Youth Worker

We are looking for someone with experience in the youth or community sector, who has worked directly with young adults in a strengths-based and participatory way to join us as a Youth Worker.

Job title: Youth Worker 

Based at: Esteem’s base, The Old School House, Shoreham-by-sea, with some limited options for flexible/ hybrid working. It is expected that the majority of your time will be in person as this is a role working directly with young adults

Hours: 30 hours per week 

Working Pattern: Monday 12:30pm to 08:30pm, Wednesday 12:30pm to 08:30pm, Thursday 10:00am to 06:00pm and Friday 10:00 am to 6:00pm - Tuesday is a non-working day.

Pay: £28,000 FTE (Pro-rata £22,400 actual gross) with scope for negotiation depending on experience and qualifications

About Esteem

Esteem is a youth charity built by and for young adults aged 14 to 26, offering group activities and one-to-one support in Shoreham-by-Sea. In our space, any young adult can find their people, take on real responsibility, and discover what they are capable of.

Esteem creates spaces where everyone matters.

Each year, 250 young adults from across Sussex spend time with us. They come from many different communities and bring a wide range of experiences, with many navigating three or four social barriers at once that may impact their health, ability to cope and thrive into their adult lives. Participation runs through everything we do, with young adults shaping sessions, projects and the organisation itself at every level. 

About the role

Your main focus will be leading and organising group activities and social sessions.

That means our flagship weekly sessions, The Drop-In, WYD Wednesday and Crunch Time, developing our sessions and partnership at Shoreham Academy and the shorter projects that rotate through the year based on young adults' needs and interests. At the moment these include a young men's group, HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) sessions, and ‘Learn To’ inclusive physical activity sessions.

You will lead on organising, delivering and reporting on these sessions, with young adults directly shaping what happens in them. From time to time you will also meet young adults one to one, working alongside them on things like conflict, boundaries and building confidence.

Young adults tell us what they want from a youth worker. They want time and space, and someone who understands them as an individual. They want somewhere that feels safe and supportive, where they can meet people and build connections. They want a programme of activities that is genuinely good fun and gives them somewhere to be. That is what you will help build.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone with experience in the youth or community sector, who has worked directly with young adults in a strengths-based and participatory way. You will need to show us that you can collaborate, plan, solve problems, use your initiative and connect with people.

Esteem strives for excellence in safeguarding young adults and adults at risk, and in promoting the safety and welfare of everyone who comes through our doors.

If you meet most of what follows and are not sure about the rest, we would still like to hear from you.

Essential experience and knowledge

• Experience working directly with young adults, with demonstrable youth work skills or experience in a youth development or community setting. We would usually expect around two years, though we welcome applications from people whose experience has taken a different shape.

• Experience supporting young adults in a social environment.

• Experience of participatory, strengths-based practice, where young adults lead.

• A strong understanding of accessibility, and of what young adults from different backgrounds bring and need.

• A Level 3 qualification in youth work or equivalent, or a willingness to work towards one.

• Experience of supporting young men's wellbeing and mental health, and an understanding of what helps young men talk, connect and look after themselves.

Essential skills and abilities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including text and digital communication, particularly with young adults who have found other services hard to access.

• Empathy, and the ability to work in a trauma-informed way both one to one and in groups.

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• The ability to facilitate interactive, age-appropriate activities with a youth-led approach.

• An awareness of safeguarding practice for young people and adults at risk, including relevant training.

• The ability to keep good records and to use IT and online systems to record outcomes and monitor performance. Currently we use google workspace and Upshot as our CRM