Support Worker in Edinburgh

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people? Do you want a flexible, varied and meaningful job in a supportive team? Do you value great employee benefits such as generous holidays and an annual training budget? Apply to join us!

Bridges Project is a leading youth work charity that helps young people aged 12-25 in East Lothian and Midlothian overcome challenges and adapt to adulthood. Since 1984, we have helped young people develop their life skills, improve their educational attainment and move into employment or further education. Join our team and take pride inspiring young people!

We have a vacancy for a Support Worker to deliver a support programme to young people aged 13 – 21 from East Lothian who are experiencing a wide range of challenges including family poverty and family substance use.

The successful candidate will:

• Support young people in areas such as reducing social isolation and improving mental health.
• Provide mentoring support to young people enabling them to engage in activities within their local communities.

Responsibilities and tasks:

• To identify individual needs and, in conjunction with each young person, agree individually tailored action plans to develop skills and establish routines that improve mental health.
• To identify potential areas of interest for personal, emotional and social development.
• To set clear boundaries and work towards what success is for each individual, referring on for specialist intervention where appropriate.
• To provide person centred support packages focussing on personal development and improving life skills.
• To provide support which enables young people to engage with their local communities and take part in relevant activities and opportunities.
• To provide support to young people which addresses areas such as social isolation, anxiety, poor mental health and low confidence.
• To work in partnership with key professionals/agencies involved in each individual young person’s case e.g. high schools, CAMHS and social work.
• To support young people to gain employability skills, life skills and accreditation; helping them in to work, apprenticeships, further education, training, work experience and volunteering.
• To actively involve young people in evaluating the programme.
• To monitor and evaluate young people’s progress using assessment tools in areas such as skills development and SHANARRI wellbeing indicators.
• To be responsible for gathering and inputting data to Bridges Project’s bespoke monitoring and evaluation systems.
• To participate and cooperate in relevant Bridges Project meetings and meetings with other agencies.
• To participate in the provision and analysis of information necessary to monitor and evaluate the programme and provide information for monitoring reports to funders.
• To actively participate in support and supervision.
• To undertake other such duties known to be within the competence of the post holder as may be required from time to time.

Person Specification:

• Lived experience of at least one of the challenges faced by young people accessing support at Bridges Project.
• Experience of working with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.
• Experience of working with young people in an employability context.
• Experience of group work/training delivery.
• Experience of supporting young people with their mental health.
• Experience of working within professional boundaries.
• Ability to encourage self-help.
• Commitment to multi-agency working.
• Experience of and commitment to working within an anti-discriminatory framework.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to manage lone working.
• Experience of providing young person led bespoke one to one support and guidance.
• Experience of working within a social care environment.
• Experience of working within monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Skills, knowledge and attributes:

• Positive, motivated and passionate.
• Ability to prioritise workload and work in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to be creative and use own initiative.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Professional approach.
• Effective organisational and time management skills.
• Good level of IT skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to set and operate within clear and appropriate structures.
• Accurate record keeping.
• Pro-active approach to equal opportunities.
• Common sense, patience and a commitment to the wellbeing of the client group.
• Reliable, flexible, good humoured.
• Ability to develop good working relationships with colleagues and partner agencies.
• Good problem solver who can adapt well to changing challenges and priorities.
• Ability to take instruction and to respond well to supervision and management input.

Educational and Vocational Qualifications:

• Desirable SVQ level III or equivalent in a related discipline.
• Graduate or equivalent qualification in a related discipline.

It is essential that the postholder is a qualified car driver with full time access to a car and will, as required, transport young people. This is an exciting position in which the successful candidate will take pride in developing a programme of delivery which will improve the lives of young people in East Lothian. It is essential that candidates have a full, clean driving licence and constant use of a car. Membership of the PVG scheme will be an essential requirement of the post. A contributory company pension scheme is offered with a 10% employer contribution.

An application pack may be downloaded from our website.