REPORTING TO: Head of Youth Work.
DIRECT REPORTS: Sessional Youth Workers
LOCATION :Until the Dome Youth Zone on Oak Street in Crewe, is fully operational, you will be required to work in other locations. Some hybrid working may be required.
BENEFITS:
33 Days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays).
Workplace pension
Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
Free meals on duty (once The Dome opens).
Free gym access (once The Dome opens).
Access to OnSides Talent Academy; bespoke training and mentoring.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
STAFFING AND MANAGEMENT
Recruit, train, support and manage the sessional youth work team members.
Coordinate rotas, cover absences/holidays and address performance issues alongside the Head
of Youth Work.
THE YOUTH WORK OFFER AND PROGRAMME
Lead a safe, fun, inclusive and engaging youth work programme for junior members, with overall
responsibility for session delivery and standards.
Duty manage junior sessions (currently planned for Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons).
Provide occasional leadership cover for other sessions (Senior, SEND, family and partnership sessions).
Embed Youth Voice in programme planning and champion young peoples ideas across the Youth Zone
Meet delivery targets, including attendance and funded project outcomes.
Share programme information with the communications team.
SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDING
Ensure a safe, welcoming environment for young people with clear behaviour expectations.
Act as a Designated Safeguarding Lead, responding to concerns in line with policy alongside the Head of Youth Work and wider safeguarding team.
Act as a key holder: opening and closing duties and ensure facilities are maintained, issues logged and spaces cleaned after sessions.
LEADERSHIP AND NETWORKING
Champion young people and youth work within the organisation, supporting all services, to provide a great experience.
Build relationships with partners, stakeholders and supporters.
Provide visible, hands-on leadership to maintain high quality standards.
EVALUATION AND REPORTING
Embed monitoring and evaluation within junior sessions and report on youth work impact
Manage assigned budgets and complete programme delivery reports.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the experience, skills, knowledge and aptitudes listed, throughout the recruitment process. However, if you dont meet every single requirement but feel you have strong and relevant transferrable skills or lived experience to draw from, we encourage you to apply anyway. Why?... Studies have shown that women and Black, Asian, Mixed Race & other ethnically diverse people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria/competency. The Dome and the Onside Network are dedicated to driving change and to building diverse, inclusive and authentic workplaces, so if youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt align perfectly, please tell us how your experience is transferableYou may be just the right candidate!
SELECTION CRITERIA
EXPERIENCE
Experience designing, delivering and leading open-access youth programmes for diverse young people (819, up to 25 with additional needs). Experience with play work would be advantageous.
Safeguarding knowledge, ideally as a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Confident communicator, able to engage young people and work professionally with staff and partners.
Experience managing behaviour and supporting conflict resolution.
Staff management experience with awareness of HR processes (performance, attendance, rota planning).
Experience in planning and coordinating programmes, including health & safety, scheduling and budgeting.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTRIBUTES
Passionate about youth work and committed to empowering young people.
Understanding of the issues facing young people and the youth work process, including contextual safeguarding.
Able to build strong relationships and work collaboratively with a range of partners and stakeholders.
Committed to the mission and values of The Dome Youth Zone and work collaboratively.
Calm under pressure and able to work in a fast-paced environment.
Willing to work evenings and weekends, with flexibility to meet programme needs.
QUALIFICATIONS
Relevant education or equivalent experience; a youth work qualification is desirable but not essential.
IT skills (Office 365, Smartsheet or similar).
Evidence of ongoing professional development is an advantage (e.g. safeguarding, health & safety, leadership)
GENERAL INFORMATION
The normal hours of work are 37.5 per week. Junior Club will run on Tuesday, Thursday evenings Sunday afternoon (subject to change) and you will be required to work on these sessions. Before the Youth Zone opens and during its construction, there will be elements of hybrid working in place. During the first months as part of the induction the successful candidate will have the opportunity to visit and spend time in operational Youth Zones, this will involve travel. The practicalities of this can be discussed during the process. For information on how The Dome Youth Zone processes your data, please read Here.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply:
1.Email a CV and Cover Letter (no more than one page)
2.Your Cover Letter should provide the following information:
Why do you want to work for us?
Looking at the person specification: briefly describe how your skills and experience (including lived
experience) make you a good candidate for this role. (200 words max).
How you demonstrate your commitment to fairness, equity and respect.
Confirmation you are eligible to work in the UK (the successful candidate will be required to provide documentary evidence before a job offer is confirmed).
Any reasonable adjustments we can make to assist you in your application or the selection process.
3.This role will be based in The Dome Youth Zone, Crewe, and in accordance with our Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an Enhanced DBS Check.
Do you have any unspent conditional cautions other than convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?
Do you have any adult cautions (simple or conditional) or spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020?
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
For successful applicants, the first stage of the process will be to attend an interview at The Dome temporary offices in Crewe on 22ndMay 2026.
For candidates successful at interview, there will be a practical task held at South Cheshire ABC Boxing,Crewe on the evening of 25thMay 2026. This will include leading a session with young people.
KEY DATES
Closing date for applications: 18thMay 2026
Formal Panel Interview: 22ndMay 2026
Practical assessment: 25thMay 2026, evening.
ABOUT THE DOME YOUTH ZONE
Crewe Youth Zone, named The Dome by local youngpeople is a brand-new locally run youth charity, set toprovide thousands of young people with theopportunity to have fun, make new friends, trysomething new and feel safe. With community centricvalues and located in the heart of Crewe, it will be aninspiring place for young people aged 8 19, and up to25 for those with additional needs, to enjoy their leisure.The building is due to be completed in 2026. It willchange the lives of thousands of young people eachyear delivering social impact on an incredible scale.
State-of-the-art facilities will offer over 20 activitiesincluding sports, arts, culture, and recreationavailableevery evening, weekend, and school holiday,showcasing our commitment to providing the best foryoung people. The Dome is based on a proven modelof youth service and youth work provision that isaligned to community needs and supported by cross-sector funding. The Dome will give young peopleaffordable access to services designed to empowerthem to lead healthier, positive and more active lives,raising their own aspirations and their community.
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