Youth Work Development Officer Ref: YW003

Are you passionate about bettering the lives of young people in Wales?

Youth Cymru has an exciting opportunity for a Youth Work Development Officer, based in North Wales, to join our long-established youth work charity.

We are seeking an individual able to play an important role in continuing and strengthening our ability to provide impactful and positive youth work services across Wales.

This role will provide you with an opportunity to work with a small, dynamic and innovative national organisation with over 80 years’ experience of supporting young people, youth workers and the youth sector in Wales. 

Job Title -

Youth Work Development Officer (North Wales)

Salary -

£28,000 per annum

Location -

Primarily based in Wrexham, home working and travel throughout Wales will be required, including frequent visits to our main office in Treforest, near Cardiff. 

Hours of Work -

35 Hours per week, weekend and evening work will be required.

Responsible to: Mel Ryan –

Joint CEO & Development Manager

Annual Leave -

21 days per year + 8 Bank Holidays 

Contractual Status -

This a full time, fixed term role for 12 months in the first instance. The post is subject to appropriate funding and to successful completion of a six-month probationary period.

Main Purpose of Role -

Delivery of Youth Cymru’s various youth work projects, programs, and opportunities from the Wrexham premises. 

About Youth Cymru  

The Charity was founded in approximately 1920, originally as the Welsh Association of Youth Clubs. During the years since, it has played a fundamental and leading role in developing and supporting both the voluntary and statutory youth services, as well as in partnership with private and public organisations; striving to best enhance the life experiences and opportunities of all young people across Wales. We continue to play this leading role linking grass roots delivery with strategic operations.

Core to our mission is our belief that youth work can change young people’s lives for the better. We do this in part by promoting the widest possible range of experiences and activities to young people, working directly with them and through our member organisations. Members work in every local authority area in Wales (in voluntary and statutory settings), concentrated in the most deprived communities.

Youth Cymru seeks to support and enable young people in becoming effective citizens through appropriate educational and developmental activities. We place youth participation at the heart of what we do and facilitate the involvement of young people in decision making at all levels, both within our organisation and in other youth organisations and the communities in which they live. 

 

Our Values  

The values that underpin our approach and work include:

Diversity: Young people are unique, and those individual differences are of great value, to be respected and be central to all that we do.

Equality: Young people have the right to an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives, talents and strengths.

Inclusion: Young people have different needs and approaches to identifying solution to their challenges. Responding personally and individually at a pace and in a way that respects their individuality is essential.

Opportunity: Opportunities enable authentic creativity and growth; they are essential to learning, vital for developing self-expression, self-confidence and problem solving.

Achievement: Young people have the potential to achieve great things and to live fulfilling, meaningful and positive lives.

Celebration: Celebration creates a sense of community, belonging and well-being allowing for the showcasing of the strength and potential of young people to each other, themselves and their communities.

Participation: Young people are creative partners in our vision and work – the Children and Young People’s National Participation Standards for Wales, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Rights of Children and Young Person’s Measure (Wales) 2011 underpin all our activities 

Our Vision and Our Work 

We believe that young people are citizens and rights holders and all our work is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in line with the Rights of Children and Young Person’s Measure (Wales) 2011. 

We work to enable young people in Wales to be confident and strong, empowered to fulfil their potential and to contribute to build the Wales that they want and deserve. 

We are for all young people in Wales, and for all those organisations, volunteers and professional staff, who support them. 

We believe that youth work changes lives for the better. We know that youth work has huge potential to bring profound beneficial changes to the worlds of young people in Wales and the youth work sector can contribute hugely to a number of national policy priorities. 

We are committed to equality and inclusion; we challenge prejudice and discrimination and seek to educate and develop understanding and insight within communities of the value of diversity and difference, with the aim of bringing about better and best practice. 

We believe that youth work has a vital role to play in building the Wales we want, and we shape our work to ensure it contributes to the seven Well-being Goals set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. 

