Hertfordshire County Council
Job Outline
JOB TITLE:
Youth Worker (Outdoor Education)
GRADE:
JNC 15-18
REPORTS TO:
Youth Connexions Youth Work Team Leader Outdoor Education
DEPARTMENT:
Children’s Services, Education and Early Intervention
TEAM:
Services for Young People, Youth Connexions
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To support young peoples transition to adulthood by providing outdoor educational
learning opportunities that develop their personal and social skills, thus encouraging
them to reach their full potential and become active citizens within their communities.
The majority of your time will be spent as the duty manager, promoting the centre’s
activities, delivering and monitoring the delivery of curriculum-based youth work
programmes, using outdoor and adventurous activities.
MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Spend a large proportion of time working in direct contact with young people
including evenings and weekends.
Work with staff, local agencies and young people to plan and deliver personal and
social development programmes.
Establish contact and develop relationships with young people through a variety of
youth work styles and settings including outdoor educational and adventurous
activities.
Plan, develop, promote and deliver youth work curriculum programmes for young
people using outdoor educational activities with identified recorded and accredited
outcomes in line with Service targets.
Assess the needs of individuals and groups of young people so that appropriate
development opportunities are made available.
Work with district teams to design and deliver youth work programmes that involve
outdoor educational experiences.
Contribute to the appointment of youth support workers, seasonal staff and
volunteers.
Monitor, evaluate and record youth work practice using the service quality assurance
systems.
Provide written reports on the progress of specific areas of work on request.
Advise and support project committees in the maintenance and development of youth
provision, providing them with regular written reports as requested.
Participate in the development of the Service by contributing to: team meetings,
project meetings and working groups.
Organise, promote and deliver relevant training opportunities within the project remit,
for which you are appropriately trained.
Ensure that all delivery that you are responsible for complies with all health and
safety and safeguarding requirements.
Performance management of youth support workers, seasonal staff and volunteers.
Produce project plans and ensure targets are met in line with the Service annual
evaluation and planning process.
Manage the budget for the work for which the post holder is responsible in
accordance with the councils procedures.
Undertake training in line with the Service training strategy and as identified through
Performance Management and Development.
Ensure that Supervision and Performance Management and Development are
systematically provided for all staff in your span of control and all staff undertake
training in line with the Service training strategy.
The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present. The
post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations that may from time to
time be necessary.
Criminal Background Check
Safeguarding children and adults is of utmost importance to Hertfordshire County
Council. The County Council expects employees to abide by legislation and best
practice to enable Hertfordshire to achieve this. This role has been identified as
requiring an enhanced DBS. You must ensure that the appropriate form is completed
and returned as requested by the Recruitment Team, as this will form a contractual
requirement.
If you require an enhanced or standard DBS check, you must sign up to and maintain
registration with the DBS Update Service and allow the council to retain a copy of the
disclosure certificate within your personal file.
If you fail to disclose any caution, reprimand or conviction which is later identified on
your DBS check you may be subject to disciplinary action and the County Council
has the right to suspend or dismiss you. In line with the requirements of the Update
Service you will be required to maintain your personal information. The council will
review your DBS record periodically to identify any changes in circumstances that
may be detrimental to your employment.
Please note that additional information referring to the check is in the guidance notes
to the application form. If you are invited to an interview you will receive more
information.
Equality and Diversity
Hertfordshire County Council is determined to take action to ensure that our belief in
diversity and equality of opportunity is integral to everything we do. It will inform every
area of activity; from the way we provide services to the way we employ our staff. It is
a central responsibility of all councillors, managers, staff and partners. The council's
equality policy 'Putting People First' is available on HertsDirect, on the internal
intranet 'Compass' or from your line manager.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
It will be the duty of every employee while at work to take reasonable care for the
Health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their
acts or omissions at work.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
You must have the ability to develop professional relationships with young people
aged 13 -19 that enable recordable, positive, outcomes and successfully manage a
team to do the same in an outdoor setting.
You will have a JNC nationally recognised youth work qualified and the ability to
identify and respond to the needs of young people aged 13 -19.
In your supporting statement, provide examples and evidence of when you have
demonstrated the attributes listed below. You will be expected to address each point
separately and in the order listed.
Evidence of a nationally recognised JNC qualification for Youth and Community
Workers and continued professional development.
Evidence of a Level 3 B.C.U coaching award or R.Y.A. Senior Instructor Dinghy
Sailing award and other outdoor leadership qualifications
You must have the ability to develop professional relationships with young people
aged 13 -19 that enable recordable, positive, outcomes and successfully manage a
team to do the same in an outdoor setting.
An understanding of equal opportunities and evidence of incorporating this into the
work you do with young people, the community and colleagues.
Experience of the design, delivery and evaluation of appropriate curriculum-based
programmes in an outdoor setting; health and safety, safeguarding, and working with
partners.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with young people,
adults and other agencies: e.g. report writing, making presentations, facilitation of
groups, inputting information into a database, good general ICT skills.
Ability to assess, prioritise, plan and review programmes of work, in a negotiated
way, with young people and partner agencies, Also provide examples of working
effectively, as part of a diverse team, to achieve targets and meet deadlines.
Ability to work alongside staff and volunteers, to develop their skills and practice, and
to deliver accredited outcomes. Knowledge and experience of accreditation schemes
e.g. DofE, AQA, City and Guilds.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
Supporting Statement: