, references, and other checks.

Would you like to make a lasting difference in the lives of children affected by domestic abuse? Join an award-winning trauma recovery service provider that is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and families.

Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) is a lifeline for children healing from the trauma of domestic abuse. From April next year, we’re expanding our service and looking for new Triage and Assessment Worker to join our team – helping guide children and families on their healing journey.

Position: Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) Triage and Assessment Worker

Location: Reading with hybrid working arrangements.

Contract: Permanent full time – 37 hours per week, weekdays.

Salary range: £25,735 - £31,453 per annum

About the role:

As Triage and Assessment Worker you will play a significant role in supporting children and families affected by domestic abuse, some of your key responsibilities will include:

· being the first point of contact for families referred to our service

· conducting structured assessments to understand needs

· providing skilled practical help and advice to enable families to reach an informed decision

· presenting cases at internal triage meetings, providing clear recommendations for support pathways.

About you:

As a successful Triage and Assessment Worker, you will have experience of working directly with vulnerable families, ideally within a domestic abuse, safeguarding, or trauma-informed context. You will also have experience of case management and case presentation. With excellent interpersonal skills, you'll actively listen, build trust quickly, and communicate effectively while providing a telephone-based service.

If this sounds like you please visit our website for more information, contact details and to apply today to join a collaborative and dedicated team who are part of something truly meaningful.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those with personal lived experience of domestic abuse or from underrepresented communities, who meet the essential role requirements.

Closing date: 9am, Fri 30 January 2026    

Early applications are encouraged as we may review and appoint on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is secured.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Family Support Worker, Family Key Worker, Children’s Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Key Worker, Recovery Worker, Assistant Support Worker, IDVA Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, ISVA Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, Family Support Triage Worker, Family Triage Support, Domestic Abuse Triage Worker, Domestic Abuse Triage Support Worker, etc.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). The role description provides information on what our safer recruitment enquiries include and the level of DBS required to work in the role.

All opportunities with PACT are based in the UK.

About the Project

The National Lottery funded Meddwl Ymlaen Mind Our Future project is led by The Venture on behalf of the North East Wales partnership. The aim is to empower young people aged 11 to 24 to shape mental health services across Wrexham and Flintshire. Young people will co develop and influence policy, processes and services that affect their mental wellbeing.

Overview of the Role

The Senior Youth Engagement Officer will lead the youth engagement and co production elements of the project. A key part of the role is to lead and facilitate the Young Leaders Advisory Board (YLAB), made up of 11 to 24 year olds who guide the direction of the project. The post holder will support their leadership development, confidence and decision making.

The role also includes developing a strategy to recruit and engage more young people, delivering a calendar of youth led events, and ensuring young voices shape all aspects of the project. The officer will represent Mind Our Future in meetings with stakeholders and support young people recruited into paid roles within the project.

Main Duties

• Lead and facilitate the YLAB, plan and chair meetings, and support members to take an active leadership role.
• Recruit and engage a diverse group of young people to join the YLAB and ensure the group reflects the communities of Wrexham and Flintshire.
• Provide mentoring, coaching and personal development opportunities for young people involved.
• Co design project activities with young people, ensuring their voices guide decisions, planning and evaluation.
• Organise workshops, events and activities and ensure all logistics are managed effectively.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and communicate project updates.
• Recruit and support young people in paid roles within the project, including training, mentoring and ongoing support.
• Act as the designated safeguarding lead for the project including implementing safeguarding procedures, providing guidance, and liaising with authorities when required.
• Contribute to overall project success through planning, evaluation and collaborative teamwork.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism, confidentiality and equality across all work.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential
• Minimum Level 3 qualification in Youth Work
• Clean UK driving licence
• Level 3 safeguarding children in Wales qualification
• Significant experience in a Safeguarding Lead or equivalent role

Desirable
• Diploma or degree in mental health, particularly relating to children and young people
• Health and Safety training

