Trauma-Informed Youth Support Specialist (16–25) in Salford

Join us as a Young People Support Worker in Salford and empower care-experienced young people to build independence and lasting stability. You'll manage a caseload of 16-25-year-olds, delivering practical, strengths-based support—from budgeting and benefits to housing, education and employment—helping them develop the skills they need to live confidently on their own.

Working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, you'll engage young people with complex needs using a trauma-informed approach, while partnering with social workers and specialist services to drive positive outcomes. You'll build trusted relationships, champion client voice and play a key role in creating a safe, inclusive and empowering service.

We're looking for a proactive, resilient professional with experience supporting young people, strong communication skills and a clear understanding of safeguarding and multi-agency working. If you're motivated to make a real difference and thrive in a hands-on role, this is your opportunity to grow with a values-led organisation changing lives every day.

Please note that this job opportunity is offered as a full-time (37.5 hour per week), permanence basis role (3 week rolling rota mix of waking night, evening and weekend work).

• To complete a full assessment of each young person's strengths, needs and goals to develop a holistic and strengths-based support plan and tailored programme of support.
• Provide a programme of support with young people to cover accommodation needs, independent living skills, support with education, employment and learning and social and emotional issues.
• To support young people aged 16+ to prepare for independent living and develop necessary skills.
• To understand and support young people using a trauma-informed approach, awareness and understanding of adverse childhood approaches and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
• Help young people to apply for benefits, complete relevant application forms, train to learn budgeting skills and managing money, including support to prioritise and pay bills and rent.
• Actively support young people to stay in or enter suitable education, employment and training.
• Support young people to access and liaise with health services, including mental health services, drug and alcohol support services and counselling referrals.
• To create a package of support around the young person, signposting and making onward referrals for specialized support where appropriate.
• To be available to represent Depaul UK at meetings and to provide updates to all professionals involved with the young person, and keep clear and relevant records.
• To establish and build links with housing providers in order to maximise the alternatives available to young people and work closely with social care partners.
• To make a positive contribution to team meetings, case management meetings and make a contribution to any policy reviews and consultations.
• To demonstrate commitment to client involvement by advocating client involvement opportunities, for example by actively promoting the Voice of Depaul to clients and holding residents meetings.
• To work in a manner that promotes positive teamwork.
• To have flexibility to ensure that all young people can access support around their employment, training and education commitments, which may involve some evening and weekend working.

• A commitment to the ethos and values of Depaul including the organisation's policies and procedures.
• Able to work on own initiative but at the same time able to exercise sound judgement in knowing when to consult with peers and clients to meet the service KPI's.
• A clear understanding and ability to implement risk management, information sharing and data security arrangements.
• Aware of and committed to equal opportunity and diversity practice. Ability to promote and implement diversity practice and policies and treat colleagues and clients fairly and with respect.
• Demonstrate ability to use IT to a level which will enable high quality reporting to be carried out. This should include an ability to use data capture systems including running queries and reports.
• Experience of helping Young People with setting up benefits, developing independent living skills and maintaining their accommodation.
• Experience of working with young people who may have complex needs such as mental health issues, drug and alcohol misuse, domestic abuse and offending behaviour.
• Ability and commitment to work as part of a multi-agency team to ensure young people in care and who are leaving care, achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Able to demonstrate a clear understanding of safeguarding requirements and professional boundaries when working with young people.

At Depaul UK, we believe in people's potential - and we take action every day to help unlock it. Whether you're supporting young people directly or strengthening our organisation behind the scenes, your work will create real, lasting impact.

Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

Depaul UK provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year. As our name suggests, the work of Depaul UK has been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul - a man who devoted his life to helping vast numbers of people throughout the 17th century. St. Vincent de Paul's belief in the intrinsic worth of all people and his commitment to taking bold action remain central to our values today.

We offer tailored training and development, flexible working options where suitable, 26 days annual leave, rising with service, family-friendly leave policies, pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%, Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access, discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more, cash health plan for you and your family, and death-in-service benefit.