Youth Worker Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Youth Worker, or Community Youth Worker works with the youth to facilitate their social, personal and physical development through informal education. Their duties include organising and running community programmes, helping the youth understand values and ideas and building their confidence and life skills.

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Youth Worker duties and responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of Youth Workers are to provide guidance and support to young people and to help them reach their full potential. Other duties and responsibilities include:

  • Recruiting, training and managing staff and volunteers
  • Identifying and pursuing sources of funding for projects that will help improve services and resources for young people
  • Communicating with parents and community groups to win support for projects
  • Acting as an advocate for the youth to parents and community groups by forwarding their interests
  • Gaining trust and respect from the youth to develop lasting relationships with them
  • Establishing boundaries for the youth and correcting inappropriate behaviour
  • Assessing them to develop plans and deliver programs related to different areas including smoking, fitness and anti-social behaviour
  • Setting targets for progression and monitoring the quality of youth work provision
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Youth Worker Job Description Examples:

 

Example 1

Job description

Would you like to make a difference and work for a charity?

Cotswold Chine School, part of Novalis Trust, is a progressive charity working with children with Neurodevelopmental Difficulties many of whom have had Adverse Childhood Experiences. Cotswold Chine School is set in the beautiful tranquil Cotswold countryside and comprises of a school and 9 residences for up to 60 children and young people.

We are excited to be recruiting for Youth Support Workers who are pivotal in creating and supporting tailored activities for young people.

As a Youth Support Worker your personality and creativity will be key in shaping and helping children pursue personal aspirations. The role involves developing dynamic and versatile methods for young people to access their hobbies and interests.

You will encourage young people’s engagement in sports, crafts, and play-based activities at after-school clubs, youth club, events, and off-site trips. You will also coordinate their involvement in community programmes that promote their social development.

Your tasks will include enabling young people to access their interests by organising and supporting activities in consultation with them. You and your colleagues will facilitate group and individual experiences that focus on leisure, wellbeing, personal development, cultural education, and social responsibility.

Successful candidates for this position are self-motivated individuals who are adaptable, have a ‘can do’ attitude and keen to build positive influential relationships with the young people. You can expect to see a positive impact of your contribution in the children’s lives.

As a medium sized charity with over 300 employees across 4 sites, there are opportunities for career progression within the Trust.

What’s in it for you?
  • Training delivered by internationally recognised experts in their field, as well as enrolment on the RQF qualification scheme and CDP accredited certificates and training around Trauma Informed Care and Family Practice Work.
  • Salary of £22,880.00 pro rata per annum, plus one sleep-in a week, paid at £89 each.
  • Fixed 2-week rota of a four-day week schedule, including two weekends off each month for full time
  • Part Time applications will be considered
  • 28 days holiday (Pro rate for part time)
  • Pension scheme
  • Clear progression career path for staff who wish to develop their careers within the Trust
  • Free onsite parking and free meals provided if working during mealtimes

    Successful candidates will have:
  • Motivated, creative, and empathic approach
  • Enthusiastic to work with and support the development of young people
  • Ability to plan reliable activities and be confident to contribute and collaborate with the team
  • A keenness to learn and implement Trauma Informed Practice
  • Previous experience in working with children and young people but not essential
  • Undergraduate degree in Psychology/ Sports and Exercise / Youth and Community but not essential
  • Driving licence

    An application pack will be sent out after you have registered your interest - please check your spam folders for this, as well as your inbox.

    Novalis Trust is committed to safeguarding. All applications will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced Check for Regulated Activity.

    Work remotely
  • No

    Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

    Salary: £22,880.00 per year

    Job Type: £22,880.00 per year
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    Example 2

    Do you love cooking and training young people to become independent? Are you passionate about giving young people in East London a healthy and positive future? Are you happy coaching and teaching young people? Do you want to use your skills knowledge and passion to enable young people to have somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

    JOB Purpose:

    Cooking, the food we eat and how it’s influenced by family, cultural and community values, is at the heart the Youth Zone. We provide meals for £1 but we think it’s more important to teach our young people how to cook a healthy meal for themselves. You will be involved in teaching the fundamentals of cooking alongside hygiene awareness. This could be making cookies with the juniors or cooking a three-course meal with the seniors or working with young people to understand the importance and impact of nutrition.

