Sessional Youth Worker in St Helens

About the Role

Our Young Carers Centre, located in the heart of St Helens, provides dedicated support for children and young people aged 6–21 who help care for a family member. We offer assessments, emotional and practical support, regular age‑appropriate activities, wellbeing workshops, residential breaks, training opportunities and initiatives that empower young carers to have their voices heard.

We are looking to recruit enthusiastic, caring and reliable Sessional Activity Youth Workers to join our bank staff team at the Young Carers Centre. This rewarding role involves supporting children and young people during structured group activities, community‑based sessions, workshops and occasional trips or residential experiences.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Build positive, trusting relationships with young carers, helping them feel safe, welcomed and included.
• Support children and young people to fully participate in activities, encouraging confidence, social interaction and personal development.
• Provide emotional support and a listening ear to young carers when needed, responding sensitively and appropriately.
• Support young people who are new to the group, helping them settle in comfortably.
• Work alongside colleagues to deliver fun, age‑appropriate activities both within the centre and in community settings.
• Occasionally take the lead in delivering activity sessions where appropriate.
• Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, always following organisational procedures.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality while ensuring relevant concerns are shared with the correct staff members.
• Provide feedback and updates to the Activities Coordinator following sessions.
• Assist with the smooth running of activities, including setting up, clearing away and ensuring the centre is ready for future sessions.
• Contribute to wider Young Carers Centre events and projects throughout the year.
• Attend supervision sessions and relevant training as required.
• Work positively as part of a supportive team and uphold the values, policies and procedures of St Helens Carers Centre.
• Occasionally support residential trips, subject to service need and funding.

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for warm, energetic, approachable and enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people. The ideal candidate will have experience working directly with children or young people, particularly in group settings, youth work, education, health and social care, or similar support environments.

Experience delivering activities, workshops or events for young people would be particularly valuable. An understanding of the challenges faced by young carers would be beneficial, along with the ability to build trust, communicate sensitively and support young people in a non‑judgemental and encouraging way.

You should be confident working as part of a team, able to maintain professional boundaries, and comfortable handling sensitive or confidential situations appropriately.

A sound understanding of safeguarding responsibilities is desirable as is the ability to recognise and respond appropriately to concerns involving children and young people, but full safeguarding training will be provided.

We are seeking individuals who are flexible, dependable, positive in their approach, and able to work evening sessions during term time, daytime activities during school holidays, and occasional weekend commitments where required.

Relevant qualifications in youth work, health and social care, education, community work or related fields would be welcomed, although equivalent experience will also be considered.

Pay, Hours and Practical Information

• Working Pattern: Sessional / bank staff basis
• Typical Activity Times: Monday to Thursday, 4:30pm–7:30pm during school term time
• School Holiday Activities: Usually daytime sessions, depending on activity planning
• Location: St Helens Young Carers Centre and community‑based venues
• Residential Trips: Occasional
• Rolls will be shared in advance and planned with staff availability in mind.

This role offers flexibility, and we welcome applications from individuals who may only be available for selected sessions rather than the full weekly programme.