Youth worker jobs in London

Part Time 28 hours pw over 4 days / Service operates 9-5pm

Whitechapel, London - The Royal London Hospital and Community

Ref: TRC-261

Closing date: 31/07/2026

Are you an engaging, collaborative and highly organised individual with experience of working with ‘high risk,’ vulnerable young people, working effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and have a flexible and empathetic approach to your work? 

If so, join St Giles Trust as our Trauma Caseworker, where you will play a key role in our award-winning youth violence service at the Royal London Hospital, which supports vulnerable victims of violence aged 11-25. 

About St Giles Trust 
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others. 

St Giles is expanding its delivery of hospital-based projects; this service is aimed at vulnerable 10 to 25-year-olds who attend the adult or paediatric emergency department or Urgent Care Centre at Whipps Cross ED. We will work alongside hospital staff to proactively identify vulnerable young people and help them to access and engage the support they need to prevent any potential escalation of violence and reduce the risk of repeat victimisation or exploitation.

About this key role 
You will be embedded in the trauma team, working closely with clinicians and hospital staff to provide support for young people admitted to the Major Trauma Centre right through to their discharge back into the community, including access to appropriate longer-term support. You will be expected to identify and provide a comprehensive and holistic assessment, advice, referral and support service to young victims of violence people, exploring innovative and effective ways of supporting them which will reduce their risk of re-victimisation.  

You will produce support and risk management plans based on your assessments, promoting inter-agency collaboration in the assessment and planning process, and develop and maintain relationships with partner agencies.  We will also count on you to deliver a holistic support service, working solo or with colleagues as the situation dictates, providing a practical service that will include social and housing support, accompanying to appointments, benefits work, debt advice, liaising with utilities, appearing in court, DIY and cleaning. 

What we are looking for
You will be passionate about support and uplifting Children and Young people and want to make a difference within the community for the betterment of Children and Young People. You’ll also have an understanding of dominant youth culture and be relatable. You’ll need:

• A good understanding of the communities we support, including barriers certain communities face as well as the drivers of violence and exploitation
• Substantial experience of providing support, advice and advocacy 
• Substantial experience of assessing the needs of children and young people who at risk of significant harm  
• Experience of working as part of a multi-agency team, working together to achieve positive outcomes for young people
• Experience of assessing risk and implementing safety procedures as they relate to children and young people
• A knowledge of relevant services for young people and their families in the service provision area.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, both verbal and written.

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.

We are an equity and inclusion-confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.
 

About Katherine Low Settlement   

Katherine Low Settlement is a busy, local charity that has been serving Battersea and the wider Wandsworth community since 1924. We are dedicated to building stronger communities and enable people to challenge and find ways out of poverty and isolation.   

We run a range of our own community services to support local older people and children, young people, and their families from refugee communities. We campaign for social change. We incubate and support other charities and social businesses to thrive. Each week we work with 30+ charities and community groups supporting more than 1,000 people. 

About the Role

The Lead Youth Worker plays a key role in shaping, coordinating and delivering high-quality youth provision within the Future Foundations programme at KLS. Reporting to the Head of Future Foundations, this role combines hands-on youth work with leadership, coordination and safeguarding responsibility, ensuring that children and young people are supported through safe, inclusive and engaging activities that promote their personal, social and educational development.

You will lead on the planning, delivery and evaluation of homework clubs, youth activities, trips and holiday programmes, while line-managing and supporting two Youth Workers and supervising interns and volunteers. You will work closely with families, schools, community partners and colleagues across KLS to provide joined-up, responsive support for young people. This is a people-centred leadership role requiring strong safeguarding practice, excellent organisational skills, and the ability to build trusting relationships. You will champion youth voice, promote positive behaviour and inclusion, and contribute to continuous improvement through reflection, data and learning.

Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 3 August 2026.