Skills and Abilities

Essential
• Strong communication skills in English
• Experience working with young people and young adults
• Empathy and ability to connect with young people
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Good IT skills including digital communication and online working
• Ability to produce quality reports and presentations
• Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders and motivate young people
• Ability to work collaboratively and create a positive environment
• Ability to travel throughout Wrexham, Flintshire and occasionally across Wales
• Ability to meet deadlines and targets

Desirable
• Welsh language skills
• Ability to adapt communication styles for different needs (for example Makaton)

Experience and Knowledge

Essential
• Significant safeguarding experience
• Knowledge of youth work and youth development
• Understanding of monitoring and evaluation in a youth work setting
• Awareness of youth sub cultures and social media
• Experience of youth participation or consultation
• Understanding of professional boundaries
• Experience implementing Health and Safety and Equalities processes
• Knowledge of Youth Work in Wales: Principles and Purposes and related frameworks
• Knowledge of Data Protection and GDPR
• Understanding of the importance of Welsh language and culture

Desirable
• Experience of co production
• Experience working with diverse groups of young people
• Experience working with varied abilities
• Partnership working experience
• Project management experience or transferable skills

Personal Qualities

Essential
• Trustworthiness
• Commitment to professional development
• Commitment to equality and challenging discrimination
• Integrity, discretion and strong personal drive
• Ability to problem solve and work under pressure
• Compassion and patience
• Strong interpersonal and listening skills
• Genuine care for supporting others
• Fun, engaging and adventurous attitude

Other Requirements

• Ability to carry equipment between locations
• Frequent evening and weekend work will be required
• Enhanced DBS check required

We're Hiring: Play & Youth Work Lead | Doorstep Homeless Families Project

Location: North London

Salary: £28,000 - £31,000 per annum.

Hours: 28 Hours per week - 20 hours face to face and 8 hours for admin

Benefits:

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 5% of gross salary
• 30 days paid holiday

The hours onsite will be worked over Monday, Tuesday Thursday and Friday, with normal working hours falling between 9.30am ( the earliest start) and 8pm (the latest finish).

Job Introduction

At Doorstep, we open more than just doors — we open possibilities.

Every day, we stand alongside families experiencing homelessness, providing a safe, welcoming space within a large family hostel where children can play, learn, and simply be themselves.

We are looking for a passionate and creative Lead Play and Youth Worker to guide and inspire our work with children and young people aged 0–18. This is a special role — one that blends leadership, imagination, and empathy. You will manage a small, dedicated team, shaping and delivering play and youth activities that bring light, laughter, and a sense of belonging to children whose early experiences have often been marked by instability.

At Doorstep, relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We work with families over years, not weeks — building trust, celebrating progress, and helping each young person discover their strengths. Our unique model of support is widely respected and deeply valued, and this role offers the chance to make a genuine, lasting difference in young lives.

If you are someone who believes in the power of play, creativity, and care to transform childhoods — we would love to hear from you.

About the Role

As Lead Play and Youth Worker at Doorstep, you’ll be at the heart of our mission — creating moments of joy, stability, and growth for children and young people who are living through uncertain times. No two days are the same. One moment you might be leading an energetic after-school club session; the next, you’re supporting teens to express themselves through art, music, or discussion.

You’ll manage and inspire a small, talented team of play and youth workers, ensuring that every activity we offer — whether it’s creative play, learning support, or outdoor adventure — reflects Doorstep’s core values of respect, belonging, and hope. You’ll plan and deliver programmes across all age groups (0–18 years), adapting to the needs and interests of children and young people as they grow.

Collaboration is central to this role. You’ll work closely with families, colleagues, and partner organisations to provide continuity and care, helping to make Doorstep a place where children feel seen, valued, and free to thrive.

This is not just a leadership role — it’s an opportunity to build something lasting. Your creativity, empathy, and commitment will help shape the next chapter of Doorstep’s play and youth work, ensuring that every child who walks through our doors is met with warmth, opportunity, and care.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, supervise, and support a small team of play and youth workers and volunteers.
• Provide regular supervision, guidance, and professional development opportunities to team members.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment that reflects Doorstep’s values.

