Key duties 

• To lead on youth and play delivery including session planning, risk assessments and evaluation tools to guide youth and play delivery at ‘The Ranch’ – our youth and play space.
• To provide a safe, vibrant, and inclusive space for Children and Young People.
• To develop and enhance our programme of youth and play activities at The Ranch to continually improve outcomes via additional opening hours, open access project work, outreach and detached work, partnership opportunities, and professional supervision.
• Coordinate, manage and supervise a team of youth workers, play workers and volunteers.
• To keep informed of current legislation, regulations, local and national issues, and implement as appropriate in daily youth and play practice.
• Develop and contribute to policies and procedure relating to youth and play work.
• Identify emerging issues for individual children and young people and collaborate with other agencies to offer support.

Project coordination and management 

• Work with colleagues to put in place systems for reporting, monitoring, evaluating, managing finances, and overseeing the delivery of project outcomes.
• Ensure all attendance, outcomes and young people’s data is fully up to date and recorded.
• To work with the facilities and operations team to support the maintenance of the site, complete risk assessments, and ensure that the play and youth environments and outside areas are clean, safe, and secure, and to report defects where necessary.
• Develop and contribute to all policies and procedure relating to youth and play work and use of the Ranch site.
• To line-manage, inspire, and motivate the Youth and Play team (comprising of youth and play workers, volunteers, and specialist services).
• Be responsible for managing the youth and play delivery budget.
• Produce reports for a range of audiences and collect evidence for outcomes that could be used for future funding bids.
• Develop the overall volunteer team at The Ranch, working with the Volunteer Coordinator on the recruitment, induction, supervision, motivation, and training of volunteers.
• Develop youth volunteering and leadership opportunities and amplify young people’s voices in our community.
• Work with the Community Development team to build community involvement of children and families across the work of the Trust including events and intergenerational projects.
• Coordinate the Ranch Steering Group meetings and support community ownership and involvement in the programme and site.
• Relationship management and communications
• To build relationships with partner organisations and schools to enhance our programme.
• To work closely with colleagues at the Trust to support a holistic offer for children and young people.
• Produce content, with the support of the communications team, for social media, mail shots and other channels, to promote and celebrate our youth and play programme within the local community and the city.

Safeguarding and Health and Safety 

• Support the youth and play team to make sound decisions relating to safeguarding and work with the DSL to continually improve systems.
• Ensure all team training is up to date and refreshed, e.g. safeguarding and first aid.

General Duties 

• Carry out all duties with full regard for all Trust policies and procedures, in particular those relating to equality, safeguarding, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting any concerns to an appropriate person.
• To promote good equal opportunities practices and to take positive steps to counter discrimination however and wherever it occurs.
• Undertake an enhanced DBS check and maintain annual membership through the update service.
• To represent Southmead Development Trust’s values at all times.
• To maintain a professional attitude and conduct at all times.
• Have a flexible approach to working which will include evenings and weekends.
• To participate in training, professional development and team meetings as required.
• Any other duties as and when required.

Return to job advert HERE

Experience

Experience

• 3 years+ experience of working with children and young people in similar settings.
• Knowledge and understanding of the legislation and safeguarding responsibilities of working with children and young people.

Line Management

• Developing, designing, planning, and delivering a range of community-based youth or play programmes.
• Enabling and empowering young people to explore, try new things, and build their confidence, working in a strength-based way.
• Liaising with other agencies and the ability to engage and encourage colleagues across services and sectors to work together effectively.

Specific Skills/Knowledge.

•  Excellent understanding of Youth Work and/or Play Work principles.
• Creative and ideas driven, with genuine passion, empathy, and desire to improve the wellbeing of children, young people and families.
• Taking a community development approach to working with young people and families, advocating for the voice of young people and families.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with young people, including agreeing limits for acceptable behaviour.
• Understanding of all Health and Safety requirements including Safeguarding, risk benefit assessments, data protection and confidentiality.
• Commitment to and understanding of the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in a youth and play environment.
• Excellent team working with very strong communication skills, and an ability to co-lead teams of Youth & Play Workers and volunteers.
• Ability to empathise with and support staff, children and young people within clear professional boundaries.
• Good numeracy, literacy, and IT skills to carry out administration duties, e.g. report writing, project proposals, managing data systems, and financial transactions.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the full range of issues facing children, young people and/or families (mental health, housing etc.).

Other

• Flexibility to travel locally and work outside of core office hours.
• Ability to work independently and proactively to solve problems.
• Commitment to continual professional development and personal drive for excellence.
• Team player with a flexible approach to work, and willingness to work outside office hours.
• To act as a positive role model to others within the organisation and stay calm under pressure.
• A willingness to undertake any other duties that contribute to achieve the organisational strategic goals.
• Commitment to the charitable objectives and values of Southmead Development Trust.

Return to job advert HERE

Qualifications 

 Level 3 or higher qualification in youth or play work or similar relevant qualification.

• Qualified in Forest School,  sports coaching or play work.

Experience

• Developing and contributing to strategic and operational plans.

Other

•  Knowledge of Southmead.

Return to job advert HERE