Support Worker

Youth Enquiry Service (YES) is a charity that has supported young people in High Wycombe and the surrounding areas for over 40 years. We have an established reputation for offering accessible, friendly, and safe services for young people, which includes one-to-one counselling, sexual health information, and drop-in information, advice, and guidance.

This is an exciting time for YES, as we have recently been awarded funding to expand our services as an early-intervention mental health support hub for young people. This expansion will enable us to significantly increase capacity within our pre-existing services, as well as set up several new services including schools-based counselling, peer support groups for young people and for their parents/carers, and a young person's advisory board who will help shape YES services.

As part of our planned service expansion, we are seeking to recruit Support Workers who will be the first point of contact for young people visiting our drop-in centre, and who can provide a range of information, advice, and guidance, to young people aged 13 to 25 years., Working with young people:

• Be the first point of contact for young people visiting our drop-in centre.


• Provide information, advice, and guidance to young people on a range of topics including (but not limited to) housing, employment, education, benefits, sexual health, and personal safety.


• Signpost or support young people to access other services when appropriate.


• Co-facilitate targeted small groups.


Contributing to YES continued expansion by:

• Attending local events which raise awareness of YES services


• Building relationships with other local service providers, including charities, community groups, statutory and NHS services


• Identifying and discussing opportunities for service improvement with the management team


• Undertaking both internal and external training opportunities that contribute to the skills and knowledge held within the staff team


Day-to-day administration and service delivery including:

• Maintaining accurate records of support delivered to young people, using the Charitylog case management system


• Ensuring the drop-in centre is presentable, welcoming, safe, and operating in line with YES policies and procedures


• Responding to enquiries from service users and the public via telephone and email
  
  Essential:


• Experience of supporting young people aged 13 to 25


• Experience of supporting people experiencing poor mental health or distress


• Understanding of the current needs and challenges faced by young people


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written


• Good IT skills including Microsoft Office and data entry onto our case management system


• Ability to work in a person-centred manner, quickly able to build trust and rapport with young people


• Can discuss sensitive and confidential information with discretion


• Self-motivated, with ability to work with minimal supervision and use own initiative


• Level 2 (or above) qualification in relevant subject, such as youth work, social care, mental health, or providing information, advice, and guidance.


Desirable:

• Experience of delivering information, advice, and guidance


• Understanding of working within confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding and equality frameworks


• Understanding of the current needs and challenges faced by young people from specific demographics/communities, such as SEND, LGBT, ethnic minorities, or young carers.


• Knowledge of local charity and statutory services available to young people


• Embraces opportunities to widen knowledge and develop new skills


• Able to work out-of-hours and/or on weekends on occasion (time of in lieu)


OTHER INFORMATION:

Youth Enquiry Service is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young people with whom we work. This post is therefore subject to an Enhanced (with Barred Lists) DBS check. References will also be required, and candidates must already have the right to live and work in the UK.

Salary - £14 per hour (FTE £29,120)

Hours - We have both full-time and part-time roles available - Working pattern to be discussed at interview, with shifts available between the hours of 9am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 10am and 3pm on Saturdays.

Contract - Fixed term to 31st March 2025

Interviews - Face-to-face interviews will take place at our drop-in centre during the week commencing Monday 10th June 2024