Programme Planning and Delivery

• Design, plan, and deliver a varied programme of play, creative, and youth activities for children and young people aged 0–18 years.
• Ensure all activities are engaging, developmentally appropriate, and responsive to the needs and interests of participants.
• Encourage children and young people to express themselves, build confidence, and develop positive relationships.
• Plan and oversee trips, events, and holiday programmes, ensuring safety and inclusivity at all times.

Safeguarding and Wellbeing

• To fulfill the statutory responsibilities of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Take responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people involved in Doorstep’s services.
• Ensure staff and volunteers follow safeguarding procedures and receive appropriate training.
• Respond appropriately to any concerns, working in partnership with relevant agencies where necessary.

Partnership and Family Engagement

• Build positive, trusting relationships with parents, carers, and families, encouraging their involvement in children’s play and learning.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and partner organisations to enhance support for families.
• Represent Doorstep at relevant meetings, forums, and networks to share best practice and strengthen partnerships.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Administration

• Maintain accurate records of attendance, participation, and outcomes in line with organisational requirements.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes to demonstrate impact and inform future development.
• Support funding applications and project reports by providing relevant data and case studies.

General Duties

• Uphold Doorstep’s ethos, values, and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Contribute to the overall running and development of Doorstep as a small, specialist organisation.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required to support the effective delivery of Doorstep’s mission.

About You

Experience and Knowledge

• Relevant qualification in playwork, youth work, early years, or a related field (Level 3 or above) or equivalent.
• Significant experience of planning, delivering, and evaluating play and youth activities for children and young people aged 0–18 years.
• Experience of supervising or managing staff and/or volunteers within a play, youth, or community setting.
• Strong understanding of child development and the role of play in supporting wellbeing, resilience, and growth.
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures.
• Experience of working with families facing disadvantage, housing instability, or other complex challenges.
• Understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion, and commitment to anti-discriminatory practice.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with children, young people, parents, and professionals.
• Creative and resourceful approach to planning activities that engage children of different ages and abilities.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and support a small team to achieve shared goals.
• Confidence in managing behaviour in a positive, trauma-informed way.
• Competent IT skills for administration, reporting, and communication purposes.

Personal Qualities

• Warm, approachable, and empathetic, with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for families experiencing homelessness.
• Reliable, flexible, and resilient in the face of challenging circumstances.
• Reflective, open to learning, and committed to professional development.
• Enthusiastic about play and youth work as powerful tools for change and belonging

How to Apply

Please apply with your CV and a covering letter stating why you would like the job and what you believe you can bring to it.

Closing date for applications is Friday 16th January 2026.

Interviews will take place week commencing 2nd February 2026.

As our HyPE Manager you will set up, embed and lead the implementation of Voyage’s Horizons Youth Programme for the Environment, a pioneering employability, mentoring and wellbeing programme combining a weekly Job Club, renewable energy and green-skills training, construction pathways and embedded therapeutic support linked to employment opportunities delivered in partnership with Repowering London, New city College and Talking Quest. 

The postholder will oversee recruitment, delivery and progression impact and outcomes for young people (16–21) from New City College, PRUs, Youth Offending Teams, courts, social workers and local schools, ensuring they are supported into education, apprenticeships, training or work. We are currently exploring expansion possibilities for the long term unemployed, as an alternative to custody and for refugee communities. We seek someone who can help embed the programme in the community college and assist our plans to expand.

Overview

Change Grow Live are a charity dedicated to the belief that we can make a difference to our Service Users lives.   

Our core values are ‘Be open, be compassionate and be bold’ and our teams apply these daily offering support and respect in a safe environment, treating each user as an individual and working with them to find the right treatment and care options.    

We are looking for a passionate and experienced professional to lead the development of our Affected Others service, supporting children, young people (CYP), and families impacted by familial substance misuse. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow a service that makes a real difference in breaking cycles of harm and building resilience.

