Young People's Life Skills Mentor in Somerset

Young People’s Life Skills Mentor

Location: Somerset – Countywide
Hours: Full-time
Contract: Permanent
Working arrangements: Community-based / in person

About Us

At Intuitive Thinking Skills, we believe every person has strengths, skills and potential, and that past experiences do not have to define their future.

We are a leading provider of strengths-based, lived experience and skills programmes, working alongside people across young people’s services, drug and alcohol treatment, criminal justice, mental health and employability.

Our approach is practical, engaging and person-centred. We don’t focus on what is “wrong” with someone. We help people recognise what they already have, develop new skills and build the confidence to make positive choices about their future.

The Role

We are looking for an energetic, enthusiastic and engaging Young People’s Life Skills Mentor to work with young people across Somerset.

This is a relationship-led role. You will work individually and in small groups with young people who may have disengaged from education, need support getting back into a routine, are transitioning into a new environment, or are preparing for their next steps into college, apprenticeships, training or employment.

You will get to know each young person, understand what matters to them and develop a person-centred learning and development plan that builds on their individual strengths, interests and aspirations.

Your role isn’t to tell young people what their future should look like. It is to help them develop the skills, confidence and independence to start shaping it for themselves.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will:

• Build positive, trusting and appropriate relationships with young people, creating an environment where they feel listened to, respected and encouraged.
• Develop individual, person-centred learning and development plans based on each young person’s strengths, needs and aspirations.
• Deliver engaging one-to-one and group-based life skills sessions.
• Support young people to develop confidence, self-esteem, motivation, resilience and independence.
• Help young people recognise and challenge attitudes or behaviours that may be holding them back.
• Support young people experiencing anxiety or a lack of confidence when entering new environments or taking their next steps.
• Help young people establish positive routines and develop practical skills for everyday life.
• Encourage young people to identify their own goals and make informed decisions about their future.
• Connect young people with wider opportunities and activities including outdoor pursuits, horticulture, agriculture, arts and crafts and other community-based activities.
• Support progression towards education, college, apprenticeships, training and employment where appropriate.
• Work creatively to maintain engagement, particularly with young people who may previously have struggled within more traditional learning environments.
• Work closely with schools, colleges, local services, community organisations and other professionals involved in supporting the young person.
• Maintain accurate records of engagement, progress and outcomes.
• Work within ITS safeguarding, health and safety, information governance and quality requirements.

About You

We are looking for someone who can connect with young people and help them see their strengths and possibilities.

You will be someone who:

• Can build genuine, professional and trusting relationships with young people.
• Has experience of supporting, mentoring, coaching or working alongside young people.
• Understands that every young person is different and can adapt their approach accordingly.
• Is positive, encouraging and able to motivate people without judging or lecturing them.
• Can think creatively about how to engage someone who may not respond well to traditional classroom-based approaches.
• Is confident working independently in community settings.
• Can work effectively as part of a multi-agency environment and understands the importance of strong partnership working.
• Is organised and able to manage a varied workload across a large geographical area.
• Understands professional boundaries and the importance of safeguarding when working with young people.
• Shares our belief that people should be recognised for their strengths and potential rather than defined by the challenges they have experienced.

Lived Experience

We particularly welcome applications from people who can draw positively on their own lived experience of overcoming challenges or barriers in life.

This isn't essential, and lived experience can take many different forms. What matters is being able to use your experiences appropriately and professionally to demonstrate that change, growth and progression are possible.

Essential Requirements

• Experience of working with, mentoring, coaching or supporting young people.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider multi-agency team.
• Ability to engage young people with different needs, backgrounds and experiences.
• Understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries when working with young people.
• Full driving licence and ability to travel across Somerset as required by the role.
• Commitment to the values and strengths-based approach of Intuitive Thinking Skills.

What We’re Looking For

Qualifications and previous job titles are important, but they don't tell us everything.

We are particularly interested in who you are, how you engage with young people and whether you can build the kind of relationship that helps a young person recognise their own strengths, develop confidence and start believing in what they can achieve.

If you are energetic, relatable, creative and passionate about giving young people the opportunity to move forward, we would like to hear from you.

Inclusive Recruitment and Accessibility

Intuitive Thinking Skills is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds, experiences and working styles. Candidates are encouraged to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.

Applicants do not need to meet every desirable criterion to apply; we are interested in relevant skills, potential and values alignment as well as direct experience.

Compliance

All colleagues are responsible for following organisational policies, procedures and relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including safeguarding, Prevent, health and safety, equality and inclusion, UK GDPR/data protection and information security.

The postholder must support compliance with applicable organisational standards, including ISO 27001 Information Security, ISO 9001 Quality Management and ISO 14001 Environmental Management, by maintaining accurate records, protecting confidential information and escalating concerns appropriately.