Youth Worker (Rant Music Studio)

Working Hours: 6 hours per week to be worked across 2 evenings 18:00 - 21:00. Location: Rant Music Studio, Buckland, Portsmouth with the flexibility to offer music-based sessions from other youth clubs based across the city.

The Role: The youth service aims to improve outcomes for young people aged 11yrs-19yrs and up to 25yrs for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. We do this through Information, Advice, Guidance and a range of activities provided through our youth clubs and projects. We support vulnerable young people who are at risk or future risk of further problems such as substance misuse, youth offending, teenage pregnancy and homelessness.

Working with young people aged between 11-19 years in a youth music project setting, you will encourage young people’s participation in the project and in planning and running music activities with them. You will build relationships with these young people by being a good listener, listening to what the young people want from the activities as well as listening to their issues and signposting them on to other services as and when required. You will be expected to support the work under the direction of the Rant Studio Manager.

Your duties will involve providing informal basic music activity alongside the youth centre sessions that could range from introducing young people to the live room where they can try out drums, bass and guitar or assisting some of our young bands with performance and songwriting advice. An understanding of the recording process would be helpful as also experience of Logic Pro / Garage Band would be an advantage. A broad interest in a wide range of music genres is also welcome.

Who is the person? You need to:

• Be enthusiastic and be able to make and maintain effective relationships with young people.
• Have previous experience of engaging young people in a music-based youth work setting.
• Be friendly and approachable with a sense of humour and lots of patience.
• Be able to work within a team, as there will be lots of interaction with volunteers and other staff as this is very much a hands-on job.
• Have an understanding of anti-discriminatory practice and the empowerment of young people.
• Be open-minded but recognise and challenge inappropriateness in a young person’s behaviour or language.
• Be flexible in your hours of work as you will need availability to work in the evenings (6-9pm Monday - Friday) and occasional weekends.
• Have experience in solo/group singing and vocal techniques.

Additional Information: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work/personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful. You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it. Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.