Where: Buckinghamshire (Countywide)

Full Time Hours: 37.5 per week

Full Time Salary Range: £32,002.35- £34,214.20*

*Please note: Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours. 

Responsibilities

About the Role
As the lead for this specialist area, you will:

• Drive the design and delivery of innovative interventions for children, young people and families affected by substance misuse.
• Develop group programmes, resources, and training to strengthen whole-family approaches.
• Build strong partnerships with key stakeholder such as adult substance misuse services, schools, children’s services, and health professionals to ensure seamless referral pathways.
• Develop and deliver training and consultation to external partners and stakeholders on the issues facing young people affected by substance misuse of others. 
• Champion safeguarding and best practice across the service.
• Hold a caseload of complex and high-risk cases involving children, young people, and families, delivering whole-family support, including parenting programmes and harm reduction strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate service impact, ensuring continuous improvement.

About You
We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in working with families facing multiple risk factors, including parental substance misuse.
• Skilled in delivering 1:1 and group interventions and developing new programmes.
• Knowledgeable about safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Qualified to Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent).
• A strong communicator and collaborator, able to influence and lead within multi-agency settings.
• You will need to work flexibly countywide across Buckinghamshire so must hold a full UK driving license and have access to a car.

What we Offer

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays) rising by 1 day for each years’ service “Capped at 30 days” 
• Paid ‘Wellness’ hour each week along with a ‘Wellness’ hub and Employee Assist Programme 
• Contributory pension scheme 
• A great selection of benefits incl. discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc. 
• Opportunity to lead and shape a vital service alongside a friendly and supportive team 
• Training, career development & progression opportunities 
• Refer a friend scheme.

Please ensure that when completing your application form and supporting statement, you reflect on the details outlined in the job description. This will help us understand how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the role. 

Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For applicants with time-limited visas, unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or extensions.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Direct applications only — we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy.

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 28 to 30 (£32,002.35 - £34,214.20)

ILW / OLW /Fringe

N/A - Outside London Weighting Area

Interview Date

23/1/2026

Closing Date

12/1/2026

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.

The Youth Endowment Fund  

Senior Change Manager, Youth Justice 

Reports to: Change Lead for Diversion

Salary:  £52,700 per annum  

Location:  Central London or Hybrid*(see below) 

Contract: (2-year fixed term – potential to extend)

Closing date for applications: 12pm Monday 12th January 2026 

Interview dates: Week commencing 26th January 2026 

About the Youth Endowment Fund 

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.

In recent years violent crime has risen significantly. Homicides, assaults, robberies and offences involving weapons have all seen sustained growth. We have also seen large increases in violent crime involving children and young people. This is a tragedy. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them.

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is a charity with a £200m endowment and a mission that matters. We exist to prevent children becoming involved in violence. Our mission is to find what works and build a movement to put it into practice. A big part of the movement that we need to build is in the world of youth justice. We need to inspire and connect with youth justice leaders across England and Wales to spread what works and make our country safer for some of our most vulnerable children. We are looking for someone to lead on making this happen.

Key Responsibilities  

We are making good progress building the evidence of what works within and around youth justice to reduce violence. This year, in conjunction with the Centre for Justice Innovation, we published Diversion Practice Guidance and have recently launched our new self-evaluation tool for diversion practice (ORPIC). But the big risk is that we publish these resources and nothing changes. That’s where you come in.

Your role is to work out the best way to make this change happen by getting youth justice services (YJSs) and police forces to adopt evidence-based practice through our new change programme: the Whole Area Model (WAM). WAM helps police forces and youth justice services strengthen diversion practices by aligning their work with the 7 C’s: 

1. Culture – A child-centred, pro-diversion ethos 

1. Contact – Interactions are trauma-informed and maximise prevention and safeguarding opportunities 

1. Custody – Considered use of police custody, prioritising alternatives and swift triage. 

1. Criteria – Clear, consistent eligibility for diversion. 

1. Collaboration – Multi-agency decision-making panels; shared protocols and referral pathways.

1. Care – Evidence-based support, monitoring engagement, closing cases responsibly.

1. Checks – Ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and scrutiny to ensure quality and equity. 

Your role will involve: 

• Supporting the delivery of the Whole Area Model through activities like: 

• Facilitating completions of diversion self-evaluations with youth justice services and police forces. 

