Youth Worker
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Youth Worker
HOURS:
22.5 hours per week
SALARY:
£22,000 pro rata
BASED:
Pact Central Office
REPORTS TO:
Children and Young People’s Advocacy Worker
DIRECT REPORTS:
Volunteers and students
Pact is a highly respected independent charity. We work across England and Wales to develop and deliver a range of
innovative services, providing practical and emotional support to prisoners’ children and families, to prisoners, and to exoffenders. This includes delivery of structured group programmes in custodial and community settings.
Our work is founded on core values, the first of which is a belief in the innate dignity of every human being. Our focus is on
human relationships, family and community. We are committed to achieving high standards of quality in all that we do.
Job purpose
This role is part of Pact’s exciting and innovative pilot project “Hear our Voice: The Charter for Children who have a family
member in prison.”
The postholder will be responsible for planning, coordinating and leading sessions for young people (aged 13-18) affected
by familial imprisonment in London. You will be responsible for recruiting the young people to attend (approximately 12-15)
and for planning and leading each session. This will involve building relationships with youth agencies and charities, and
also prison-based or Helpline colleagues who can refer young people to the project. You will supervise volunteers and
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student placements supporting the sessions and will work closely with the Children and Young People’s Advocacy Worker
in the delivery of the project.
Key tasks, duties and responsibilities
1. To recruit and work with children and young people, aged 13- 18 who have experience of familial imprisonment,
through the organisation and planning of monthly drop in sessions which will:
a. offer them support through engaging activities and peer support;
b. encourage their involvement in the development of a website for children and young people in a similar
situation;
c. encourage their input and feedback on how schools can better support children and young people in a
similar situation;
d. encourage their input and feedback on suitable training/ guidance products and materials for the police on
how to safeguard children during home searches and raids on family homes.
2. To manage all of the logistics necessary for the successful youth sessions including:
a. liaising with staff, volunteers and build relationships with other agencies to identify and recruitment young
people.
b. organising and facilitating a programme of meaningful sessions including the organisation of different
speakers/ activities ensuring there are clear learning outcomes for each session or, if more appropriate,
focused and recorded goals.
c. travel arrangements, room bookings, catering, and purchasing or preparing material.
d. organise any introductory visits to support young people to attend sessions.
e. ensure that all sessions are delivered in line with Pact’s Safeguarding Policy and have the wellbeing of young
people at heart.
3. To supervise volunteers involved in the youth programme.
4. To work with the Childen and Young People’s Advocacy Worker to utilise creative and innovative methods of
information gathering relevant to the ages and needs of the children and young people, and support with the
production of advocacy materials or project reports.
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5. To assist in the training and development of staff and volunteers in relation to participation and consultation.
6. To maintain the security and well-being of children and young people (and any other visitors) attending the premises,
and to communicate immediately with the Director of Services or an appropriate member of the SLT any breaches
of health and safety.
7. To be fully compliant with Pact’s Safer Working Policy, Safeguarding Policy, Code of Practice, and other policies and
procedures, at all times.
8. To ensure that the sharing of information with other professionals occurs within established Information Sharing
Protocols and to ensure that the security of sensitive information is maintained and complies with the requirements
of the Data Protection Act 1998.
9. To develop, maintain and represent positive, collaborative working relationships with all Pact staff, in London and
across the wider organisation, being committed as part of the team to providing a high level of support to children
and families affected by imprisonment.
The Prison Advice & Care Trust is a developing organisation and consequently this job description will be reviewed and duties
may change over time
Our Standards
Equal Opportunities: Pact has a strong commitment to achieving equality of opportunity and expects all employees to
implement and promote its policy in their own work.
Service User Participation: People who use our services are at the heart of everything we do. We strive for a culture in which
prisoners, ex-offenders and their families are listened to, their opinions are respected and they are actively involved in
decision making which leads to change. This change can be in prisoners, ex-offenders and their families (skills, knowledge,
development or attitude), the services they get and use and the wider society.
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Health and Safety: Pact is committed to a healthy and safe working environment and expects all its employees to cooperate with Pact to implement and promote its policy in all aspects of their work.
Conduct: Pact staff are required to conduct themselves in a lawful, professional, courteous and respectful manner, in
accordance with the charity’s values and ethos. Our work within secure establishments, with ex-offenders in the community,
and with children and adults with multiple and complex needs, requires all staff to operate at all times with due regard to
security, safeguarding and protecting children, public protection, and professional boundaries. All staff are required to
conform with policies and procedures detailed in the Pact handbook, and as required by the Ministry of Justice and
National Offender Management Service, and local rules which may be in force at individual prisons. Staff are also required
to comply with detailed policies and guidance regarding confidentiality, Data Security and use of ICT (Information and
Communication Technology), and maintaining privacy of staff and service users. Staff are required to ensure that they
maintain an up to date awareness of relevant policies and procedures, and to take a positive approach to their own
learning and development.
Pact is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and
expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION - Youth Worker
SHORTLISTING CRITERIA:
EDUCATION &
QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE
& KNOWLEDGE
Essential
• Level 3 NVQ in Childcare and Education or Youth work or equivalent
Desirable
X
• Experience of working in a community setting with vulnerable and at-risk X
children and young people, in particular providing emotional or practical
support.
• Experience in, and strong ability to build positive boundaries relationships
X
with young people, colleagues and external partner agencies.
• Experience of group facilitation.
X
• Understanding of the roles of key statutory agencies and the Criminal
Justice system.
X
• An understanding and appreciation of the impact of imprisonment on X
young people and the issues they may face; including domestic abuse,
sexual exploitation and gang activity.
• An understanding/ knowledge of media and digital communications
would be desirable.
X
• Experience of implementing child protection policy and good practice in
X
safeguarding children.
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SKILLS/ABILITIES
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to
establish good relationships with young people, showing flexibility, X
sensitivity for others’ viewpoint and valuing diversity.
• Excellent written communication and organisational skills, with the ability to
X
prioritise and plan work activities.
Beliefs, Attitudes and
Behaviour
• Capability to conduct risk assessments.
X
Commitment to the Vision, Mission, Values and Strategy of Pact.
X
An awareness of and respect for the founding principles of Pact as an
organisation created within the Catholic Christian community in England and X
Wales, and the ability to relate with empathy and sensitivity to supporters,
staff and volunteers who are motivated by this tradition, or by their faith.
Commitment to the inclusive culture of Pact and to the active promotion of
equal opportunities.
X
Committed to continuous personal development and learning, and
responsiveness to constructive feedback.
X
Results orientated with a ‘can do’attitude.
X
Resilient with good coping strategies
X
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Other Requirements
A requirement to work evenings and weekends to run session with young
people at an appropriate time for them
X
Travel across London will be necessary to recruit young people and sessions
may be run at different youth centre locations.
X
Terms and Conditions
Length of contract: 2 year contract
Salary:
£22,000 pro rata
Hours:
22.5 hours per week
Pension:
1% employer’s contribution with matched employee contribution
Place of Work:
Pact Central Office, Peckham
Pact operates a flexi-time system. Regular weekend and evening work is required by the post holder for which Time Off In Lieu
is available.
This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period, at least two satisfactory references from previous employers and an
Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure.
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