Young Carer Engagement Worker (x2)

It is an exciting time in Wakefield as we launch our new Youth Support Service and continue to expand our offer for young people aged 11 to 24.

We have a range of rewarding opportunities for individuals with the skills, knowledge, and experience, as well as the passion and commitment, to make a real difference in the lives of young people.

Working with us, you will help ensure that young people are happy, healthy, and safe, supporting the ambitions set out in Wakefield's Children and Young People's Plan.

Do you have what it takes to join our team and help shape positive futures for young people across Wakefield?

About the Role: Youth Engagement Workers are a vital part of Wakefield's youth offer. They provide proactive support to young people through both group work and one-to-one interventions, completing youth-led screenings and plans, and delivering tailored programmes of support to help young people achieve positive outcomes.

Our Youth Engagement Workers are based in a variety of settings, including schools, youth hubs, and community venues across the district.

These roles will focus on supporting young carers in a range of different settings.

The Young Carer Team, which is part of the Youth Support Service, works with young people who provide care and support to family members with an illness, or disability. We are committed to helping young carers manage the challenges and responsibilities they face by offering individual support, a tailored Young Carers Programme, opportunities for peer support, and positive activities for both young carers and their families.

While these roles can be challenging, as you will be supporting children and young people who are navigating complex circumstances, they are also incredibly rewarding. The resilience, determination, and achievements of our young carers are truly inspiring.

The Youth Engagement Worker role is built on developing strong relationships, spending meaningful time with young people and families, and delivering personalised support that responds to individual needs. If you are passionate about making a difference and helping young people thrive, this could be the role for you.

Key Responsibilities:

• You will have a caseload of young carers with the aim of reducing risk, increasing resilience, and improving outcomes for them.
• You will work effectively with partners to remove barriers to young carers engaging in support.
• You will plan and deliver regular group sessions and positive activities.

What will be expected from me?

The purpose of this role is to support the delivery of the young carer offer to young carers and their families, adopting a whole family, strengths-based approach to reduce risk, increase resilience and improve outcomes for young carers.

You will work directly with young carers and their families to assess their needs, plan and deliver interventions, and support them to access wider services. This will mean having good working relationships with your colleagues in other agencies such as health, education and housing as well developing your knowledge of the services in the area.

Essential requirements:

• Recognised Level 5 or Degree Level qualification in a relevant subject area or the ability to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and skill gained through relevant experience and employment.
• A full driving licence is required (unless unable to drive through disability).
• An understanding of the risks and needs that young carer experience.
• Experience of working directly with children, young people and families with complex needs and risk in a relevant setting.

What can I expect?

• A competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy up to 10 extra days of annual leave
• Access to high-quality training programs to advance your career to the next level.
• We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff. We recognise that resilient teams need good work life balance as well as supportive leadership.
• Discounted and subsidised public transport (Arriva Bus Annual Travel Ticket, Northern Trains Limited (NTL), MetroCard).
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and a Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) scheme providing a tax efficient way to increase our pension.
• Great range of benefits including an Employee Assistant Programme, discounted membership to our excellent leisure facilities with free 12 weeks exercise program, discounts for a range of retail, entertainment, health and leisure providers, a cycle to work scheme, and many more

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about the role, the recruitment process or working for Wakefield Council, feel free to contact.

Name: Rachelle Gray

Tel: 07785 225610

E-mail: rgray@wakefield.gov.uk

Join us and make a real impact in the community. Apply today to become a valued member of our team!

Thinking about relocating to join us? Eligible candidates may receive up to £8,000 in relocation support to help make the move easier.

Eligibility is subject to our relocation policy and criteria, including specific requirements relating to the distance between your current home, your new home, and your workplace. To qualify, your new home must be closer to your workplace than your current home

Safeguarding

Wakefield Council is wholly committed to ensuring children and vulnerable adults are fully supported and safe. We are dedicated to the safeguarding of all children and vulnerable adults whilst promoting their welfare. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this responsibility.

DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service)

The successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure Application Form and to provide criminal conviction information.

Probation

In accordance with the Council Probation Procedure, this post is subject to a 6-month Probationary Period.

Fluency Duty

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), public facing roles will be subject to the Fluency Duty.

Diversity

Having a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve helps us to achieve the best outcomes for all. We encourage applications from everyone and actively seek to ensure that everyone feels included in the workplace so that we can make the most of our differences.

Why Wakefield

To find out more about the benefits of working at Wakefield Council, click here.