Youth Work Team Manager-Juniors in Cheshire, Warrington

REPORTING TO: Head of Youth Work.

DIRECT REPORTS: Sessional Youth Workers

LOCATION: Until the Dome Youth Zone on Oak Street in Crewe is fully operational, you will be required to work in other locations. Some hybrid working may be required.

BENEFITS:

• 33 Days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays).
• Workplace pension
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free meals on duty (once The Dome opens).
• Free gym access (once The Dome opens).
• Access to OnSides Talent Academy; bespoke training and mentoring.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Recruit, train, support and manage the sessional youth work team members.
• Coordinate rotas, cover absences/holidays and address performance issues alongside the Head of Youth Work.

• Lead a safe, fun, inclusive and engaging youth work programme for junior members, with overall responsibility for session delivery and standards.
• Duty manage junior sessions (currently planned for Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons).
• Provide occasional leadership cover for other sessions (Senior, SEND, family and partnership sessions).
• Embed Youth Voice in programme planning and champion young peoples ideas across the Youth Zone.
• Meet delivery targets, including attendance and funded project outcomes.
• Share programme information with the communications team.

• Ensure a safe, welcoming environment for young people with clear behaviour expectations.
• Act as a Designated Safeguarding Lead, responding to concerns in line with policy alongside the Head of Youth Work and wider safeguarding team.
• Act as a key holder: opening and closing duties and ensure facilities are maintained, issues logged and spaces cleaned after sessions.

• Champion young people and youth work within the organisation, supporting all services, to provide a great experience.
• Build relationships with partners, stakeholders and supporters.
• Provide visible, hands-on leadership to maintain high quality standards.

• Embed monitoring and evaluation within junior sessions and report on youth work impact.
• Manage assigned budgets and complete programme delivery reports.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the experience, skills, knowledge and aptitudes listed, throughout the recruitment process. However, if you don't meet every single requirement but feel you have strong and relevant transferrable skills or lived experience to draw from, we encourage you to apply anyway.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Experience designing, delivering and leading open-access youth programmes for diverse young people (8-19, up to 25 with additional needs).
• Experience with play work would be advantageous.
• Safeguarding knowledge, ideally as a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Confident communicator, able to engage young people and work professionally with staff and partners.
• Experience managing behaviour and supporting conflict resolution.
• Staff management experience with awareness of HR processes (performance, attendance, rota planning).
• Experience in planning and coordinating programmes, including health & safety, scheduling and budgeting.

• Passionate about youth work and committed to empowering young people.
• Understanding of the issues facing young people and the youth work process, including contextual safeguarding.
• Able to build strong relationships and work collaboratively with a range of partners and stakeholders.
• Committed to the mission and values of The Dome Youth Zone and work collaboratively.
• Calm under pressure and able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Willing to work evenings and weekends, with flexibility to meet programme needs.

• Relevant education or equivalent experience; a youth work qualification is desirable but not essential.
• IT skills (Office 365, Smartsheet or similar).
• Evidence of ongoing professional development is an advantage (e.g. safeguarding, health & safety, leadership).

The normal hours of work are 37.5 per week. Junior Club will run on Tuesday, Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoon (subject to change) and you will be required to work on these sessions. Before the Youth Zone opens and during its construction, there will be elements of hybrid working in place. During the first months as part of the induction the successful candidate will have the opportunity to visit and spend time in operational Youth Zones, this will involve travel. The practicalities of this can be discussed during the process.

To apply:

1. Email a CV and Cover Letter (no more than one page)
2. Your Cover Letter should provide the following information:
• Why do you want to work for us?
• Looking at the person specification: briefly describe how your skills and experience (including lived experience) make you a good candidate for this role. (200 words max).
• How you demonstrate your commitment to fairness, equity and respect.
• Confirmation you are eligible to work in the UK (the successful candidate will be required to provide documentary evidence before a job offer is confirmed).
• Any reasonable adjustments we can make to assist you in your application or the selection process.

This role will be based in The Dome Youth Zone, Crewe, and in accordance with our Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an Enhanced DBS Check.

Do you have any unspent conditional cautions other than convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974? Do you have any adult cautions (simple or conditional) or spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020?

For successful applicants, the first stage of the process will be to attend an interview at The Dome temporary offices in Crewe on 22nd May 2026. For candidates successful at interview, there will be a practical task held at South Cheshire ABC Boxing, Crewe on the evening of 25th May 2026. This will include leading a session with young people.

• Closing date for applications: 18th May 2026
• Formal Panel Interview: 22nd May 2026
• Practical assessment: 25th May 2026, evening.

Crewe Youth Zone, named The Dome by local young people, is a brand-new locally run youth charity, set to provide thousands of young people with the opportunity to have fun, make new friends, try something new and feel safe. With community centric values and located in the heart of Crewe, it will be an inspiring place for young people aged 8-19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, to enjoy their leisure. The building is due to be completed in 2026. It will change the lives of thousands of young people each year delivering social impact on an incredible scale.

State-of-the-art facilities will offer over 20 activities including sports, arts, culture, and recreation available every evening, weekend, and school holiday, showcasing our commitment to providing the best for young people. The Dome is based on a proven model of youth service and youth work provision that is aligned to community needs and supported by cross-sector funding. The Dome will give young people affordable access to services designed to empower them to lead healthier, positive and more active lives, raising their own aspirations and their community.