District Youth & Community Worker - Hospital Project, Basildon

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months.

The Youth Work in Hospital Project operates within the Mid and South Essex Hospitals (Basildon, Southend, and Broomfield) to support young people in their community. This service is available to those aged 11-19 (up to 25 with SEND) during their hospital visit and after discharge into their communities. This is a regional award winner of the NHS Excellence Awards 2026 for improving health outcomes in the east of England.

As a District Youth and Community Worker, you will be asked to:

• Offer support and guidance based on individual needs, such as school advocacy and next-step planning, life skills.
• Signpost or refer young people to appropriate community groups or services; provide bespoke, tailored help - such as 1-to-1 support, targeted youth clubs, or referrals to community and specialist services such as Social Care or NELFT Mental Health Service.
• Work with the medical team to think creatively for solution-focused support for the young people.
• Manage junior staff.

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivery and supporting development of the Youth Service offer by working with identified Young People who present at Mid and South Essex NHS trusts. Working in Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals across multiple departments and wards.

The Hospital Project supports young people aged 11-19yrs (up to 25yrs SEND), who present at the A&E department and those with long-term health conditions. The role requires the successful candidate to work with Senior youth workers to provide impartial guidance for the young person to develop independent skills and effectively engage with health care services to improve their health outcomes.

You will also be required to support young people to fulfil their potential and access universal services through managing a caseload of young people whilst engaging them in mentoring, group work and strategic interventions. You will work face to face with young people, collaborate with colleagues and partners, to work towards positive outcomes for the young people.

You will use your creativity to engage them in positive activities which will help them to overcome challenges in their life to reach their full potential. You will support the delivery of group work sessions specifically for young people engaging in support from the project.

Accountabilities:

• Work closely with the Senior Youth and Community Worker and other youth workers, to develop the Youth Work in Hospital Project ensuring young people's interests are at the forefront of delivery.
• Have supervisory responsibility for the Youth and Community Workers within a Hospital Project.
• Support the development and delivery of the Hospital Project, including completing assessments, covering 3-4 hospital shifts a week in the A&E department, hospital clinics, school clinics and home visits.
• Make contact and establish relationships with professionals, young people, and their communities.
• Ensure the 'voice' of young people is heard in the design and delivery of effective youth work provision.
• Encourage and enable young people to participate in a range of educational and personal development activities.
• Ensure access to information and personal support, which enables young people to develop the confidence and skills to become creative, active members of their communities.
• Manage employees in working flexibly and collaboratively across the service and wider children and families service to support the organisation's key outcomes.
• Work to the organisational capability standards through good people management, including the training and development, mentoring and coaching of team members to challenge the norms and constructively challenge professionals to achieve the best outcomes for young people.
• Manage a complex caseload of young people with complex health needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure the proper implementation of risk management, including Health and Safety and Business Continuity.
• Develop and deliver a programme for a youth group session of imaginative activities, encouraging participation and involvement of young people in developing their skills, understanding of others and the world around them.
• Facilitate young people's learning and understanding of their personal and social development in accordance with the core values of youth work and to meet their own health targets.
• Manage your own working hours and those who you line manage (Flexible working) in accordance with the needs of the project and young people.
• Keep accurate and efficient administrative systems and record keeping on Youth service systems. Provide information and data as required.
• Take part in the Service supervision scheme and performance management scheme to identify priorities and learning needs.
• Ensure Child Protection/Safeguarding Guidelines (SET) are followed and that all concerns are reported promptly.

The Experience You Will Bring:

• Qualified at degree level in a JNC recognised Professional Youth Work Qualification or level 6 relevant qualification (or in training), including social work, Mental health etc.
• Ability to work in partnership and to influence partners across a range of sectors to support the identification of desired outcomes for young people.
• Excellent level of numeracy, literacy (GCSE A - C or equivalent or demonstrable experience) and ICT.
• Experience of managing resources.
• Experience of working with young people, partners and community groups.
• Ability to build relationships and relate well to young people, partners, volunteers and commissioners.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.