Life Coach - Req24407

Fixed Term for 2 years with possibilities to extend.

As a Life Coach you’ll thrive on working as part of a team to support some of the most vulnerable young people in Leeds, you will have a case load of young people who you will support for around 6 months who are experiencing poor mental health and on the edge of care or disengaged from education, you will support these young people to make sustainable changes and improve their outcomes.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Life Coach you will bring to the role:

• The ability to work flexibly to accommodate different lifestyles, goals and aspirations of individual young people which will include working outside of normal office hours including regular weekend work, late evenings, schools holidays and some residential work.
• Be able to work effectively with young people in groups and individually to secure their commitment to achieving their life goals.
• Have knowledge of evidence based strategies and solution focussed interventions that will support young people to address issues and circumstances that are affecting their mental health and well-being
• The ability to take a high support, high challenge approach when working with other practitioners in order to address barriers to a young person achieving their potential.
•  You will hold a JNC recognised level 3 (or above) Youth Work qualification (Mandatory)

About the role 

Mental health has increasingly become a major issue in modern society, especially for young people. As a Life Coach you will provide support to young people experiencing poor mental health where this may also be impacting upon attendance and attainment in education or impacting negatively upon their home life.

As a Life Coach you will work alongside the young person, their family and other professionals to help the young person identify areas they would like to change or improve and support them to make sustainable changes to achieve these.

It is well established that the life chances for young people who become NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and those who enter care are significantly worse than for other young people. This is a great opportunity to BE THERE for those young people when they need YOU and to help make a difference.

Due to the need for this valuable service we are establishing this second team of Life coaches to help meet the demand and provide support to more young people who really need it. 

Feedback from young people who have been supported by the Life Coaching Service has included;

• ‘’The Life Coaching Service is amazing! I wish all teens in need could have a Life Coach’’.
• ‘’ I wish my youth worker came into my life sooner. They have helped me with my confidence and I am now attending college’’.
• ‘’Me, my mum and my step dad always talk about how helpful and amazing the Life Coaching Service is to us as a family. I can always count on my Youth Worker’’

If you would like to be able to make a real difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable young people in Leeds, then come and join the team.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact;

Shaun Macklin, Youth Service Manager – Projects on 07891270602 or email at shaun.macklin@leeds.gov.uk. Alternatively you can contact Leah Dyer the Life Coaching Co-ordinator on 07891 276104 or email at leah.dyer@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job Purpose: Work with Young people experiencing significant change and development as they transition between childhood, adolescence and into young adulthood.  Most youth work interventions take place in a group work setting but it is recognised that for some young people their needs and behaviour may be complex and difficult to address in a youth work group setting &/or prevent them from accessing altogether.   

This role will be part of a specialist youth work team of Life Coaches undertaking individual work with young people to build relationships and address their mental health needs such as suicidal thoughts and feelings, self-harm, stress, anxiety or depression and accompany to sessions/activities and provide ongoing support as needed to promote sustainable outcomes.

Responsibilities: 

• Work directly with young people and their families to develop and maintain relationships to help identify their starting points, needs and aspirations. 
• Work face-to-face for a minimum 70% of the role. This will include routinely working late in the evenings (including weekends) school holiday weeks and residential work.
• Facilitate a range of youth work activities with the purpose of improving young people’s health and well-being and address their mental health needs.
• Develop and implement evidence based strategies and solution focussed interventions that will support young people to positively regulate emotions, build self-esteem, confidence and resilience. 
• Work in partnership to assess needs, provide and evaluate, a well-planned and resourced programme of activities, services and facilities for young people using youth work methodology. 
• Facilitate the development of the Life Coaching programme by planning, delivering, monitoring and reviewing youth work provision in line with best practice. 
• Ensure young people participate in designing, delivering and reviewing their programmes and their involvement at governance level where possible. 
• Represent the Youth Offer and actively participate in networks and partnerships, across the city, working to improve the mental health and well-being of young people. 
• Undertake research with young people and other stakeholders to develop the Service’s ability to effectively respond to the changing environment and key priorities.
• Offer support and guidance to members of the wider Children & Families workforce with regards to issues relating to young people’s mental health and well-being.
• Explore partnerships and develop them to improve outcomes for young people. 
• Act as a mentor, coach and role model for other practitioners in order to help develop and broaden their professional youth work practice. 
• Maintain effective relationships with colleagues within the Service, Directorate, other Council Directorates, Elected Members, external agencies and the general public.
• Assist with day to day administration and financial procedures and budget control) to support the smooth running of the programme of activities, services and facilities including building security (key holding and alarm duties), health & safety, banking of monies, ordering of equipment, inventories and record keeping.
• Be contactable by telephone and deal with out of hours emergencies as required.
• Use a Restorative Practice approach as an overarching ethos. 
• Be proactive in safeguarding and promoting welfare of Children & Young People 
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the level of the role.