    Context OF THE POST

    Barking and Dagenham Youth Zone, named ‘Future’ by local young people, is the first Youth Zone in London opened by the national charity, OnSide in May 2019. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join a small but growing, impactful fundraising team and play a critical part in shaping opportunities for East London’s young people and supporting a grass roots, committed, universal youth service.

    Future, like all OnSide Youth Zones, exists to give young people, particularly those who are disadvantaged, somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to. The Youth Zone is open 7 days a week, at weekends and during school holidays. The Youth Zone’s purpose is to help young people grow to be happy, healthy and successful adults.

    Future’s state-of-the-art £6.15 million building on Parsloes Park, provides young people with access to a range of activities, offering them the opportunity to try new things, meet new friends and gain support from friendly, warm and positive staff and volunteers. The facilities include a 3G pitch, a gym, sports hall, recreation area and dance, arts, music and media suites, with state-of-the-art facilities equipped for a wide range of sporting, artistic, cultural and general recreational activities and targeted services. The Youth Zone supports young people like Monique, Owen and Bola to grow and develop.

    Duties AND Responsibilities – Detailed
  • To work directly with young people to plan, lead and deliver safe, fun and structured cooking sessions within

    *
    Future Youth Zone, which are progressive and reflect the needs of young people

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    The role is 100% face to face delivery with young people

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    To contribute to a training cooking programme that is high quality and meets the needs of the young people,

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    including young people with additional needs and young people who typically don’t engage in sports

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    To support other programmes that contributes to the wider youth work agenda, supporting the development of

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    young people

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    To confidently manage and establish positive relationships with groups of young people

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    To compile all monitoring information required to deliver impact statistics and encourage feedback from young

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    people taking part in activities to share this with the team.

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    To work with young people from a range of backgrounds and with a range of needs

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    Effectively communicate at all levels, orally and in writing

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    To work alongside other team members and provide guidance and support to young leaders and volunteers

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    To attend regular training and development sessions and events where required

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    To assist in identifying talented young people and encourage further development

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    To maintain current knowledge of relevant cooking and hygiene policies and practices

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    To promote cultural cohesion and inclusion and proactively challenge any prejudice and discrimination

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    Any other duties as may reasonably be required

    Duties AND Responsibilities - General

  • Be a role model for young people and present a positive “can do” attitude.

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    Take personal responsibility for own actions.

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    Commit to a culture of continuous improvement.

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    Work within the performance framework of Future Youth Zone and OnSide.

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    Represent Future Youth Zone positively and effectively in all dealings with internal colleagues, and external partners.

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    To be alert to issues of safeguarding and child protection, ensuring the welfare and safety of Youth Zone members is promoted and safeguarded, and to report any child protection concerns to the designated Child Protection Officers using the safeguarding policies, procedures and practice (training to be provided).

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    To assist with any promotional activities and visits that take place at the Youth Zone.

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    To adhere to Future Youth Zone policies at all times, with particular reference to Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

    Job Type: Part-time
    Part-time hours: 10 per week

    Salary: £11.05 per hour

    Schedule:
  • Monday to Friday
  • Weekend availability

    COVID-19 considerations:
    We are following advice from the deadline: 04/07/2022
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    Example 3

    An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Youth Worker to join our Youth Team in our Community Development area of the business here at WCHG. The Youth Worker will be responsible for delivering a programme of youth work within a range of centre-based and community settings through the provision of youth led projects and informal educational activities to meet the needs of young people aged 8 to 19 years, or up to 25 with a disability.

    The successful candidate will have an NVQ or equivalent in youth and community work, experience of developing, promoting organising and delivering personal, social and educational programmes and opportunities with and for young people. In addition candidates will have the ability to communicate with a wide range of people, develop effective working relationships, work as part of a team and have a willingness to work flexibly to ensure service delivery.

    The role is offered on a fixed term basis to 31st March 2023, working 10 hours per week, working evenings and occasional weekends.

    This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to join our journey in making a real impact to Wythenshawe’s customers and communities… but more than that, with every job role comes a competitive salary, great pension scheme, holiday that increases with each year of service, flexible working, an employee assistance and health care plan including staff benefits, paid professional memberships, and excellent ongoing learning opportunities which contribute towards continual professional development.

