Senior Youth Worker I (Specialism - Regional) Another Way - Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon area

Primary Location: Armagh-Craigavon-Brownlow Youth Centre

Contract Type: Fixed-Term (May be subject to extension or reduced for any valid reason)

Duration of Contract/Contract End Date: 31 March 2027

Status: Full-Time

Hours per Week: 36 hours per week

Working Pattern: The working pattern will be in accordance with JNC Conditions. 10 sessions to include 4 evenings and occasional weekends.

The worker will respond to referrals within the area of Armagh Banbridge & Craigavon.

Grade/Scale: Senior Youth Worker I (Board-wide Specialism) | Professional Range Pts 22 - 25 | £39,997 - £43,091 per annum

Additional Information: The “Another Way” project aims to reduce group-related violence in Northern Ireland through a focused deterrence strategy and community engagement approach, delivered by the EA Youth Service through a referral process facilitated by the PSNI. This initiative involves a coordinated, multi-agency effort to support individuals at risk of involvement in violent groups or criminal exploitation. The youth workers will offer long-term mentoring, support, guidance, and development plans for training, education, and employment opportunities. The project focuses on increasing individual protective factors. By fostering trust and collaboration with mental health professionals and other services, the project seeks to empower young people and reduce reoffending rates.

REPORTS TO: Senior Youth Worker 2/Senior Youth Worker 3 or Designated Youth Officer

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Line management responsibility for up to 3 FTE and/or substantial support to a range of groups.

JOB PURPOSE: The Senior Youth Worker 1 (Specialism) will have responsibility for the management of youth work programmes across the designated area, in line with Education Authority policies. This will include the development of youth work initiatives with young people and other agencies in a designated area.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Managing & Developing a Range of Services within the Designated Area.
• Work directly with young people by assessing their needs and providing an agreed programme of activities designed to meet those needs, in line with the Youth Service Curriculum for Northern Ireland.
• Develop an individual Annual Action Plan and actively contribute to the Area Plan and the overall strategic plan for the Youth Service.
• Ensure the active participation of young people in the youth work programmes and in the management of the area project.
• In consultation with the Advisory Committee and line manager ensure that objectives are achieved through implementation, monitoring and self-evaluation of agreed work programmes.
• Establish contact with, listen to, befriend, advise, support and act as an advocate for young people.
• Encourage and participate in the residential and outdoor education elements of the programme.
• Promote and develop inter-community activities.
• Be responsible to the line manager for all management, administration and financial matters relevant to the Area Project.
• Engage in appropriate fundraising related directly to the approved programme.
• Provide substantial support to youth groups and relevant organisations within the designated area.
• Engage where appropriate in outreach or detached youth work programmes within the designated area.

Developing Staff and Facilities within the Designated Area:

• Work with staff and volunteers to develop, implement, manage and evaluate programmes of activities, services and facilities in line with the agreed priorities for the designated area.
• Ensure the induction, motivation, development, training, deployment and discipline of part-time/project staff and volunteers within the designated area.
• Be responsible for the development of training and support for management committees, part-time staff and volunteers within the designated area.

Working with Agencies to Develop Services within the Designated Area:

• Develop substantial links and partnerships with relevant agencies to develop services within the designated area.

Leading Project Development and Implementation within the Designated Area:

• In line with agreed priorities design and implement specific curriculum related projects within the designated area.

Management Responsibility for Staff within the Designated Area:

• Supervise appropriate staff, including the management and allocation of duties.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS:

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria:

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

• Qualifications/Professional Membership: Be a qualified Youth Worker in accordance with the JNC Report for Youth Workers, Paragraph 5.
• Experience: Have a minimum of two years’ post qualifying experience managing a Youth Centre or Youth Project. Have a minimum of two years’ experience managing youth work staff. Demonstrable experience of managing youth work projects across a range of settings. Experience of leading practice that improves the specialism outlined in the job title.
• Knowledge: Demonstrable working knowledge of information technology systems to include the following Microsoft Office packages: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Skills/Abilities: Evidence of skills in designing, delivering and evaluating youth work training.
• Other: The successful candidate will be required to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion; OR be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.

Section 2 - Essential Criteria:

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

• Knowledge: Demonstrable knowledge of the following: NI Youth Work Curriculum, Risk management processes relative to the welfare of young people, Department of Education Child Protection regulations.
• Skills/Abilities: In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of: Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with young people, Evidence of excellent communication and interpersonal skills, Practical experience of financial management processes, Skills to develop a local assessment of need and evaluate impact, Ability to embed a Quality Assurance process, Ability to use own initiative and make effective and objective decisions, Ability to effectively manage people to deliver outcomes, Ability to work under pressure to strict deadlines.
• Values Orientation: Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values.

Our Values: Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND: The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.