Key Responsibilities 

Youth Club & Holiday Programme 

• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of the youth club for newly arrived young people, within Future Foundations, ensuring sessions are safe, inclusive, engaging and developmentally appropriate. 

• Develop session plans and programmes that support young people’s learning, wellbeing and confidence, using participatory and youth-led approaches. 

• Lead the delivery of the weekly youth club, including wellbeing activities, workshops and targeted interventions for newly arrived young people. 

• Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of school holiday provision, including half-term, Easter and summer programmes, ensuring appropriate staffing, safeguarding and risk management arrangements are in place. 

• Work closely with the youth caseworker to encourage engagement and participation of young people at Southfields Academy International Department with the youth club. 

Safeguarding, Behaviour & Inclusion 

• Ensure all practice aligns with safeguarding policies and supports young people’s personal, social and educational development. 

• Maintain accurate safeguarding records, risk assessments and incident reports. 

• Lead on behaviour management and restorative approaches, supporting staff, volunteers and young people to resolve issues constructively

• Deliver safeguarding briefings and provide ongoing guidance and support to volunteers and interns. 

• Promote a culture of safety, inclusion, respect and positive behaviour across all activities. 

People Management & Support 

• Line-manage and support two youth workers through regular supervision, mentoring, appraisal and performance management. 

• Support with supervising interns, including managing timetables, providing guidance and coordinating with KLS colleagues. 

• Work with the Head of Volunteering and youth team to recruit, support, train and develop volunteers and interns, ensuring they understand their responsibilities and contribute safely and confidently to activities 

• Coordinate workloads across the youth team, ensuring staff, volunteers and interns are appropriately supported, work safely and maintain consistent standards of practice.

Youth, Family & Community Engagement 

• Build strong, trusting relationships with young people and their families, ensuring clear communication and inclusive engagement. 

• Liaise with families/carers to share information about activities, expectations and support needs. 

• Build and maintain effective relationships with local youth organisations, schools and partner agencies. 

• Represent KLS at relevant meetings, forums and community events. 

• Refer young people and families to internal casework, advice or external services as appropriate. 

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting 

• Support the Head of Future Foundations with monitoring outcomes, collecting feedback and using data to improve programme quality. 

• Maintain accurate records, including registers, consent forms and monitoring data. 

• Contribute to internal and external reporting, including funder and trustee reports. 

• Contribute evidence, case studies and monitoring information to funding applications, reports and evaluation processes. 

• Ensure the voices, experiences and ideas of young people inform programme development, decision-making and evaluation. 

Resources, Budgets & Planning 

• Monitor expenditure and manage resources, equipment and activity budgets in line with agreed financial procedures. 

• Ensure effective use of resources and value for money across youth provision. 

• Support the planning of annual programmes of activity in collaboration with colleagues, young people and families. 

Collaboration & Organisational Contribution 

• Work closely with colleagues across Future Foundations to provide high-quality, joined-up support. 

• Coordinate the School Years Working Group, supporting colleagues to share learning, collaborate effectively and deliver consistent, high-quality programmes across Future Foundations.

• Communicate effectively across teams to enhance service delivery and organisational learning. 

• Participate in supervision, appraisals, training and reflective practice. 

• Work in line with KLS’s values, policies and procedures at all times. 

Person Specification 

Essential Experience 

• Experience of working with refugee communities and/or children and young people and/or other vulnerable groups, with a strong focus on placing participants’ needs at the centre of service planning and delivery. 

• Experience of planning, delivering and contributing to reporting for projects within the voluntary or community sector (preferably with refugee or sanctuary-seeking communities). 

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain high professional standards. 

• Experience of working sensitively with young people affected by mental health challenges and past trauma, with an empathetic, non-judgemental approach and the ability to build supportive but appropriately boundaried relationships. 

• Up-to-date knowledge of best practice in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and the ability to apply this in practice. 

• Confident IT skills, including use of the Microsoft Office suite, email, internet-based tools and social media. 