• Delivering training to youth justice, police and other relevant agencies about the evidence-base or specific areas of diversionary practice and governance (e.g. scrutiny panels). 

• Supporting the ongoing development of a National Diversion Network, which will contribute to a wider repository of diversion resources and evidence

• Identifying and creating practical resources which help youth justice professionals and police officers to put evidence into practice. 

• Developing great relationships with senior leaders, youth justice workers and police officers, generating a strong understanding of key issues and needs in relation to youth justice matters, and building credibility and trust with the sector.

• Working out other effective ways to connect people with the evidence, then making those things happen, from virtual learning events to presentations. 

As a senior member of staff in the organisation you also: 

• Build a culture where it is natural to perform well and support colleagues brilliantly.

• Contribute to setting the strategy, delivering results and building and modelling the culture that we need to succeed.

About You 

You must have this sort of experience: 

• You’ve changed frontline practice and/or systems:You have significant experience in leading behaviour, practice or policy changes within a youth justice setting. You can show how these have been effective in delivering tangible change.

• You’re working in or around the youth justice service, preferably in a role/setting specifically working with children who are vulnerable to or involved in violence.  

• You work well in multi-agency environments: You have experience collaborating across police, youth justice, local authorities and other partners, and you can communicate confidently with a wide range of stakeholders to build alignment and drive change. 

You might have this sort of experience: 

• Supporting a youth justice team/service to reflect on and adopt evidence-based practice in relation to diversion or wider youth justice activities.

You are this sort of person: 

• You are fascinated about change and are experienced in making it happen. You have outstanding analytical judgment alongside the emotional intelligence and experience needed to identify the right opportunities for change, then make them happen. You understand why people find change difficult. You come alive talking about how people make decisions and why they do the things they do. 

• You understand the youth justice sector and diversion specifically. You really understand how the youth justice sector works, from leaders to frontline officers.

• You write in a way that people easily understand. You have that rare skill of writing in plain English. You have experience of translating complex information into plain writing that everyone can understand.

• You have excellent project and time management skills and the ability to design and deliver high quality outputs such as reports and digital resources to a high standard.

• You win people over. People tend to warm to you and respect you. You have built good relationships with very senior people and with very junior people. You are good at chairing meetings, connecting people and having good introductory meetings. You are comfortable talking to a government minister, a youth worker, a company CEO, a teacher and a 15-year-old student. Listening to people from all backgrounds matters to you.

• You learn fast but remain humble. You are very quick at getting your head around things. You like learning. You are very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know. You know that you can learn more. You know that it's easy to assume you know when you don't. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You are a great and supportive team player. 

• You don't want young your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in reducing violence.

• You understand people. You understand what the lives of vulnerable young people can be like, and you understand some of the organisations that work with them, ideally through first-hand experience.

• You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of violence affecting children and young people. 

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

Hybrid Working 

Our office is located in Central London. Team members who reside within the 32 London Boroughs or are within a 90-minute commute are expected to attend the office at least two days per week. 

For those living outside of London but within England, Scotland, or Wales, the expectation is to work from the London office two days per month. 

Travel  

Due to the nature of the programme there is some national travel required within England and Wales. This is likely to be up to five times per month; all travel costs can be reimbursed with flexibility for overnight stays if preferred.

To Apply 

Please click on the "Apply for this" button and submit your CV, your completed monitoring form and ensure your covering letter answers the following three questions below. Please submit your application by 12pm Monday 12th January 

When applying for this role, please ensure that you answer the application questions below:    

Personal and professional experiences in violence prevention
1. What personal and professional experiences shape your understanding of the youth justice sector and its role in preventing youth violence? (max 400 words) 

Developing strategy
2. Can you describe a time when you successfully supported youth justice partnership leaders to improve their practice or systems? Please be specific about the scale and context of your involvement. (max 400 words) 

Improving practice or systems 
3. Describe your experience improving diversion for children. What actions did you take, what impact did they have, and what did you learn? (max 400 words) 

Interview Process 

This will likely be a one stage interview process. Interviews will take place the week of 26th January 2026. 

