Targeted Youth Adviser

Fixed Term, Full Time

£25,500 to £30,000 per annum

Location: Harlow

Closing Date: 26/05/2021

Please note this is a fixed term contract until the end of July 2022.

This position will initially, in line with current government guidance be PARTIALLY based from home rather than the office, with an expectation of being home based for the foreseeable future. However, if / when government guidelines change the role may then revert to being office based, whilst retaining some flexible working options.

This role comes with an ongoing need to deliver detached youth work despite current restrictions.

The Targeted Youth Adviser will play a key role in developing the Youth Service offer by working with identified Young People who are at risk of not engaging in employment, education and training. TYA's provide in depth, evidence based, one to one intensive mentoring, bespoke groupwork packages and positive activities to empower Young People to overcome barriers to education to reach their full potential.

The role supports young people of school age requiring impartial advice and guidance to re-engage in education, as well as progression into post 16 opportunities such as, appropriate employment, education, training and vocational opportunities. You will play a key role in identifying opportunities, enabling them to fulfil their potential and access universal services. You will also engage in mentoring and reintegration work that supports the government's statutory guidance for pupils of alternative provision for those at a compulsory education age.

A broad understanding of the issues affecting young people, barriers to education, opportunities for learning and the services provided by partner agencies is essential.

Contributing to the development of a high-quality targeted service for young people, the role will work with colleagues across the Council and key partners such as Education, Health, Social Services and Youth Offending Service, to ensure the best possible outcomes for young people.

For applicants who do not hold a Level 6 qualification, the starting annual salary will be £25,500 and the candidate will be put on a training course to acquire this.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Responsible for assisting young people to overcome barriers to access universal services and learning or employment, providing impartial advice, information and guidance, supportive of young people's needs and views.
• Work with young people, their families and schools to remove barriers to education and learning in line with the DfE statutory guidance on Alternative Provision. Carry out young carers statutory assessment of needs, in line with our statutory duty as defined by the Children's and Families Act 2014.
• Responsible for managing a defined caseload of young people to establish their needs and offer intervention in line with external contracts and create, maintain and review accuracy of records in conjunction with DfE guidance and that of external funders, whilst ensuring compliance with Information Sharing Protocols.
• Responsible for the effective management of staff; renewing and reflecting on professional practice to achieve continuous improvement in performance.
• Supporting the development and delivery of intensive support to identified young people a, within a cost recoverable framework to remove barriers to education, employment or training.
• Working in collaboration with stakeholders, including senior school-based staff, social care, SEND, Youth Offending Service,
• Housing and partner agencies, to provide wider support to young people to remove barriers to learning, training and employment.
• Responsible for the delivery of high quality one to one interventions, mentoring and group work through positive activities that are cost effective, planned, actioned and evaluated. This includes large scale events advocating with other professionals to achieve these.
• Work collaboratively with a range of external agencies and commercial bodies to ensure a coherent approach to overcoming barriers to learning and employment faced by young people, ensure they receive service required, including promotion of the eight Gatsby benchmarks as set out in the government's careers strategy.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Educated to IAG Qualification, Dip CG, QCG or NVQ 4 LDDS (minimum NVQ 4) level
• Preferably working towards level 6 LDDS. Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• A broad understanding of the issues affecting young people, opportunities for learning and the services provided by partner organisations and proven experience in effective collaborative working. Deep knowledge and understanding of the current local offers of support to young people that may facilitate their reintegration.
• Experience of line management of staff, plus extensive work with young people on a one to one basis and in groups.
• Proven experience of successfully progressing young people into employment, education and training opportunities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to relate to young people in a purposeful but responsive manner and demonstrable knowledge and understanding of their needs.
• Ability to build working relationships with stakeholders and partner agencies which are collaborative and engender delivery.
• Advocating on behalf of young people with services and partner organisations with an ability to negotiate with schools, colleges, employers and other agencies.
• Flexible approach with excellent time management skills and ability to work creatively in order to respond to young people's needs.