Youth Worker in Knowsley

Job Title: Detached Youth Worker

Hours: 16 hours per week (Evening shifts starting from 4:00 PM)

Location: Liverpool and Knowsley

Job Overview

We are seeking a dedicated, empathetic, and resilient Detached Youth Worker to join our community engagement team on a part-time basis (16 hours per week). Operating directly on the streets, in parks, and across local community hotspots in Liverpool and Knowsley, you will engage young people aged 11-19 (and up to 25 for young people with additional needs) on their own terms and in their own environments.

Working late afternoons and evenings starting at 4:00 PM, you will build positive, trusting relationships with young people who may not actively access traditional youth club settings. You will address issues such as social isolation, anti-social behavior, mental health, substance use, and educational disengagement, empowering young people to make informed choices.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct Youth Engagement & Support
  • On-the-Ground Outreach: Conduct regular detached youth work sessions across designated areas in Liverpool and Knowsley, meeting young people in public spaces.
  • Relationship Building: Establish meaningful, non-judgmental, and professional relationships with young people from diverse backgrounds.
  • Targeted Interventions: Deliver informal educational support, signposting, and advice on key topics, including health and safety, drug and alcohol awareness, personal safety, and personal development.
  • Activity Facilitation: Plan and deliver responsive, youth-led street interventions, pop-up activities, and community projects.
• Safeguarding & Multi-Agency Collaboration
  • Safeguarding: Act as a key contact for safeguarding concerns, adhering strictly to organizational child protection policies and reporting procedures.
  • Partnership Working: Collaborate with local authorities, Liverpool and Knowsley youth services, Merseyside Police, local schools, and community organizations to ensure a joined-up approach to youth safety and wellbeing.
  • Crisis Signposting: Identify vulnerable individuals or groups at risk of exploitation, county lines, or crime, connecting them with specialist support services.
• Administration & Professional Development
  • Session Reporting: Complete clear, accurate session logs, incident reports, and monitoring data following each shift to track engagement and outcomes.
  • Team Meetings & Supervision: Attend regular team debriefs, training sessions, and supervision meetings (flexible scheduling around the 4:00 PM start time).
  • Continuous Improvement: Participate in relevant professional development, particularly around local safeguarding frameworks in the Liverpool City Region.

Candidate Specification

• Essential
  • Experience: Minimum 1 year of experience working directly with young people in a youth work, social care, community development, or educational setting (detached or outreach experience highly desirable).
  • Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to engage, listen to, and build trust with hard-to-reach or challenging young people.
  • Knowledge: Strong understanding of the current issues affecting young people across Liverpool and Knowsley (e.g., criminal exploitation, poverty, mental health, lack of provision).
  • Safeguarding: Up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding guidelines and child protection procedures.
  • Flexibility: Willingness and availability to work consistent evening shifts starting at 4:00 PM, including weekends if required by rotation.
• Desirable
  • Qualification: Level 2 or Level 3 Qualification in Youth and Community Work (or working towards one).
  • Local Knowledge: In-depth familiarity with the geography, neighborhoods, and community support systems in Liverpool and Knowsley.
  • Mobility: Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle for travel between session locations across both boroughs.

Working Conditions & Requirements

• DBS Check: This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Environment: The role involves working outdoors in various weather conditions during late afternoon and evening hours.
• Safety: Lone working protocols and dynamic risk assessment procedures are strictly maintained for all team members.

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