Youth Engagement Officer

What do we expect from you?

At the core of Matrix our work is about building relationships to catalyse change for young people and their families. This role will contribute to this by meeting, building healthy relationships with and helping improve the lives of young people in Guildford Borough. This will be achieved through a variety of activities according to the needs of young people and the resources available to Matrix, including, but not exclusive to:

Youth Hideaway & Monthly Hubs

• Create a safe, fun and inspiring environment for the young people that attend

• Planning, preparing and delivering quality Youth Hideaway and Youth Hub sessions with support from the Community Youth Work team and volunteers

• Build healthy relationships with young people that attend the sessions, identifying and responding to the needs that may arise

• Promote the activities of the Youth Hideaway and Youth Hubs in the community

• Recruit and build a team of volunteers for community youth work settings

Community Youth Work

• Youth clubs e.g. Youth Hideaway and Youth Hubs, detatched youth work and running/assisting with extra-curricular social activities in school e.g. lunchtime drop-in, after-school and/or holiday clubs

• Mentoring young people and supporting young people in a social enterprise environment e.g. The Hideaway / Youth Hideaway

• Conducting research of young people’s needs in the local community

• Meeting and connecting with key stakeholders, church leaders, other youth workers / pastors and community groups in and around Guildford Borough

General

• Contribute to, and be involved in fundraising and other activities that benefit Matrix, including whole staff workshop days, fundraising activities and the Ready 4 Action project

• During school holidays and after school, be involved in projects organised and run by Matrix, including holiday and after-school clubs within your allocated hours and as agreed by your line manager

• Raise the positive profile of Matrix by building professional relationships in a multi-agency environment including through networking events in the relevant local area, such as meeting with the community safety wardens, local schools, churches, Police and PCSO’s

• Represent Matrix through providing a positive role-model to young people

As Community Youth Work Lead, you will need to operate with a high level of autonomy. You will be expected to administer your own time and workload in liaison with your line manager, keeping an ‘open’ diary for all activities. A working timetable for school holidays will be developed in consultation with your line manager. Regular ‘time off in lieu’ (TOIL) is not to be collected, but should be managed within your working month and, together with leave and external appointments should be cleared through your Matrix line manager.

Project Leadership

• Take responsibility for the effective delivery and outcomes of the project/s including our flagship project the Youth Hideaway

• Ensure policies and procedures are followed across the Community Youth Work team, and that each project is well planned and executed

• Ensure Matrix targets and outcomes are reached

• Work with the wider team and Head of Youth Work to analyse ongoing needs and feed into new project development

• Be able to model excellent practice when doing face-to-face youth work

• Oversee and develop team processes in line with Matrix’s needs

• Attend and run some Delivery Team meetings as well wider team meetings

• Able to represent Matrix and its values with key stakeholders, organisations and agencies

Team Management

• Recruit, train, supervise and support volunteers for various community projects e.g. youth clubs

• Line manage Community Youth Workers effectively, and ensure that regular line managements are completed as required

• Hold regular team meetings for debrief, planning and training, with the volunteers and any team working with you

• Ensure that you and your team work to the Youth Work Standards

• Be responsible for gaining feedback from young people to improve Matrix’s community projects

• Follow the Matrix model to enable young people to grow

• Be responsible for the budget management of projects under your direction

• Provide / arrange cover when you, another member of staff, or volunteers are absent

• Ensure you and your team engage across Guildford Borough through networking or strategic relationships

• Identify training needs of the team, and train, signpost, or organise training accordingly

Who are we looking for?

DESIRABLE

Qualification relevant to working with children, young people and families gained in education, health or social care

Diploma in Youth Work (JNC recognised)

Experience of working in different youth work settings (centres, detached)

Experience of working with other partners and agencies in developing and implementing joint programmes

Experience or willingness to work in depth with children, young people and their parents using a solution focused approach

Ability to motivate and enthuse colleagues and contribute positively to a team commitment

Ability to manage own caseload of children, young people and parents some with multiple and complex needs

Ability to manage own caseload of children, young people and parents some with multiple and complex needs and take responsibility for the more complex cases/situations presenting within the service.

ESSENTIAL

Education to a good standard (level 3 or above, e.g. GCSEs)

Knowledge of the wider social impact of “at risk of negative outcomes” on young people, their parents and their families Minimum of two years’ experience of working with children, young people and their parents both 1:1 and in groups

An ability to relate well to children, young people and parents and build trust

A strong commitment to the co-production of service and activities which aim to build resilience

An ability to design and implement creative and varied programmes of activities which address themes such as self-esteem, relationships and managing anxiety

Ability to assess the needs and strengths of individual children, young people and parents

Ability to keep accurate records of engagements and evidence of change

An ability to record outcomes using an agreed goal-based outcome tool

Good communication skills including listening skills, a clear written style and IT proficient

A strong commitment to collaborative working with a range of other agencies

Ability to travel to different locations within and outside the borough to attend meetings, training and home visits

Willingness to work flexible hours as well as outside normal office hours whenever necessary

Ability to supervise the work of others

Knowledge of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Agree with and able to support and work within the Christian ethos (this job has a “genuine occupational requirement” (GOR) for the post to be filled by a Christian)