Youth Work Mentor| Permanent| Full-Time

Job Advert for Youth Mentor

Salary £33,066 - £35,533 per annum | Permanent | Full-time, 37 Hours Per Week | Children, Family & Wellbeing – Preston & South Ribble.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

The Targeted Youth Support team part of Lancashire County Council's, Children and Family Wellbeing Service is looking to recruit a permanent full-time 37-hour Youth Mentor, to work across Preston & South Ribble district, who is enthusiastic, organised and passionate about making a difference and changing young people’s lives. 

The Service is a key contributor to the prevention and early intervention/early help agenda for Lancashire County Council. The Service delivers targeted prevention and early intervention work to ensure that young people get the help they need early and to reduce the necessity for higher cost specialist intervention.  It enables young people to succeed by providing high-quality informal education opportunities to promote their personal and social development.  It supports young people who are challenged in education, their communities or home life to ensure a successful transition to adulthood.

A Youth Mentor works directly with young people aged 11 to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional vulnerabilities, providing targeted support, guidance and encouragement to help them overcome barriers and achieve positive outcomes. The role focuses on building trusted relationships with young people who may be experiencing challenges in education, their communities, or home life, enabling them to develop confidence, resilience and life skills.

Working on a one-to-one basis and in group settings, the Youth Mentor engages young people in positive activities, informal learning opportunities and personal development programmes. They support young people to broaden their horizons, increase participation in their communities, and make informed decisions about their futures. 

The role involves planning and delivering youth work interventions based on the cornerstones of youth work: equality, participation, education and empowerment. Youth Mentors work collaboratively with Family Intensive Support, schools, families, community organisations and partner agencies to ensure young people receive the support they need at the earliest opportunity. 

A successful Youth Mentor demonstrates excellent communication and relationship-building skills, can respond flexibly to individual needs, and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. They maintain accurate records, monitor progress and evidence outcomes while helping young people develop the skills, confidence and aspirations needed for a successful transition into adulthood. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Building positive and trusting relationships with young people.
• Providing one-to-one mentoring and group support sessions.
• Delivering preventative and early intervention programmes.
• Supporting personal, social and emotional development.
• Encouraging engagement in education, training, employment and positive activities.
• Working with vulnerable and at-risk young people to reduce barriers and improve outcomes.
• Collaborating with families, schools and partner agencies.
• Recording progress, evidencing outcomes and contributing to service targets.
• Promoting equality, participation, education and empowerment in all aspects of practice. 

You will deliver face to face work in accordance with JNC terms and conditions and be required to travel across the districts and at times across county so access to a vehicle is essential.

You will have a nationally recognised JNC qualification for Youth and Community Workers, be working towards the qualification or have a wealth of youth work experience and be willing to undertake the study to gain the qualification whilst in employment with Lancashire County Council. 

The post covers:

• Preston & South Ribble District

Closing Date: Monday 12^th October 26

Young People's panel (via Teams): Thursday 22^nd October 26

Interview Date: Friday 23^rd of October 26

If you are interested and want to ask any questions, please email: Rowena Hayhurst – rowena.hayhurst@lancashire.gov.uk

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful, you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Job Description/Person Specification 

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2029.

If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2029, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.