You are viewing this site in staging mode. Click in this bar to return to normal site.

Youth Worker

(Mental Health and Wellbeing)  

Salary: £28,808 (pro rata)   

Hours: 20 per week    

Responsible for: N/a

Join Our Team – Make a Real Difference!

Are you passionate about helping young people thrive? Ignite Youth is on the lookout for a part-time Youth Worker to join our fun, supportive and small-but-mighty team.

We thrive on seeing young people reach their full potential and believe in meeting them where they’re at.

At Ignite Youth, we work with 11- 25-year-olds facing complex challenges. Through holistic, trauma-informed, and practical support, we help improve mental health, reduce risk-taking behaviours, and open positive life paths. Our vision? A community where every young person can turn adversity into advantage.

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and bring your energy, empathy, and creativity to the table — we’d love to hear from you!

Please review the job description and person specification below.
Send your CV with a covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) to office@igniteyouth.org.uk before 08:00 am on Monday 12th May 2025.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

JOB DESCRIPTION

 Job title:  Youth Worker (Mental Health and Wellbeing)

Job Purpose:     The Youth Worker (Mental Health and Wellbeing) will deliver one-to-one support to young people aged 11- 25 experiencing poor mental health, emotional distress or trauma. This includes both therapeutic and practical interventions to address wider issues such as housing, education, employment, relationships and risk-taking behaviour. The role will also include detached and outreach work in Harrow hot spots, engaging with vulnerable young people on the margins of society and offering consistent, long-term mentoring. You will also be required to deliver and provide support in other youth work sessions.

 -------------------------------------------------------

 Duties and key responsibilities

 Youth work with at-risk young people

  • Deliver one-to-one and group sessions raising awareness and educating young people on how to maintain good mental health and wellbeing.
  • Provide holistic mentoring, including emotional support and goal setting to promote resilience and mental well-being.
  • Conduct regular detached/outreach work in identified hot spots (e.g. Wealdstone, Rayners Lane, South Harrow).
  • Build trusted, empowering relationships with young people, particularly those at risk of exploitation, gang involvement or criminal activity.
  • Support young people with barriers such as housing, debt, education, relationships and physical health.
  • Develop tailored action plans based on needs assessments and risk assessments.
  • Signpost and refer young people into relevant Ignite or partner services.
  • Support engagement in positive activities (e.g. sport, music, creative programmes).
  • Encourage young people to access education, employment or training opportunities.

 

Partnership and Liaison Work

  • Collaborate closely with partner schools, local authorities, youth justice, voluntary sector organisations, and other agencies to identify and support at-risk young people.
  • Help improve cross-agency communication, referral pathways and joint delivery across Harrow, Brent, Barnet, Ealing and Hillingdon.
  • Advocate for young people with external agencies when necessary.
  • Promote a joined-up approach to safeguarding and supporting vulnerable young people.

 

Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration

  • Maintain accurate records using our case management system in line with GDPR and safeguarding protocols.
  • Record detailed case notes and progress outcomes for young people.
  • Provide reports and case studies to demonstrate impact, support fundraising and evaluation.
  • Contribute to data analysis, evaluations and funder reporting.
  • Ensure all activities are risk assessed, and health and safety are always upheld.

 

Teamwork and Professional Development

  • Attend regular team meetings, line management meetings and supervision.
  • Participate in project-wide training and reflective practice sessions.
  • Take responsibility for self-care and managing vicarious trauma.
  • Promote a culture of inclusion, youth empowerment and personal responsibility.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

  1. Essential Experience
  • Proven experience working with vulnerable or marginalised young people, ideally within a mental health or youth work setting.
  • Experience delivering 1:1 support, therapeutic interventions or mentoring.
  • Experience engaging high-risk young people (e.g. gang-involved, NEET, exploited).
  • Experience in responding to safeguarding concerns and working within safeguarding frameworks.
  • Experience of community-based work, including detached and outreach delivery.

 

  1. Essential Skills & Abilities 
  • Empathetic, youth-centred approach to building trust and encouraging positive change.
  • Skilled at managing challenging behaviours and sensitive disclosures.
  • Effective communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
  • Confident in engaging partners and advocating for young people.
  • Ability to manage time effectively and work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Strong administrative and IT skills, including accurate record keeping.
  • Commitment to equalities, anti-oppressive practice and cultural competence.
  • Resilience, flexibility, and a ‘can-do’ approach.

 

  1. Essential Knowledge 
  • Understanding of adolescent mental health, trauma and emotional wellbeing.
  • Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and legal responsibilities.
  • Awareness of the impact of social exclusion, deprivation and systemic inequality.
  • Understanding of the developmental needs of young people.

 

  1. Qualifications 
  • Youth work or mental health-related qualification or substantial relevant experience.
  • Safeguarding Level 1 or higher.
  • Evidence of continued professional development.

 

 Desirable 

  • Degree-level qualification in Youth & Community Work, Counselling, Social Work or a related field.
  • First Aid certification.
  • Knowledge of the Harrow communities.

 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

  • Willingness to travel between sites and conduct outreach/detached work.
  • Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.
  • A commitment to the vision, values and ethos of Ignite Youth.
  • Right to work in the UK (we are unable to sponsor visas).

 

We celebrate diversity and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.