Youth Worker

 

Employer: Transform Widnes PCC

Number of roles: 1

Salary: £12,000 Per Annum

Full time / part time:  Part Time 

Hours: 17.5 hours per week

Hours of work: 2 days per week to be agreed, Thursday evening Youth Club

Location of workplace: St John’s Office/St Paul’s/WFH Hybrid at least 75% Office[, Widnes, Cheshire. Holidays: 16.5 days (excluding bank holidays)

Other benefits: NEST pension, both employer and employee contribute

Reports to: Vicar

Start date: Between May and September  2024

Term: This role may extend after the initial 24 months but is dependent on future funding being available.

 

Purpose of role: 

To oversee the 10-16-year-old Youth Work of Transform Widnes. 

The Church mission is to “Lead people into the transforming love of Jesus”. The youth worker will lead a team, facilitate spaces and oversee groups that give 10-16-year olds in our town the opportunity to grow and develop.

This will include reaching those in Widnes who need the most help, ensuring a consistent and relevant presence within the local 10-16]  year old community, including colleges and schools, and provide a safe space (e.g. Youth Club) for them to build healthy relationships. An important part of this role is building confidence and resilience into Widnes Youth, and providing a listening and confidential ear to those in need, especially in relation to issues of poverty, loneliness, mental health issues or addictions.  

This role aims to:

• Support the development of the volunteer youth leader team
• lead, support and develop the church’s Youth  (currently 52) who belong to Transform Widnes.
• develop these people, life skills, friendships, set an example and envisage hope.
• support and encourage the Youth. Provide a safe space for them “to be” and be a shoulder to lean on.

 

• drive recruitment of more 10-16-year olds.
• Oversee the management and development of Youth Work and Youth Activities for Widnes.
• Provide an engaging programme within the Youth clubs

 

 

Context: 

The Diocese of Liverpool wants to see a step change in focused and connected ministry among the poorest communities in the North West of England  has embarked on Transform NorthWest which is focussed in Warrington, St Helen’s and Widnes.  Transform Widnes, with locations at both St John’s church and hall, and St Paul’s church and hall is the largest of the three project churches with around 150 members, half of them volunteers in Church.

The team at Transform Widnes are committed to leading people into the transforming love of Jesus and take a holistic approach, creating environments where the Church can engage with the emotional, practical and spiritual needs of the people.  Transform Widnes specializes in social justice and has many projects, from connect café to Transform Minds aimed at connecting and helping those poorer members of our society in the most need.  

 

Each member of staff plays a key role in contributing to our mission. This challenge is bigger than any individual task but together our work contributes to the bigger picture. As a Christian organisation our faith is an integral part of our working culture and we want to help the adults of the future through the difficult transitional years into adulthood, so that they become happy thriving members of the community.

What we are looking for:

A creative, capable and experienced Youth Worker who will support and encourage the overall ministry of the church whilst being an active part of the Transform Widnes family.   

Responsibilities of this role: 

Manage and encourage the Youth in these aspects of Church Life

Operations

• Assist the Management Team in safer recruitment and all other aspects relating to HR issues with Youth Work.
• Ensure that all youth activities are provided safely by completing all necessary risk assessment,
• Manage and support Youth Work volunteers.  
• Manage Youth Club budget, including food and drink supplies and games and craft equipment.
• Work with local schools and colleges to provide what they need in terms of resilience training, mental health awareness, example setting etc.

 

Daily work

• Prepare programme and materials for use in Youth Clubs and Schools and Colleges.
• Regularly meet with volunteers helping them take developmental steps in their leadership journey.
• Set up/down for events, hospitality, music, gardening, and other requirements.
• Assist Vicar and lay clergy with Youth Work at planning stage.

 

Safeguarding & Health and Safety

• In conjunction with Finance and Operations Manager , ensure Transform Widnes is fully compliant with Diocesan and Parish Safeguarding Procedures

 

• In conjunction with Finance and Operations Manager, Manage all aspects of Health and Safety

 

• Ensure Transform Widnes is fully compliant with Liverpool One Foundation Safeguarding , with all training and certification in place.

  

General Youth work

Including but not limited to:-

•     Sunday services

• Youth Clubs
• Youth services
• Youth Gardening
• Transform Minds for 10-16-year olds
• Trips out and special events

 

Person Specification:

Each of the following criteria will be assessed via: (a) application form; (i) interview

 

 

Essential Requirements

Desirable Requirements

Qualifications

Good standard of English and Maths (equivalent to GCSE) (a/i)

 

 

Youth Worker qualification orother similar qualification (a)

 

Safeguarding training orqualifications (a)

 

 

Spiritual & Personal

A person of integrity who can keep absolute confidentiality (a/i)

 

Ability to take responsibility to ensure tasks are completed (a/i)  

 

Good with detail, a completer/finisher, but also able to facilitate the work of others (a/i)

 

Ability to build good relationships and maintain them while being persistent to ensure that the work gets done (a/i)

 

Shares the values and the ethos of the Church ofEngland (i)

 

A proven problem solver with resilience and flexibility (a/i)

 

A member of the Church of England (a)

 

 

IT Skills

Proficient using Microsoft Office, especially Excel, PowerPoint and Word.  (a)

Google Drive, ExpensePlus, ChurchSuite and MFAO experience very welcome. (a/i)

Knowledge and Skills

Experience managing Youth Work and Youth Clubs.(a/i)

 

Work in Schools and colleges (a/i)

 

Knowledge of Mental Health issues and Awareness in Youth (a/i)

 

A good and effective communicator (i)

 

Able to prioritise tasks and manage own performance (a/i)

 

Excellent personal organisation and administration skills (i)

 

Experience managing budgets (a/i)

 

Proven operational Youth experience, including experience of dealing with Safeguarding issues, Risk assessments and health and safety issues and legislation. (a/i)

 

A shared passion for community growth and an interest in pioneering new ways of doing things (i)

Experience of working in a Church context (a/i)

 

Understanding and Experience of social justice issues  

Working Environment

We have a fun, friendly but busy working environment where we are persistent in raising standards in everything we do.  

 

Our ethos is to be grateful, gracious and professional and we endeavour to thread this through every part of the organisation and every interaction. It is an exciting and challenging place to work and is full of variety. We aim for a ‘can do’ environment where innovation and creativity is encouraged alongside serving others, whilst negotiating the often necessarily complex rules of the Church of England. The staff community is warm and engaging with sincere help for each other to achieve our common aim of bringing Christian values into the lives of the people of Widnes.

 

 

Closing Date for Applications:  May 3rd

 

Interview Date: Week Commencing May 13th

 

For an informal chat or for further information, please contact tim.mason@liverpool.anglican.org