Youth Support Worker

Plymouth City Council is seeking a Youth Support Worker (Street Based Focus) to join its Community Youth Team. This is a frontline youth work role delivering relationship based, informal education with young people aged 10‑19, supporting their personal, social and emotional development and helping them to reach their potential. The post has a strong emphasis on street based and detached youth work, engaging young people in their own spaces and at times when their need is greatest. You will work with young people who may be vulnerable to exclusion, anti‑social behaviour, exploitation, or disengagement from education, providing early intervention and targeted support to promote positive outcomes. Working within a multi‑agency framework, the role contributes to safer communities and improved life chances for young people through planned youth work programmes, effective partnership working and the promotion of equality, participation and young people’s rights.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain professional youth work relationships with young people through street based, community and centre based delivery, using informal education approaches.
• Identify the needs of local young people through direct engagement, observation, consultation and partnership intelligence.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate needs‑led youth work programmes, activities and interventions alongside young people, reflecting national youth work standards.
• Deliver street based and detached youth work sessions in identified communities and hotspot areas, building trust and positive engagement.
• Provide targeted one‑to‑one and group support for young people experiencing vulnerability, risk or disengagement.
• Promote active participation, enabling young people to influence activities, develop confidence and experience decision making.
• Work collaboratively with partners including Community Safety, police, schools, housing and voluntary sector organisations to coordinate responses to emerging issues.
• Support young people within educational or alternative provision settings where appropriate to encourage engagement, wellbeing and inclusion.
• Maintain accurate records, complete risk assessments and contribute to planning, monitoring and evaluation of youth work delivery.
• Contribute to service development and deliver youth work in line with equalities, safeguarding and ethical practice standards.
• Work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, in line with service need.

Qualifications

• Experience of delivering youth work or related work with young people, achieving positive outcomes.
• A qualification in youth work or a closely related area at NVQ Level 2 or 3 (or equivalent), or a willingness to work towards this.
• Ability to build trusting, professional relationships with young people in informal and street based settings.
• Understanding of youth work principles, including participation, informal education, safeguarding and anti‑discriminatory practice.
• Strong communication, organisational and IT skills, with the ability to contribute to planning, recording and evaluation.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, under supervision, and within a multi‑agency environment.
• Willingness to work unsocial hours, including evenings and weekends.

Desirable

• Experience of detached / outreach youth work.
• Knowledge of community safety or early intervention approaches.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Minibus driving qualification.
• Experience of working in education, alternative provision or community safety settings.

Additional Information

• This role requires an enhanced DBS check.
• Project activity may include water based sessions; therefore, confidence in water and the ability to swim are desirable.
• The role involves citywide delivery, flexible working and hot desking.
• The Disclosure & Barring Service Check requirement for this post is: Children’s Barred List & DBS Adult’s Barred List.

Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation. As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years. Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.