At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to support young people in overcoming barriers to education and employment.
- Company: Join Essex County Council, a dynamic local authority committed to community transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Exciting career growth opportunities in a supportive and innovative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people across diverse communities.
- Qualifications: Degree level education and relevant qualifications in advice and guidance.
The predicted salary is between 44292 - 44292 £ per year.
Permanent, Full Time
£37,649 to £44,292 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 23rd August 2026
Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.
Make a real difference to the lives of young people across Essex. Join a service that supports young people to overcome barriers, realise their potential, and achieve positive outcomes in education, employment and training. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a skilled team, influence strategic partnerships, and help shape the future of targeted youth support across one of the UK's most diverse counties.
The Senior Targeted Youth Adviser leads a team of Targeted Youth Advisers, delivering the Targeted Youth Offer through in-depth, planned one-to-one and group support. The service helps young people address specific issues and barriers to education, training and employment, providing impartial advice and guidance to support re-engagement in education and progression into post-16 opportunities.
This role is pivotal in positioning the Targeted Youth Service in Essex as a valued and relevant offer to key partners. The postholder will support the development of targeted youth work provision within a cost-recoverable model, including working with the Youth Service Business Development team to develop project proposals and secure income-generating opportunities. The postholder will provide line management and leadership to the Targeted Youth delivery team through an established management structure.
You will play a key role in driving high-quality service delivery, supporting staff development, and ensuring positive outcomes for young people across the county. You will hold a Level 6 IAG Qualification, DipCG, QCG, NVQ Level 6 LDDS, or an equivalent professional qualification, alongside a proven track record of managing staff and delivering externally funded contracts.
A broad understanding of the issues affecting young people, barriers to education, opportunities for learning, and the services provided by partner agencies is essential. The role includes evening, weekend and occasional residential work, as required to meet service needs. It also requires mobility across a wide operational area, with regular travel throughout Essex. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means, is essential.
Accountabilities
- Accountable for the operational delivery of high quality impartial, independent support for young people to overcome barriers to access universal services, education or employment.
- Responsible for developing delivery plans that provide information, advice and guidance, supportive of the young people’s needs, views and aspirations.
- Responsible for the achievement of defined contractual targets in relation to enabling the development of skills in young people, ensuring outcomes are recorded and reporting activities are met.
- Provide supervision and practical support to staff.
- Create, maintain and review accuracy of records in conjunction with DfE IAG guidance and that of external funders, ensuring compliance with Information Sharing Protocols.
- Responsible for the effective management of staff to facilitate the process of meeting the needs of young people, reflecting on professional practice to achieve continuous improvement in performance through specific individual and shared targets and objectives defined annually within performance management reviews.
- Leading the team to deliver against strategic objectives, continually developing potential new cost recoverable support projects of targeted work.
- Work collaboratively with senior school-based staff, social care, SEND, Youth Offending Service, Housing commercial bodies and stakeholders, to influence the type of interventions delivered to provide wider support to young people, remove barriers to learning, training and employment including promotion of the eight Gatsby benchmarks as set out in the government’s careers strategy.
- Influencing and negotiating with stakeholders, the level and type of provision, to meet economic and young people’s needs and identify and inform gaps in education and training provision.
- Responsible for advocating with parents/carers and other professionals, to achieve the best outcomes for young people.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Educated to degree level and/or possess IAG L6 Qualification, Dip CG, QCG or NVQ 6 LDDS, or equivalent by experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area including management and leadership.
- Builds strong partnerships at senior level, which are influential and collaborative in their nature and engender delivery of joint innovative strategies.
- Strong leadership and management skills, which drive a highly performing and motivated team from diverse backgrounds, to achieve strategic objectives.
- A broad understanding of the issues affecting young people, opportunities for learning and the services provided by partner organisations.
- Deep knowledge and understanding of the current local offers of support to young people that may facilitate their reintegration.
- Proven experience of supporting, motivating and aspiring young people on a one to one or group basis into EET opportunities or positive activities.
- Experience of the implementation of external funded contracts.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to relate to staff, partner agencies and young people in a purposeful responsive manner and demonstrable knowledge and understanding of their needs.
- Experience of advocating on behalf of young people with an ability to negotiate with schools, colleges, employers and other agencies.
- Flexible approach with excellent time management skills and ability to work creatively in order to respond to staff and young people’s needs.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
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.
Senior Targeted Youth Adviser in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people. With flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development, staff are encouraged to grow within their roles, all while contributing to a vital service in the heart of Chelmsford.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Targeted Youth Adviser in Chelmsford
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Essex County Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Essex County Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Essex County Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Essex County Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Targeted Youth Adviser in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Essex County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Essex County Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
