Youth Engagement Worker in London

Merton College is seeking a Youth Engagement Worker for a permanent, full-time position (36 hours a week, over 52 weeks per year) with a salary range of £29,470 - £32,156 per annum, plus up to 40 days annual leave and bank holidays. Please note that this post is funded for the 2026/27 academic year onwards, so the successful candidate would not be expected to commence in post prior to August 2026.

Student Services supports students at each stage of their journey from pre-entry to post-exit. The department has a student-oriented culture and puts students’ needs at the heart of everything it does. As our Youth Worker, you will work as a member of the team to contribute to a wide and varied programme, which will include co-leading and delivering a range of activities to students.

You will work with students that may be identified through safeguarding processes, supporting social spaces, including our Enrichment Hub, and deliver personal development activities which support developing positive behaviour and attitudes amongst students. You will play a key role in engaging with students around the campus in both a formal and informal basis, to ensure that students are attending lessons and that social spaces, corridors, and other communal areas in the College are safe and welcoming, and that students maintain reasonable standards of behaviour.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience of delivering activities and support to young people, primarily aged 16–18, from a range of backgrounds. You will understand the challenges they face and be confident in engaging positively with young people to support improvements in behaviour, skills, and confidence, particularly in challenging situations.

You will be qualified to Level 3 or above in a relevant area such as Youth and Community Work, Education, Psychology, Sociology, Health & Social Care, or Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) and have experience of planning and delivering enrichment activities and events that enhance the student experience, as well as delivering workshops, presentations, or tutorials to diverse student groups. You will also have a strong understanding of safeguarding practices, procedures, and referral processes.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to build strong rapport with students and work effectively with a wide range of external agencies. Following the initial round of interviews, if you are successful for the second interview, there will be a session where you will be asked to engage with the students. This role is predominantly based at Merton College but you may be required to work also from Carshalton College.

The successful candidate will be eligible for any increase in salary as a consequence of the annual cost of living review that will be implemented in the new academic year. Closing date for the return of completed applications is 19th May 2026.

The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 27 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year, as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees’ physical and mental health. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities, and professional development and training, plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships. As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search, and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College, and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London’s largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students’ success at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to progress and achieve.