Role Profile
Mentoring Youth Worker
Terms
Full time, 12 month, fixed term contract.
Hours of work
40 hours per week, plus an hour for lunch worked flexibly in order to respond
to the needs of young people. The role will require some unsocial hours in the
evenings and at weekends, as well as during the day.
Reporting to
Mentoring Manager.
Key relationships
Mentoring Manager, Contracts Coordinator, Reception staff, Fundraising
Team, Volunteer Mentors.
Line management
Volunteer Mentors.
Salary
£20,000 per annum.
Holiday entitlement
33 days per annum.
Pension
Eligible after 6 months to join the workplace pension scheme.
Budgetary responsibility
None
Job purpose
To develop and deliver mentoring programmes at The Factory Youth Zone to provide intensive support to
the most vulnerable young people in North Manchester. You will be responsible for the management of a
cohort of young people and their volunteer mentors. You will match young people aged 8 – 21 (or up to 25
if they have additional needs) with appropriate volunteer mentors and supervise the mentoring
relationships they share.
You will be responsible for supporting, advising and guiding mentors, imparting information and drawing on
their skills to maximise support for their allocated young person. This role will require significant
communication and interpersonal skills in order to engage and negotiate with young people and their
families.
This post requires a multi-agency approach to work practice, involving regular communication with other
professionals involved with the young person in order to meet their needs and improve outcomes.
Context of the post
The Factory Youth Zone is an iconic state-of-art Youth Zone in the heart of North Manchester, attracting
young people from across the city with first class facilities and programmes which meet the needs of young
people. The Factory provides a timetable of positive activities, practical support and personal development
opportunities, especially for those who are disadvantaged. The aim is to enable children and young people
to make constructive use of their leisure time, raise their aspirations and encouraging them to live a
positive independent lifestyle.
Support through mentoring is a key component of what The Factory Youth Zone offers young people in
North Manchester. Our vision is that the The Factory Youth Zone should equip young people with the skills
and knowledge to be able to achieve their aspirations in life. The key aims of the mentoring programme are
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To help young people successfully make the transition to adulthood, by providing them with a
stable, trusting, one-to-one relationship with a positive role model.
To help young people achieve their full potential by facilitating their development into autonomous
individuals.
Duties and responsibilities
An experienced and qualified worker with a background in either targeted youth work or social work, the
Mentoring Youth Worker will set up and run the Youth Zone’s mentoring programme to vulnerable and at
risk young people from across North Manchester.
Develop and implement a mentor recruitment, induction, support and supervision system.
Develop a mentor training and development programme.
Develop a multi-agency approach to identifying and addressing the needs of young people in North
Manchester and build relationships with a variety of referral agencies.
Use innovative and creative methods to engage young people aged 8 – 21 (or up to 25 with additional
needs) onto the programme and build positive relationships with them.
Support young people through their mentoring relationships around a variety of issues, such as self-esteem,
confidence, healthy relationships, communication/social skills, bullying, behaviour, education, employment,
and self-development.
Assess and prioritise referrals by liaising with young people and their families to enrol young people on to
the programme.
Complete relevant paperwork to support the mentoring relationship and promote positive outcomes,
including initial assessments, action plans, supervisions, reviews and evaluations.
Track, measure, record and evaluate the progress of each mentoring relationship.
Match young people with appropriate volunteer mentors and offer on-going support.
Maintain regular contact and support with both the young people and their mentors.
Guide, support and advise mentors in order that they support their young person effectively.
Promote the development of mentors’ skills both on a one-to-one basis and through group supervision.
Plan, organise and facilitate activities in a creative way, utilising the variety of facilities in the Youth Zone.
Undertake issue based group activities where appropriate to support young people.
Organise and coordinate a series of social group activities for mentors and young people.
Ensure all contact and interventions are appropriately logged and all paperwork and reports are completed
accurately and in a timely manner.
Work alongside team members within the Youth Zone to ensure young people access the wider
opportunities with Youth Zone offers.
Work with volunteers to enable them to feel an integral and valued part of The Factory Youth Zone family.
Signpost young people to other agencies where appropriate and work alongside these agencies.
Meet timescales and deadlines set by your line manager.
Provide effective and detailed reports as required.
Work a flexible pattern including evenings and weekends in line with the role/team requirements.
Adhere to The Factory Youth Zone policies at all times with particular reference to Health and Safety, Equal
Opportunities, Safeguarding and Data Protection.
Person Specification
Candidates for this role will be an experienced coordinator with a background and qualification in either
social work or targeted youth work and be able to demonstrable comprehensive multi-agency and
safeguarding experience.
Qualifications
Essential
Professionally qualified in youth work, social work or other appropriate sector qualification
to degree level or equivalent (see http://bit.ly/1DPSIPY for guidance), or equivalent
demonstrable experience.
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Experience
Experience of developing and coordinating social care, targeted youth work and/or
adult led youth mentoring projects.
Minimum of 3 years’ experience of working with vulnerable young people and their
families.
Experience of working with adult volunteers who then work with young people.
Comprehensive experience of collaborative and multi-agency working.
Experience of developing, monitoring and evaluating projects.
Experience of making assessments on the individual needs of young people and
developing appropriate support packages.
Experience of managing and setting budgets.
Experience of developing and delivering training programmes.
Experience of training adult mentors to work with young people.
Knowledge and skills
Knowledge of the volunteering sector and working with adult volunteers.
Knowledge of issues affecting children and young people and the range of available
methods of addressing them.
Clear knowledge of safeguarding best practice.
Excellent interpersonal skills with significant experience of building, managing and
sustaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and partnering agencies.
Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young people.
Ability to prepare, plan and deliver high quality presentations to a wide range of
audiences, including volunteers and external stakeholders.
Sound organisational skills with an ability to prioritise work and work to tight
deadlines.
Desirable
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Clear project management skills, with the ability to work to set contracts and
reporting requirements.
Ability to hold confidential information and willing to undertake a high threshold of
confidentiality.
Able to demonstrate commitment to equal opportunities and a non-judgemental
attitude.
Personal attributes
Self-motivated with the ability to use initiative and think creatively.
Ability to work under pressure, prioritising demands and managing multiple tasks.
Positive and enthusiastic.
Punctual and reliable.
Commitment to personal and professional development.
Able to work in the evenings, and at weekends.
Organised and efficient.
Excellent attention to detail.
Interested in helping young people make positive transitions in life.
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Additional information
In accordance with our Recruitment and Selection Policy, we are not able to accept applications from
current or former members, Young Leaders or regular service users for safeguarding reasons, for a period of
at least one year since they last attended The Factory Youth Zone in this capacity.
All internal applicants will be guaranteed an interview, though will be assessed to the same criteria as
external applicants and so are encouraged to submit a full and thorough application.
In accordance with our Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an enhanced DBS check.
The Factory Youth Zone is an equal opportunities employer and values diversity.
Deadline for applications
Friday 21st August 2015, 12 noon
Interviews
Thursday 3rd September 2015
To apply, download the Application Form from our website at www.thefactoryyz.org/vacancies
We will not consider any application which is not submitted on this form.
For further information
0161 203 5333
info@thefactoryyz.org
www.thefactoryyz.org