Youth Worker

Job Introduction

About Us

Oxfordshire County Council has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated youth worker to join our Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS). TYSS is a growing service working preventatively within County Council’s Children’s Social Care.  

We work with young people to address emerging needs, improve life chances and reduce escalation to more extensive and expensive services. This includes supporting young people struggling to access education, engage in their community or face obstacles in their home life, to ensure a successful transition to adulthood. The young people are typically 11-18 (up to 25 for young people with Special Educational 

Needs and Disabilities).
 

About the Role

The Youth worker is an important front-line role in the running of the Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS) provision across the county. You will work with a wide range of young people, alongside key partners and stakeholders from across sectors.  

You will:

• plan and deliver responsive targeted youth service provision that meets the needs of young people aged 11-18, 25 SEN. 
• work with young people on a 1-to-1 basis, in groups, in schools and in the community through detached street-based youth work. The needs of the young people are varied and you will need to remain flexible to adapt your approach and use a wide range of youth work skills: 
• You may support young people with developing social and emotional skills and resilience through activities or skills development; use solution-focused approaches to work on building the young person’s self-esteem and confidence, set goals and explore new places; work with a young person on healthy friendships & relationships, support young people to make positive choices, preventing escalation to statutory services.  

About you

• You will have extensive and recent experience of working with young people. 
• Ideally hold a qualification in youth work (with JNC) or a related field. Your practice will be shaped by anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approaches, placing the child at the centre of all the support. 
• Able to engage with young people who may be considered 'hard to reach'. 
• Approachable and tenacious in engaging young people. Your work aims to improve outcomes for young people, using opportunities for informal learning. 
• A skilled communicator and work well as part of a team and with a wide range of professionals. 
• Confident in using IT systems and databases. 
• Committed to professional development by engaging with reflective processes and ongoing learning. - If you do not hold a current Youth Work (with JNC) qualification, you will be willing to complete higher education in Youth Work. 
• Able to travel to and access a variety of locations across the County easily.

The balance between 1:1 work and group delivery will change according to service need so the post holder will need to be flexible accordingly. 

This is a county wide role and work may take place anywhere in the county of Oxfordshire. You will need to be able to easily access urban and remote locations. We are ideally looking for someone who has knowledge of Oxford City as we have a number of young people that need support there.   

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps) and any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/ criteria in the advert/person spec to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities.
 
To find out more, please contact Susann Haehnel, Targeted Youth Support Service Manager, Susann.haehnel@oxfordshire.gov.uk or mobile 07759 523 030.

For more information regarding the work of Targeted Youth Support Service please visit https://oxme.info/tyss.

We will review your application on receipt. Interviews to be held w/c 25 November 2024.

Rewards and benefits

• Annual leave starting at 28 days per year (plus bank holidays).
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24 x7.
• Range of family friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk