At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young people in building confidence and exploring new opportunities through engaging activities.
- Company: Join Barnardo's, a leading charity dedicated to empowering youth.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, competitive leave, and discounts at major retailers.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for creativity and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while developing your own skills.
- Qualifications: Experience with youth and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 18900 - 23100 £ per year.
Are you ready for a new challenge? Do you have a passion for working with young people, helping them grow in confidence, discover their strengths, and explore new opportunities? If so, we'd love to hear from you!
Location
This is a field-based role where the majority of work will be undertaken in the community. You'll also have access to our Barnardo's offices in Plymouth.
Working Hours
22.2-25 hours per week - including some evening work and weekend work. (Fixed term until 31st March 2030 – subject to annual funding reviews beyond March 2028).
About the Role
The Barnardo's Co-op Partnership is an exciting and innovative programme aiming to support young people to build positive futures. Our Plymouth Changemakers service is co-designed with young people and centred around a welcoming, inclusive youth space where young people can feel safe, connected, and empowered to take part in meaningful experiences.
We create inclusive spaces where young people can:
- Learn to cook healthy, nutritious meals
- Share food and eat together
- Enjoy games and activities
- Explore issues that matter to them
- Build confidence, teamwork, and essential life skills
Using a youth work approach, we support young people to:
- Build positive relationships and develop a strong sense of belonging
- Grow in confidence, resilience, and self-esteem
- Take part in a wide range of activities, including creative, practical, and food-based sessions
- Explore issues that matter to them and have their voices heard
- Develop teamwork, communication, and essential life skills for the future
As part of your role, you will plan and deliver engaging, youth-led sessions in a variety of settings, including community venues and schools. You will build trusted relationships with young people, create inclusive spaces that meet diverse needs, and support them to achieve positive outcomes. You will also contribute to community engagement, develop creative approaches to reaching young people across Plymouth, and support ongoing evaluation through reflective practice and outcome recording.
What We're Looking For
- Experience working with children, young people, and families
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures, with experience applying this in practice
- Excellent listening and communication skills with a diverse range of children, young people and families
- Creativity and confidence in designing inclusive workshops and group sessions
- Good written and IT skills to accurately record case notes
- Flexibility to adapt to the needs and interests of young people
When applying, please refer specifically to the Person Specification and Job Description, explaining how your skills and experience meet the requirements.
Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.
Benefits
Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these.
Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland).
Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata.
The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme.
A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options.
Service related sick pay from day 1.
Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution.
Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension.
Cycle2work scheme.
Interest free season ticket loans.
Discounts and cashback from high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal.
20% discount at Barnardo's stores.
Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc.
Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support.
Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer.
Youth Worker in Devon employer: BARNARDOS
Barnardo's is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative work culture that prioritises flexibility and employee well-being. As a Strategic Finance Partner in Greater London, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on children's services while benefiting from professional growth and development within a supportive environment dedicated to improving the lives of young people.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Youth Worker in Devon
✨Get Involved in Community Events
Dive headfirst into community events and social work fairs in your area. These are great opportunities to connect with potential employers like BARNARDOS, grab some insider info, and showcase your passion for social work. Plus, meeting people face-to-face can really make you stand out!
✨Join Social Work Networks
Tap into social work networks and online communities, like local charities and organisations. Engaging in discussions or volunteering can help you build a strong reputation and could lead to part-time roles just like the one at BARNARDOS. The connections you make could be the key to landing your next opportunity!
✨Make Your Passion Shine
When approaching part-time roles, be sure to highlight your passion for social issues in conversations and informal chats. Bring your experiences to life through storytelling – this can resonate well with organisations looking for someone who genuinely cares about making a difference!
✨Keep an Eye on Local Job Boards
Part-time roles in social work might not always be advertised in the usual places. Keep checking local job boards or community centres for openings, and don't hesitate to apply directly through BARNARDOS's website – we love seeing proactive candidates who take the initiative!
We think you need these skills to ace Youth Worker in Devon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let your passion for social work shine through. Talk about why you're drawn to this field and how you've been involved in community service or support roles. We want to see your commitment and the heart you bring to the table!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to spotlight any hands-on experience you have! Whether it's internships, volunteering, or relevant coursework, detail how your past experiences relate to the role at BARNARDOS. We love seeing candidates who have practical skills and a real understanding of social issues.
Certificates and Training Matter:If you've got any relevant certifications or training specific to social work (like safeguarding training or counselling qualifications), don’t forget to include these in your CV! These details can set you apart and show us you’re serious about your professional development.
Be Flexible with Your Availability:Since this is a part-time role, explain your availability clearly in your application. Let us know when you can start and how many hours you’re looking to work. Being upfront about your schedule will help us see how you fit into the team at BARNARDOS.
How to prepare for a job interview at BARNARDOS
✨Show Your Passion for Helping Others
In social work, it's all about your commitment to making a difference. Be ready to share specific experiences that highlight your passion for helping others, whether that's through volunteering, placements, or personal stories. We want to see that genuine drive during your chat with BARNARDOS.
✨Know Your Social Work Theories
You might be quizzed on social work theories or models that inform your practice, like the person-in-environment approach. Brush up on these concepts and be prepared to discuss how you'd apply them in a practical setting. This could be a game changer in your interview for a Youth Worker at BARNARDOS.
✨Flexibility and Availability are Key
As you're going for a part-time role, highlight your flexibility and how it would fit with the organisation's needs. Have examples ready that demonstrate your availability for various shifts or urgent situations—that's just gold for a social work role.
✨Prepare for a Situation-Based Discussion
Expect scenario-based questions where you'll need to demonstrate how you'd handle specific situations with clients or stakeholders. Think of a couple of real-life scenarios you've encountered and articulate your thought process. This will show BARNARDOS that you're ready to hit the ground running in the Youth Worker role.
