Youth Worker

Youth Worker

RESPONSIBLE TO: Integration Manager

LOCATION: Derby (Hybrid working)

HOURS: Sessional (up to 7.5 hours per week)

SALARY: £13.16 per hour

CONTRACT: Sessional (initially 10 months)

About us.

Upbeat Communities was founded in response to the needs of refugees arriving in the UK and the stories they shared of their lives and their journeys. Through building relationships with those from refugee communities we were able to identify their needs and the best ways to respond.

One of the best resources a refugee can have to help them settle in their new home is a good social network.

Relationships and connectedness can help overcome the many challenges faced by those seeking refuge.

With this aim, we want to help connect refugees into the wider community.

Our name reflects our vision to see thriving, positive communities where refugees can contribute and make the most of opportunities.

We greet new arrivals with our Welcome Boxes befriending project. We offer free English classes and community activities to help refugees (adults and children) integrate. We empower refugees to rebuild their lives through Host Derby (temporary accommodation), mentoring (careers guidance) and the UK Refugee

Resettlement Scheme, which local authorities contract us to deliver. We also empower the local community through awareness raising.

Our organisational values, lived out by our staff and volunteers, are: We work to WELCOME. We create

COMMUNITY. We are inspired to act with INTEGRITY. We exist to EMPOWER. We are committed to

CREATIVITY. We run on RELATIONSHIPS. We are proud to be PROFESSIONAL. We have COMPASSION at our core.

Upbeat Communities' Christian ethos was the motivation for starting and the basis for our values. Jesus' primary message was 'to love your neighbour as you love yourselves'. We seek to embody this by showing love and compassion to refugees who have been displaced by war, conflict or persecution. Many of our team are Christians but we are eager to build a team that is representative of the diverse nationalities, faiths, and life experiences of the communities we work with.

Context of the role.

Upbeat Communities delivers several services to welcome refugee families and support them to rebuild their lives. We are looking to recruit a sessional Youth Worker to work with children and Young People, to provide positive activities, increase engagement and integration and raise awareness about the support available via Derby City Council’s new Family Hubs programme.

About You.

Are you a good communicator, with the ability to raise awareness of the Family Hubs and services available to Young People from refugee backgrounds and connect them directly with staff from the local centres.

Are you committed to empowerment, able to support Young People from refugee backgrounds to develop, plan and deliver appropriate activities that meet their self-identified needs and goals.

Are you an excellent planner, able to carry out regular monitoring and evaluation activities to support the Planning Group with their decision making, as well as ensuring the project is achieving its outcomes.

Are you committed to standing alongside Young People from refugee backgrounds, providing welcome and support as they rebuild their lives as well as listening and learning from those who remain resilient in the face of great difficulty?

The successful candidate will have a positive attitude and play an important part in delivering the best possible support to those we work with. You will be committed to, and actively demonstrate, our values, ethos and practice in order to achieve our vision – to see thriving positive communities where every refugee can contribute and make the most of opportunities.

Purpose of the role:

• To assist Young People to develop a programme of suitable activities that meet their needs.
• To facilitate planned activities.
• To connect Young People and their parents with Local Family Hubs.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Promoting and publicising Upbeat Youth.
• Provide a safe space for Young People from both Refugee families and those that are Unaccompanied.
• Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) to come together and build trust, confidence and mutual support opportunities.
• Supporting a group of children and Young People to create and coproduce a programme of activities.
• Running events for children and young people.
• Liaising with parents, children and young people and Family Hubs.
• Maintaining records, compliant with GDPR.
• Monitoring and evaluating activities.

Person Specification:

We are looking for exceptional candidates who can demonstrate the following experience and skills. Please make sure you evidence each of these areas in your cover letter (which should be no longer than 2 sides of A4) when you apply.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience of working with children and young people from a range of backgrounds and with sensitivity to different cultures and varying English language skills
• Understanding of safeguarding in relation to children and young people.

• Experience of working or supporting refugees/asylum seekers.
• An understanding of the UK’s Immigration process.
• Experience in networking and relationship building with a range of stakeholders including churches, charities and statutory organisations.

Desirable

• Experience of working within a voluntary organisation.
• A qualification in Youth Work.

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Strong communication skills (verbal and written), with excellent written and spoken English, and an ability to communicate with children, young people, and parents, some of whom may have limited English.

• Excellent planning and coordination experience, competent in prioritising and managing own workloads, with strong organisational skills.
• Commitment to some evening and weekend work.
• Strong understanding of technology and information systems relevant to the role.
• Competent with use of Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word and Outlook).
• An empathetic and compassionate outlook, whilst being able to maintain professional boundaries with those you work with.
• The right to work in the UK.

Desirable:

• Ability to speak a second language relevant to the refugee communities we work with (e.g. Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Pashtu, Sorani, Spanish, Tigrinya).

• Full UK Driving licence and access to your own transport.

What we offer as an Employer:

• 25 days holiday plus 8 Bank Holidays for full time staff (pro rata for part time staff).
• Flexible working to promote a good work / life balance.
• Regular support and supervision.

Deadline for the post is: Midnight on the 14th of January 2024.

Interviews are scheduled for: Week Commencing 22nd of January 2024.

As part of the recruitment and selection process Upbeat Communities will take up two references. The post holder will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

Job Types: Part-time, Temporary contract

Salary: £13.16 per hour

Expected hours: 7.5 per week

Benefits:

• Sick pay
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Flexitime

Work Location: In person