Please Note: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well. 

Benefits Include 

• £1,000 professional development budget annually 

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays 

• Four half days for volunteering activities 

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support 

• Volunteering days - 4 half days per year 

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary 

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm 

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans 

• Employer contributed pension of 5%. 

Your Data 

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful, and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area. 
 

Location: Cambridge, England (Travel required to all Baca Services locations)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £24,754 - £28,454 per annum FTE plus Cambridge living allowance of £2301 per annum.

Working Hours: 37.5 hrs per week (including evening and weekend hours on a rota)

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young people seeking safety and a fresh start?

Join Baca, a dedicated organisation supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 16–18. We’re looking for a compassionate, proactive, and resilient Support Worker to help young people rebuild their lives with dignity, hope, and purpose.

What You’ll Do

As a Support Worker, you’ll provide holistic, therapeutic support to young people transitioning to adulthood. Your role will include:

• Supporting physical and emotional wellbeing
• Encouraging engagement in education, employment, and training
• Promoting social inclusion and personal safety
• Teaching essential life skills like cooking, budgeting, and cleaning
• Building trusted relationships and being a positive role model
• Collaborating with social workers, volunteers, and external agencies
• Maintaining accurate records and contributing to support plans

We’re seeking someone who is:

• Empathetic and resilient, with a genuine passion for supporting young asylum seekers
• Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple priorities
• A strong communicator, both written and verbal
• A team player, who thrives in a diverse, multicultural environment
• Flexible, with the ability to work occasional evenings and weekends

Essential Requirements

• Alignment with Baca’s values and mission.
• Experience working with young people (1:1 and group settings)
• Understanding of safeguarding and child protection
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Enhanced DBS check (required)

Desirable

• Experience working with unaccompanied asylum seekers or trafficked young people
• Knowledge of asylum processes and trafficking risks
• Experience working cross-culturally and with statutory agencies

Why Join Baca?

At Baca, you’ll be part of a passionate team committed to empowering young people to thrive. We offer:

• A supportive and inclusive work culture
• Ongoing training and development
• Opportunities to make a lasting impact

How to Apply:

If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young asylum seekers and have the skills and attributes we are looking for, we would love to hear from you.

Please note we cannot provide sponsorship for this role. We are not on the Home Office list. Further information about the role, competencies and experience can be found on our website.

Schools and Programme Coordinator / Senior Coordinator – (London)

Salary: Coordinator/Senior Coordinator £28,860 – £34,500 depending on experience. (Salaries over £29,900 reserved for more senior/experienced candidates only).

Contract: Full time permanent contract

Location: Main Office - London Scottish House, 95 Horseferry Rd, London SW1P 2DX.

We are seeking Coordinators to work in London

Reporting to: Programme Hub Manager

About the Role:

We are seeking to expand our committed team of Programme Coordinators and Senior Coordinators who work directly with young people, supporting them to discover and achieve their best next step on their route to a successful career.

Our Coordinators work with young people studying in schools and colleges who face barriers to higher education and employment. Working closely with Careers Leads, Pastoral Support Workers and Referral Partners this role requires excellent relationship management skills to build trusted relationships with key stakeholders and young people as well as local construction and built environment employers who are fundamental to the successful delivery of inspiring world of work programmes.

About You

What we’re looking for in our new Coordinator(s) includes:

· Enthusiastic about connecting young people to opportunities, particularly those facing barriers to work.

· Have a ‘can-do’ attitude, as a small charity you will be expected to get involved in a variety of our programmes and activities – including development of our programmes and processes

· Be able to work within established programme structures, but still be responsive to the individual needs of employers and young people  

· IT literate and digitally savvy

· Ability to communicate professionally with a range of people including young people, schools, funders, universities, industry representatives, training providers and community organisations.

