At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young parents by providing guidance, building connections, and facilitating access to services.
- Company: Join Torbay Council's ambitious Children's Services team focused on empowering families.
- Benefits: Meaningful community work, professional development, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Opportunity for creative, empathetic individuals to thrive in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Be a champion for young parents, helping them navigate challenges and make informed choices.
- Qualifications: Experience with young people, strong communication skills, and a passion for inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Could you help young parents feel connected, confident and supported to give their children the best start in life? We are looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate and creative Young Parents & Sexual Health Engagement Practitioner to join our Children’s Services team in Torbay. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to young parents and families by building trusted relationships, reducing isolation, strengthening peer support and helping young people access the right advice and services at the right time.
Working within our 'With Youth' Team as part of the Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies programme, you will support young parents, typically aged under 25, to feel listened to, included and empowered. You will provide one-to-one and group-based support, help young parents navigate local services, and work alongside them to shape activities that meet their needs and aspirations.
You will also play a key role as a contraception and sexual health champion, supporting confident, informed and non-judgemental conversations about relationships, sexual health and contraception. By working closely with Family Hubs, health services, youth provision, education settings and community partners, you will help strengthen local pathways and improve outcomes for young parents and their children.
About you
You will be someone who can build rapport quickly, communicate sensitively and work creatively with young people and young parents. You may have experience in youth work, health, public health, community work, social care or a related field, and you will bring a strong understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries and the barriers young parents may face.
You will be confident delivering group work, peer support initiatives, brief interventions, workshops or information sessions, and you will be able to work collaboratively with a wide range of partners. Most importantly, you will be passionate about helping young parents feel valued, connected and able to make informed choices for themselves and their families.
Why join us?
Torbay Council is ambitious for children, young people and families. Our Ofsted GOOD rated Children’s Services are focused on protecting children, giving them the best start in life and working with families in a strengths-based, restorative and relationship-focused way. This role offers the chance to be part of that mission, working in a varied, purposeful and rewarding post where your creativity, empathy and partnership skills can have a lasting impact.
If you are motivated by meaningful community work, passionate about inclusion and confident supporting young people to make informed choices, we would love to hear from you.
This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.
Skills Essential:
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to have sensitive conversations.
- Ability to engage hard-to-reach or vulnerable groups.
- Ability to work collaboratively across organisations.
- Ability to produce and maintain accurate records and reports.
- Ability to engage positively with children, young people and their parents.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Knowledge Essential:
- Understanding of inequalities affecting young parents.
- Knowledge of sexual health, contraception, and related public health areas.
- Understanding of professional boundaries.
- Understanding of basic human needs, physical, emotional, cultural and social.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Experience & Qualifications Essential:
- Experience working with young people and/or young parents.
- Experience of delivering group work or peer support initiatives.
- Experience of health/education/social care needs and services.
- Educated to GCSE O Level standard or equivalent.
- Relevant Level 6 qualification in nursing/youth work/allied health professional/public health/community work/social care – or equivalent skills and experience.
Young Parents & Sexual Health Engagement Practitioner - 37 hours in Torquay employer: Torbay Council
Torbay Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being and professional development of its staff. With a focus on collaboration and community impact, employees benefit from ongoing training opportunities and a chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with complex care needs. Located in the picturesque Torbay area, the council provides a unique environment that fosters both personal and professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Young Parents & Sexual Health Engagement Practitioner - 37 hours in Torquay
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Torbay Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Torbay Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Torbay Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Torbay Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Young Parents & Sexual Health Engagement Practitioner - 37 hours in Torquay
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Torbay Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Torbay Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Torbay Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