• Commitment to KLS’s mission, vision and values. 

• Passion for social justice, education and championing the strengths of families from refugee and sanctuary-seeking communities. 

Desirable Experience 

• Demonstrable experience of managing and supporting volunteers. 

• A recognised qualification in youth work, teaching or a related field. 

• Experience of monitoring and evaluating projects, including collecting evidence of impact and contributing to reports for funders. 

• Ability to communicate in another language, particularly Arabic, Somali, Farsi, Amharic and/or Tigrinya. 

• Knowledge of Battersea, Wandsworth or similar local communities. 

Other Requirements

• Willingness to work evenings - Monday or Tuesday evenings are a requirement and occasional Wednesday and Thursday evenings 

• Enhanced DBS check required (to be undertaken upon appointment) 

• Participate in regular supervision and annual appraisals; help to identify your own job related development and training needs. 

• Always work with anti-discriminatory, empowering practice, ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 

• Adhere to Katherine Low Settlement’s code of confidentiality, safeguarding and equal opportunities policies.

• Undertake your role in a professional manner and maintain a high-quality standard of work in accordance with the aims, values and ethos of KLS. 

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage effectively with young people, families, colleagues and partner organisations. 

• Ability to motivate, support and encourage young people to build confidence, skills and aspirations. 

• Ability to work effectively as part of a small team, while also working independently, using initiative. 

Further Information  

• Katherine Low Settlement is committed to equal opportunities.

• All offers to work at Katherine Low Settlement are subject to two satisfactory references, which is standard KLS policy applicable to all roles. KLS also ask for an enhanced DBS check.

• You will adhere to matters of confidentiality concerning this role and the KLS team.

• An induction is given to new staff, which includes sharing our policies and procedures relevant to this post.

• There is a 6-month probation period for this role.   

About KLS’ Future Foundations education team 

Future Foundations is an education programme of Katherine Low Settlement. Since 2004, KLS’ Future Foundations education team of 10 part-time staff and over 100 volunteers, have supported young refugees and their families in Battersea and the London Borough of Wandsworth to thrive in their education. Through mentoring, family support, casework and homework clubs, we provide the tailored support each young person and their family (if they have one) needs to overcome the barriers to education they face at home and school. 

Key Objectives for this Role 

Working closely with the Lead Youth Worker and Youth Worker you will help create safe, engaging and inclusive opportunities for children and young people to learn, build confidence and develop positive relationships. 

Homework Clubs 

• Support the running and planning of two weekly homework clubs for children age 5 - 14.

• Contribute to the development of engaging session plans and learning activities. 

• Research and source resources and materials to support activities and learning.

• Support to plan and run engaging and fun activities/ongoing projects for children attending the clubs.

• Use participatory approaches to ensure young people help shape activities and programme development.

• Encourage children and young people to take ownership of activities and contribute to decision-making within the clubs Implement our behaviour management policy and work from a trauma informed perspective. 

• Support the registration and onboarding of new participants, ensuring records and consent information are accurate and up to date Liaise with families/carers when necessary. 

• Maintain accurate records, registers, case studies, feedback, photographs and other monitoring information in line with organisational requirements and funding obligations.

• Maintain excellent safeguarding practices. 

• Support the wider Future Foundations team to identify support needs and make referrals to appropriate external services and partner organisations.

• Provide cover for youth, mentoring and homework club sessions when required.

Trips and activities  

• Support the planning and delivery of an annual programme of educational, recreational and enrichment activities, including trips during school holidays.

• Ensure that this is done in collaboration with children, young people, their families and other KLS projects. 

• Assist with the summer programme development, organisation and delivery.

Teamwork and reporting 

• Work with Future Foundations team members to coordinate work, refer young people and/or parents/carers to our casework and advice team. 

• Work with Community Learning Coordinator to refer and encourage parent participation in workshops and other activities at KLS. 