We recognise the value of working with and through a network of local and regional organisations   that support young people throughout Wales. These are primarily statutory and voluntary youth work organisations, but include other organisations supporting young people, such as training providers, youth offending services and alternative curriculum provisions. Many of our member organisations are based in Wales’ poorest communities as defined by the Wales Index of Multiple Deprivation. 

We value communities of good practice and work in partnership collaborating with our members to develop these communities, to support young people in Wales. 

We work with and through our British/Irish Strategic Youth Partnership, linking with our partners; Youth Scotland, Youth Work Ireland, Youth Action Northern Ireland and UK Youth; working co-productively to improve the lives of young people across Britain and Ireland.  

We believe in the importance of evaluating and monitoring practice and work to share our learning across the sector.  

We understand the importance and value of youth and youth worker mobility experiences and opportunities. Using our membership of the European Confederation of Youth Clubs (ECYC) we give intention and attention to the sharing of international learning, experiences, understanding and insight.  

Our work is shaped and led by what young people tell us about what they want and need and aspire to have. We embed youth participation at all levels and seek to always empower young  people working alongside and with them, valuing their input, skills, ability and enabling their potential. 

Key Responsibilities, Tasks and Activities

  1. Manage the premises in Wrexham, including managing  health & safety, and risk assessment and safeguarding in relation to projects, programmes and workshop activities. 
  2. To coordinate and develop our national and local projects, programs and opportunities in North Wales, delivery as appropriate and when needed various youth work interventions including centre based and outreach/detached activities. 
  3. Market and promote activities, projects, programmes and opportunities in relation to our North Wales Youth Cymru premises.
  4. Networking with new and existing partners and stakeholder, developing and maintaining productive relationships in collaboration with colleagues, agencies and stakeholders in the youth work sector.
  5. Ensure we work alongside and with young people to ensure that all our work meets their voiced needs and wants.
  6. Carry out any other reasonable duties, commensurate with the grade, continuing to develop as an effective and critically reflective youth work practitioner.
  7. Maintaining and delivering good self-management, including the ability to work on own initiative and in cooperation with others to prescribed deadlines.
  8. Working alongside other team members/colleagues contribute to the planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of the impact of North Wales based activities,     events and consultation with young people to inform future project, funding and implementation.
  9. Work in line with the Mission and Values of Youth Cymru
  10.  Develop, promote and apply a professional culture that promotes inclusion and actively values equality and diversity.
  11. Maintain data collection and recording on Youth Cymru CRM.  

Organisational Responsibilities, Tasks and Activities

  • Contribute to and support the training and accreditation service delivered nationally by Youth Cymru. 
  • Actively liaise and work with our members to maintain a proactive and communicative relationships with members located across North Wales.  
  • As required, support the recruitment, training and supervision of sessional workers, students and volunteers. 
  • Contribute to reports and information contributing to monitoring, evaluation and wider organisational plans. 
  • Produce, support and deliver presentations for internal and external purposes. 
  • Represent Youth Cymru at networking events, external meetings, phone and virtual conferencing. 
  • Contribute to the administration and management of relevant project budgets and resources. 
  • Work closely with the Projects, Programme and Research Manager to support, identify and secure funding for new youth work opportunities.  
  • Develop and deliver work aligned with relevant youth work quality standards and in practice, embed the Principles and Purposes of Youth Work in Wales. 

Qualification, Experience & Knowledge

  • Professionally qualified Youth Worker Level 6 (or working towards) Equivalent experience will also be considered
  • Eligible and willing for EWC Registered
  • Experience of providing project management in a youth work/youth facing setting
  • Knowledge of IT and media platforms to record promote and deliver projects, including virtually
  • Level 2 safeguarding training (willingness to achieve within 3 months of commencement of employment)
  • Experience of consultation in youth work settings.

 

NB:

These duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time.