· A willingness to learn about career opportunities offered by the modern construction and wider built environment sector.

· We would expect Senior Coordinator to be experienced practitioners who can take responsibility for a significant area of work, proactively driving good practice across organisation and demonstrating a constructive and solutions-focussed leadership

· Ideally educated to Level 3 (BTEC, A- Level, etc) or equivalent experience.

Make a big impact with a dynamic small charity transforming young people’s lives London.

Construction Youth Trust is an ambitious and innovative charity whose mission to inspire and enable young people to overcome barriers and achieve their full career potential. Social mobility is at the heart of our work, and we prioritise working with young people from low-income backgrounds and those who are facing significant barriers to employment.

We help young people recognise their potential, develop their confidence and skills and discover career opportunities never previously presented to them. Through our long-standing partnerships with employers in the construction and built environment sector (over 200+ across London), we connect young people to relatable role models, world of work experiences and ultimately rewarding jobs and apprenticeships. The built environment is at the forefront of the drive towards achieving net zero and future economic growth, offering young people substantial opportunity for career progression.

The Construction Youth Trust team works in a fast-paced environment, so we’re looking for someone who is well-organised, detail-oriented and will be proactive in finding effective solutions. You should have excellent communication skills, the ability to build relationships and a willingness to learn.

At the Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We are looking for candidates who share our dedication to this commitment. All roles involve safer recruitment practices therefore an Enhanced Disclosure with Barred List check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will be carried out.

We strongly believe that a diverse and inclusive team is vital to our work. We are especially interested in hearing from individuals from a minority ethnic background and/or those with a lived experience of the young people we support.

What we offer:

You’ll be eligible for many of our benefits including:

· 25 days annual leave per year which increases by a day each year after 2 years’ service up to a maximum annual leave entitlement of 30 days per year

· An additional discretionary “Day for You”, (pro rata for part-time)

· Opportunity to take a 6-week sabbatical after 3 years of service

· The Trust’s contributory pension scheme after three months – The charity will match your employee contribution up to 7%

· All travel expenses covered over and above your regular commute to and from work. Any extra travel for work purposes will be reimbursed.

· Access to Workplace Options EAP (a provider of employee support services)

· Opportunity to Work from Home

· Opportunity to take part in the wider team’s wellbeing and social activities

· A supportive Training and Development policy which encourages colleagues to develop as professionals and achieve relevant qualifications (e.g. CIOF’s Certificate in Fundraising).

How to Apply

If you are passionate about improving the life chances of young people, especially those facing disadvantage and exclusion, we'd love to hear from you! Please complete the application form  explaining why you're interested in this role and how you meet the person specification.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Closing date: 9am on 23rd January 2026. However, we reserve the right to close recruitment for these roles ahead of the deadline once we reach a suitable number of applications. We may also interview candidates as we receive suitable applications and close the application deadline earlier if a successful candidate is found. 

A second interview may also be required.

You can access the Application Form, Job Description and Person Specification for this via this Charity Jobs site.

Would you like to become a vital part of our collaborative and innovative team to make a lasting difference to families?

We are looking for a Social Worker or Senior Social Worker to join our team, based from either Milton Keynes or London.

We believe that every child deserves a loving and supportive home. We are committed to providing the highest quality services to help make that a reality, and we are proud of our three successive outstanding ratings with Ofsted.

Position: Social Worker or Senior Social Worker

Location: Based in either our Milton Keynes or our London team, with hybrid working arrangements in place for both home and office working, and travel covering Milton Keynes, North London and surrounding areas.

Contract: Permanent full time – 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Salary Ranges: Social Worker - Salary in the range of £34,053 - £41,620 per annum. Senior Social Worker - Salary in the range of £39,292 - £48,022 per annum.  If based from our London office, a location allowance of £3,299 per annum will be payable.