• Contribute information, case studies and impact data for reports to funders, trustees and other stakeholders.

• Communicate well with other teams within KLS to provide a high-quality service to our members 

Other Duties  

• Participate in regular supervision, team meetings and annual appraisals; help to identify your own job related development and training needs. 

• Always work with anti-discriminatory, empowering practice, ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 

• Adhere to Katherine Low Settlement’s code of confidentiality, safeguarding and equal opportunities policies.

• Undertake your role in a professional manner and maintain a high-quality standard of work in accordance with the aims, values and ethos of KLS.

The above job description reflects the position at the time of writing; it is not intended to be a task list but indicates the general level of work involved. It is expected that duties will be reviewed and revised as required.   

Person Specification

The following skills and experience are required for this post:

Essential

• Experience of working with refugee communities and/or children/young people and/or vulnerable groups ensuring that clients’ needs are at the forefront of service planning and delivery
• Experience of planning, delivery and reporting in a similar voluntary sector project (preferably with refugee communities) 
• Excellent communicating skills (oral and written) with refugee young people, their families, staff and partner organisations
• Ability to motivate, support and encourage young people 
• Ability to work as part of small team, whilst also working independently
• Personal attributes: hard working, organised, takes initiative, reliable, patient, high professional standards
• Experience and sensitivity working with young people who are affected by mental health issues and past trauma.Empathetic, non-judgemental and able to form supportive but boundaried relationships with young people 
• Knowledge of up-to-date best practice as regards safeguarding the welfare of children
• Excellent IT skills including MS Office suite and ability to use Internet, email and social media 
• Committed to KLS’s mission, vision and values 
• Passionate about social justice, education and championing the value of families from refugee communities

Desirable

• Track record of managing volunteers
• A recognised teaching and/or youth work qualification 
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating projects effectively and ensuring that they are consistently meeting needs and being able to demonstrate value to funders

Are you ready for a new challenge?

Do you have a passion for working with young people, helping them grow in confidence, discover their strengths, and explore new opportunities? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Location

This is a hybrid role, combining work from home with work in the local Harlow community. 

Negotiable, up to 30 hours per week, including some evening work (fixed term until 31st March 2027)

About the Role

The Barnardo's Co-op Partnership is an exciting and innovative programme aiming to support more than one million young people to build positive futures.

Our Sedgemoor for our Future service is co-designed with young people and centred around a welcoming, inclusive youth space where young people can feel safe, connected, and empowered to take part in meaningful experiences.

Using a youth work approach, we support young people to:

• Build positive relationships and develop a strong sense of belonging
• Grow in confidence, resilience, and self-esteem
• Take part in a wide range of activities, including creative, practical, and food-based sessions
• Explore issues that matter to them and have their voices heard
• Develop teamwork, communication, and essential life skills for the future

Session Details

You must be available to lead the following weekly sessions:

• Tuesdays – Harlow, 12.15pm-4pm - schools based session
• Wednesdays – Harlow, 12.00-1.30pm- school based session. 6pm-8pm youth club session

As part of your role, you will plan and deliver engaging, youth-led sessions in a variety of settings, including community venues and schools. You will build trusted relationships with young people, create inclusive spaces that meet diverse needs, and support them to achieve positive outcomes.

You will also contribute to community engagement, develop creative approaches to reaching young people across Harlow, and support ongoing evaluation through reflective practice and outcome recording.

What We're Looking For

• Experience working with children, young people, and families
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures, with experience applying this in practice
• Excellent listening and communication skills with a diverse range of children, young people and families
• Creativity and confidence in designing inclusive workshops and group sessions
• Good written and IT skills to accurately record case notes
• Flexibility to adapt to the needs and interests of young people

Interested and want to know more? Please contact Robyn Dunn, Children's Service Manager - Please refer to website via job link for contact details 

When applying, please refer specifically to the Person Specification and Job Description, explaining how your skills and experience meet the requirements.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.