The scope of the job may change as necessitated by operational, organisational demands or the needs of young people; this will be negotiated and will aim not to place the employee at a disadvantage. Changes could include; job title, location, operational responsibilities in line with the NVYO and funding, hours of work and pay.

Performance Standards

Responsibility:

  • Ensure that all legal, moral and professional duties to ensure the safeguarding of young people are executed and raised/referred to nominated Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP). 
  • Be responsible for own health and safety in line with Youth Cymru’s policies and procedures. 
  • Engage fully with the reflective supervision process and apply critical thinking to practice. 
  • Demonstrate the 4 P’s (Punctuality, Preparation, Participation and Professional conduct) 
  • Maintain and evidence a passion and enthusiasm for youth work and a drive to support and better the lives of young people in Wales.  
  • Practice using pro-active approach that demonstrates self-motivated and enthusiastic with very high levels of initiative, innovative and imaginative thinking 
  • A ‘can-do’ and flexible approach with the ability to adapt to changing priorities, including a willingness to travel and work irregular hours when necessary. 
  • Working proactively with internal and external participants and stakeholders 
  • Effective use of Microsoft Office Suite and recording of data on Youth Cymru’s CRM system 

Personal Values:

  • Commitment to human rights and rights of children and young people 
  • Respect for the agency of children and young people 
  • Commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and inclusivity 
  • Commitment to democratic engagement 
  • Commitment to developing the strength of democratic engagement in Wales 

Experience:

  • Working in a team
  • Working effectively in a role requiring self-motivation and exercise of own initiative
  • Working to manage and co-ordinate national and local projects.

Knowledge and Skills:

  • Knowledge of the youth sector in Wales
  • Understanding of safeguarding in a multi-agency youth facing context
  • Awareness of Welsh political context and arena including policies, priorities and devolved issues
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Proficiency in IT: Office; multi-media,

Personal Specification 

Education and training

Essential Requirements:

Relevant and Professional qualification 

Desirable:

A management qualification

Ability to speak Welsh

How it will be assessed:

Application form

Experience and knowledge

Essential Requirements:

Experience of managing the development and implementation of youth and community projects  and programmes, including in a national and/or local context.

Experience of developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation, demonstrating impact  and developing new insights and learning. 

Partnership working with the private sector and local/national voluntary and statutory sector organisations.

Responding appropriately to safeguarding issues.

How it will be assessed:

Application form and interview

Special circumstance

Essential Requirements:

Ability to travel to various location across Wales and if required Europe.

How it will be assessed:

Application form and interview

To apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please complete the application form below with as much detail as possible. To ensure a fair and equitable shortlisting process personal information will be withheld during the selection process. Please also complete our equal opportunities form below

Please note CV’s and automated applications will not be accepted

If you have any questions about the post and would like to arrange to discuss the vacancy or simply to find out more about Youth Cymru please email recruitment@youthcymru.org.uk

Application deadline: 10th August 2022 by Midday

Interviews: Interviews will be held face to face In Wrexham on the 17th of August 2022  

Appointment will be subject to 2 references and an Enhanced DBS check.

Apply Online Here

Your Personal Statement

To ensure you are selected for interview it is important that you write a personal statement. As well as providing any additional information about you, which you feel is relevant to the role, please ensure that you have provided information, examples and evidence to illustrate how you meet each of the elements of the person specification and can also meet the values of Youth Cymru. You should refer to any relevant experience acquired inside work and if appropriate, outside of work, (e.g. community, voluntary or leisure interests). To be selected for interview you must demonstrate that you meet these criteria to a greater relevance and/or depth than others who are also applying. Evidence your suitability, by going beyond making simple statements. For example, if the job description requires that you are “highly motivated with excellent communication and numeracy skills”, simply saying “I am highly motivated with excellent communication and numeracy skills”, will not be sufficient. You must include descriptions and examples from your experience (in and/or out of work), which illustrate you having and using these skills.

Please complete the Equal Opportunity form HERE