Lead Youth Worker in York

The Lead Youth Worker will lead the day-to-day running of Thirsk Youth Club, working directly with young people whilst managing a small team and ensuring we deliver high-quality youth work for around 140 young people per week. This is a hands-on role focused on building good relationships with young people, delivering engaging activities and support programmes, and creating a safe, inclusive environment where they can develop and thrive. This role requires someone who can balance being on the ground with young people whilst also managing budgets, safeguarding, compliance, and strategic relationships with local schools and agencies. The role is ideal for someone passionate about working with young people who wants to make a real difference to their lives and their local community.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct Youth Work & Programme Delivery
  • Plan, lead and deliver engaging weekly youth work sessions across age groups 9-18.
  • Plan, lead and deliver school-holiday sessions and activities, occasional day trips and residential weekends.
  • Build good relationships with young people, creating a safe and inclusive environment where they feel welcomed, valued and heard.
  • Plan, lead and deliver activities/sessions that respond to young people's interests, needs, and development goals, bringing in outside partners, agencies and individuals as appropriate.
  • Champion youth voice, ensuring young people actively shape what we do and how we do it.
• Team & Operational Management
  • Manage and support our youth worker and youthwork assistants, providing supervision, guidance, and professional development. Coordinate volunteers to ensure adequate cover at sessions.
  • Manage rotas, cover arrangements, and ensure adequate staffing for all sessions.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative team culture where staff feel supported and motivated.
• Youth Voice & Participation
  • Actively involve young people in shaping sessions, gathering feedback about their experiences and ideas for improvement.
  • Encourage and support young people to take on leadership roles and responsibilities.
  • Signpost young people to additional support where appropriate.
  • Support the Youth Volunteer programme, helping young people develop peer mentoring and leadership skills.
  • Celebrate young people’s achievements and encourage their personal development.
• Safeguarding & Compliance
  • Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring all policies, procedures, and training are current and fully embedded.
  • Use trauma-informed and restorative approaches when supporting young people facing challenges.
  • Complete and maintain accurate records of attendance, incidents, and safeguarding concerns using the online system.
  • Maintain compliance with health and safety, data protection, and all relevant legislation.
  • Ensure all risk assessments are up to date and appropriate for activities delivered.
• Financial & Budget Management
  • Monitor expenditure according to a budget and maintain accurate financial records.
  • Work with trustees to ensure financial sustainability and efficient use of resources.
  • Support fundraising efforts and explore new funding opportunities where appropriate.
• Partnership & Community Engagement
  • Build positive relationships with local schools, police, youth support agencies and local organisations as appropriate.
  • Represent TYC at local partnership meetings and networks, advocating for young people's needs.
  • Collaborate with partners on early intervention, safeguarding, and community cohesion initiatives.
  • Liaise with parents, carers, and professionals where appropriate to support young people's wellbeing.
  • Keep trustees informed of local issues affecting young people and any opportunities for TYC to respond.
• Monitoring, Reporting & Development
  • Register young people attending TYC sessions and complete attendance registers accurately.
  • Record accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns promptly.
  • Assist with monitoring and evaluation activities.
  • Contribute to collecting evidence of outcomes for funders.
  • Provide regular reports to trustees on centre activities, impact, safeguarding concerns and any other issues.
  • Lead on service development, responding to emerging needs and opportunities in consultation with young people and the team.
  • Champion environmental responsibility, supporting young people to become active environmental stewards.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum 2 years' experience in youth work or a similar community-facing role with young people.
• Experience in managing or supervising staff, volunteers, or sessional workers.
• Level 3 Safeguarding qualification, or a willingness to work towards it.
• Flexible approach and willingness to work occasional weekends (weekend day trips, residential weekends).
• Good understanding of trauma-informed practice and restorative approaches with young people.
• Ability to build effective relationships with young people, colleagues, and external partners.
• Good organisational skills with experience managing budgets, resources, or small projects.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Enhanced DBS clearance (will be required).

Desirable

• Professional youth work qualification or degree equivalent, or willingness to work towards minimum Level 3 qualification.
• Experience working with children and young people with additional needs, SEND, or SEMH.
• Experience working in multi-agency partnerships or local safeguarding networks.
• First Aid qualification.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.