Qualifications: 

The minimum qualification for this post is a JNC recognised Level 3 Youth Work qualification 

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Able to, with supervision, carry a caseload of appropriately allocated cases and undertake assessments of need using an outcomes focused approach. 
• Able to work flexibly to accommodate different lifestyles, goals and aspirations of individual young people which will include working outside of normal office hours including regular weekend work, late evenings, schools holidays and some residential work. 
• Flexible approach to meet the changing demands of the Youth Offer 
• Able to support a young person with a long term mental health issue or disability to thrive.
• Able to recognise and respond to the signs of mental health issues for a young person.
• Able to work restoratively with young people in order for them to develop appropriate self-care and coping strategies.
• Able to empower young people to tackle problems, take appropriate actions and become active citizens. 
• Able to work effectively with young people in groups and individually to secure their commitment to achieving their life goals.
• Able to assess and evaluate the individual needs of children, young people and their families. 
• Able to work with young people to safeguard their welfare. 
• Ability to effectively deploy available resources to ensure optimum benefit to young people.
• Able to work effectively with parents and staff from other agencies.
• Able to effectively manage conflict and deal with sensitive issues whilst working under often conflicting demands.
• Able to work under pressure and with young people presenting at risk.
• Able to plan and organise own workload with minimal supervision, carry out administrative duties and meet deadlines. 
• Able to support the Advanced Practitioner in addressing any employment related procedures, if required, in the management of Youth offer staff 
• Able to publicise and market the work. 
• Able to respond to immediate health & safety issues.
• In depth understanding of the issues which concern young people today, specifically those that impact on their mental health and well-being. 
• Knowledge of child protection and welfare issues 
• Knowledge of local and national policies and their relationship to Youth Work
• Working knowledge of local and national organisations and sources of support and help for young people experiencing emotional health and well-being issues. 
• Knowledge of evidence based strategies and solution focussed interventions that will support young people to address issues and circumstances that are affecting their mental health and well-being.
• Knowledge of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection affecting all activities within the posts remit
• Good working knowledge and understanding of Outcome Based Accountability (OBA), Restorative practice, Re-think formulation, Child Friendly City priorities and the Leeds Practice Model
• Experience of working with young people in a coaching or mentoring relationship
• Experience of working with young people experiencing social, emotional &/or behavioural issues.
• Experience of taking a high support, high challenge approach when working with other practitioners in order to address barriers to a young person achieving their potential.
• Substantial experience of working with young people in a diverse range of youth work environments 
• Experience of effectively planning youth work programmes with young people linked to Children’s Services priorities and Youth Offer targets. 
• Experience of effectively recording and evaluating youth work sessions, producing reports within specific timescales 
• Experience of enabling young people to work effectively in groups. 
• Experience of enabling young people to explore their values and self-respect. 
• Experience of involving young people in the decision making process 
• Experience of developing positive links/partnerships and communicating effectively with the voluntary sector, other agencies and the local community in order to develop initiatives and services for young people. 

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics 

• Conscientious, honest and reliable 
• Positive view of young people and a commitment to a young person-centred approach 
• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. 
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council. 
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates. 

• Hold current driving licence.
• Experience of Motivational interviewing techniques
• Coaching qualification