    If you would like to know more, please see job description and person specification.

    Closing date: 5th July 2022

    Interview date: 20th July 2022

    About Us

    Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG) manages almost 14,000 properties, providing homes for more than 29,000 people in Wythenshawe, South Manchester.

    We are committed to investing in the health, wellbeing and development of colleagues, who we will reward fairly and empower and trust to deliver their best work for the benefit of WCHG, our tenants and stakeholders. WCHG is an inclusive employer of choice where differences are recognised as strengths in delivering our purpose. A disability confident employer WCHG will work to make reasonable adjustments where possible throughout its employment processes.

    Our purpose is to provide good quality homes and services to our tenants and leaseholders and to play a leading role in creating safer, healthier communities. WCHG boasts an impressive development portfolio which aims to deliver on average 1,100 new homes over the next five years with £195m estimated investment, leaving a lasting legacy in our communities.

    Job Types: Part-time, £5,596.86 per year
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    What does a Youth Worker do?

    Youth Workers organise educational programs and youth recreational activities such as sports, arts and drama whilst assessing their health, social and emotional requirements. They work with people between the ages of 11 to 25 by planning and managing community events and running social events for those struggling with their social life, health problems and anti-social behaviour.

    Youth Workers typically work in colleges, schools, religious youth groups, county-council community centres and youth centres. They tend to work for about 35 to 40 hours per week. However, they may also work extended hours based on service demand.

    Youth Worker skills and qualifications

    Youth Workers have a great understanding of the issues that affect the lives of the youth and a commitment to help young people. A successful Youth Worker candidate will have various skills and qualifications that include:

    • The ability to support young people and act with integrity during stressful times
    • Excellent people skills and the ability to establish lasting relationships
    • Open-mindedness and willingness to try out new things
    • Excellent communication and presentation skills
    • Compassion and patience with other people, tolerance and time-flexibility
    • Interest or talent for sports and performing arts
    • Active listening skills and the ability to solve problems as they occur
    • Excellent CPR skills and a good understanding of health and safety standards

    Youth Worker experience requirements

    Youth Workers require at least one or two years of experience working with young people, whether voluntary or paid. They can acquire experience through working as Youth Support Workers, volunteering in youth organisations or undertaking individual work with young people. Ideal candidates have experience planning and organising recreational events for the youth and performing office administration duties, such as creating business plans and writing reports.

    Youth Worker education and training requirements

    To qualify, Youth Workers need a degree accredited by the National Youth Agency such as a bachelor’s in sociology, psychology and law. Candidates with degrees in different subjects can also have postgraduate training in diploma courses or at a master’s level. Some of the postgraduate diploma courses include community work, community development, youth work and theology. It’s also possible for candidates to work as they pursue their education through part-time study, work-based training or distance training.

    Youth Worker salary expectations 

    According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Youth Worker in the UK is £11.81 per hour, depending on factors like experience, education, location and company.

    Job description samples for similar positions

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    Youth Worker job description FAQs

    What makes a good Youth Worker job description?

    A good Youth Worker job description is detailed and well-organised. It’s good to mention your organisation’s needs and the kind of people the Youth Worker will deal with. You can also mention some of the activities that the youth participate in at your organisation and preferred talents or education that candidates must possess. End the job description with a unique section on how candidates must apply to help you find candidates with good attention to details.

    What should you look for in a Youth Worker CV?

    First, look at the candidates’ previous volunteering work to check for their dedication and passion for youth work. The candidate should mention the activities and main challenges they overcame in their previous work experience. The short description section should inform you about the candidate’s ability to communicate and express themselves clearly.

    Who does a Youth Worker report to?

    There are no defined organisational structures where a person works above a Youth Worker. However, they often report to those with additional responsibilities such as Senior Youth Workers, Youth Work Managers or Youth Work Project Coordinators.

    What's the difference between a Social Worker and Youth Worker?

    Whilst a Youth Worker works with young people to assist in their social, personal and educational growth Social Workers, assist people to cope with challenges in their every stage of life. They assist people with a wide range of problems, including child adoption, being diagnosed with a terminal illness, people with disabilities and people with addictions.

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