About the role:

Our Social Worker/Senior Social Worker’s role is a pivotal one within our Adoption service.  Some of your responsibilities will include:

· undertaking ‘home study’ assessments (PARs) and present these to the adoption panel

· support families throughout the matching process and once children are placed, up until the Adoption Order

· participating in recruitment activities and training for prospective adopters

About you:

As a Social Worker, you’ll bring a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in childcare social work and as a Senior Social Worker, a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience. You’ll have an understanding of child development and the impact on behaviour of interrupted development. You’ll have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity, equity and inclusion within service delivery.

If this sounds like you then visit our website to apply today to join a dedicated team who are part of something truly meaningful. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please visit our website for contact details for our Adoption Team Manager.

Early applications are encouraged as we may review and appoint on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is secured.

Closing date: 9am, Tuesday 06 January 2026

Interviews will be held on: Tuesday 13 January 2026

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Adoption Social Worker, Adoption Senior Social Worker, Adoption Support Social Worker, Independent Social Worker, Fostering Social Worker, Independent Reviewing Officer, Supervising Social Worker, Children’s Social Worker, Child Protection or Safeguarding Hub Social Worker, Looked After Children’s Social Worker, etc. 

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). The role description provides information on what our safer recruitment enquiries include and the level of DBS required to work in the role.

All opportunities with PACT are based in the UK.

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 50,000 young people each year at its 44 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 someone 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 fixed-term contract as an Education Worker at our
centre in Oxford.

Location: IntoUniversity Oxford South East
Contract: Full-time, fixed-term until April 2027
Applications close: 9am Tuesday 6th January 2026
Start date: January 2026

Salary

£28,250 per annum

What could my day look like?

The Education Worker role is a frontline, fast-paced and rewarding role where no two weeks will look the same. A typical day will have different activities, possibly spread between the IntoUniversity centre, partner schools and the offices of a corporate partner.

In the morning, you might be setting off with resources to run a workshop for sixth-form students in their secondary school. In the afternoon you may be setting up the classroom ahead of running Primary Academic Support for young people in your IntoUniversity centre. On other days, you may be travelling to a corporate partner to run a business simulation workshop for 15 year-olds or leading a group of final year primary school students on a campus visit for their graduation.

As an Education Worker, you’ll always be delivering the programme as part of your centre team, which means that any delivery is always a team effort. 

Join an award-winning trauma recovery service provider that is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and families.

Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) is a lifeline for children healing from the trauma of domestic abuse. We’re expanding our service and looking for new Support Workers to join our team – helping guide children and families on their healing journey.

Position: Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) Support Worker

Location: Reading office with hybrid working arrangements and frequent travel. Role covers casework activity across Reading, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and Oxford City.

Contract: Permanent part time – 15 hours per week, weekdays.

We’re open to discussing working patterns that match both your needs and our service delivery.

Salary range: £10,433 - £12,751 pro-rata per annum (full time equivalent range £25,735 - £31,453 per annum) 

About the role:

As a Support Worker you will play a significant role in supporting children and families affected by domestic abuse, some of your key responsibilities will include:

· the completion of assessments to understand the needs of families

· delivering group work for children and parents

· provide 1-2-1 sessions to children and families most in need

· supporting our families through providing outreach support 

About you:

A successful Support Worker will need a good understanding of domestic abuse and the impact on children and families (or an interest in working in this field), with experience of delivering groupwork programmes for vulnerable parents and/or children.

If this sounds like you please visit our website to join a collaborative and dedicated team who are part of something truly meaningful.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those with personal lived experience of domestic abuse or from underrepresented communities, who meet the essential role requirements.

Closing date: 9am, Fri 30 January 2026

Early applications are encouraged as we may review and appoint on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is secured.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Family Support Worker, Family Key Worker, Children’s Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Key Worker, Recovery Worker, Assistant Support Worker, IDVA Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, ISVA Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, etc.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). The role description provides information on what our safer recruitment enquiries include and the level of DBS required to work in the role.

All opportunities with PACT are based in the UK.