MYL is recruiting for one or more Youth Engagement Workers to work on our Make a Start outreach programme with young people with SEND, providing pastoral support, enrichment activities and facilitating informal learning. Working as part of a team including qualified teachers, a key part of the role is to mentor young people using a community-based approach. You will support them in working towards individual goals and developing the skills and confidence to travel independently and take the next steps in their education and/or progression to employment.
You will need the experience and ability to build trusting relationships and facilitate 1-1 informal education sessions to enable young people to develop personal, social and employability skills. We are keen to hear from people with good engagement and youth work skills.
We are recruiting to either 1 full-time or 2 part-time posts. Hours are flexible, usually during the day Monday-Friday. Applicants can choose between a year-round contract with the requirement to support MYL's holiday play schemes, or a term-time only contract with a pro-rata salary. You will need to be willing to travel around the city of Manchester, working with young people where they feel comfortable.
Main Tasks
* To work as part of a team engaging young people and providing tailored support packages to meet the aspirations and goals of young people with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP)
* Work alongside teaching staff to encourage learning and achievement through enrichments activities and education, focusing on improving literacy, numeracy and employability prospects.
* Engaging young people from pre-entry level to full engagement on our post 16 learning programmes, improving confidence, self-esteem and ambition.
* Form partnerships with agencies that are able to offer practical support to young people such as careers, health, housing and leisure organisations.
* Deliver structured one-to-one and group activities relevant to ILP to achieve positive outcomes for young people on programme e.g. interview skills, workplace expectations, IAG, food tech, life skills
* Support personal development plans that focus on developing self-esteem, personal motivation and personal aspiration goals.
* Devise action plans for the young people which address barriers to personal and social development, including addressing negative behaviours.
* Support young people with attending employer-based work experience and volunteering placements, provide travel training leading to independent travel
* Participate in specific, bespoke or youth engagement projects (EG detached youth work)
* Promote a culture and expectations of high levels of safeguarding and welfare of young people attending MYL programmes.
* Keep accurate records, producing progress reports online and hard copy, support project evaluations and attend multi-agency meetings as required
* To participate in relevant meetings and training as required
* Carry out all duties with full regard for all MYL policies and procedures, in particular those relating to equality, safeguarding, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting any concerns to line manager
* To maintain good relations with outside bodies and the general public in order to uphold the organisation's positive image
* To ensure that your conduct in and out of work does not conflict with the professional expectations of the organisation
* Carry out all duties within the scope and purpose of the post as directed
Manchester Young Lives is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The highest priority is given to following guidance and regulations to safeguard children and young people.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential (E) Desirable (D)
1. L2 or higher Youth Work or similar- E
2. Safeguarding L1 or willingness to complete- E
3. IAG L2 or willingness to complete- D
PRACTICAL SKILLS
1. Ability to work with minimum supervision and use initiative- E
2. Ability to work constructively as part of a team in youth and/or education settings- E
3. Ability to form positive relationships with young people- E
4. Good organisational skills, including ICT- E
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
1. Have a minimum of 2 years' experience working with young people, including those with SEND either voluntary or paid- E
2. Understanding and knowledge of the youth employment industry including government programmes e.g Traineeships and Apprenticeships- E
3. Experience of managing challenging behaviour, using positive behavior strategies to support improvements in behavior within a risk management system- E
4. Ability to plan and deliver programmes of engaging informal enriching learning to develop employability and life skills- E
5. Experience of providing mentoring and coaching to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people that supports their personal and social development- E
6. Experience of contributing to partnerships and multi-agency working particularly those agencies and partners who have engagement with education, employment and training as a main focus- E
7. Experience of community-based youth work- D
8. Experience of working in the voluntary and or community sector environment- D
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
* A positive attitude towards engaging young people
* Energy, vigour, understanding and humour in meeting the day-to-day demands of the project and creativity in problem-solving
* The ability to work constructively as part of a team, to understand own position within team
* A commitment to safeguarding the welfare of young people
* Commitment to MYLs mission and values
* Willingness & ability to undertake travel across City of Manchester
Please note CVs will not be considered as part of your application for this position. Application forms must be completed online, or returned either via email to or by post to Manchester Young Lives, The Addy Young People's Centre, Woodhouse Lane, Wythenshawe, M22 9TF. Please ensure you complete the final section of the application from, giving information as to how you meet the person specification.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
The closing date for completed application forms is 9am Monday the 6th of October.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: £24,088.00-£27,000.00 per year
Expected hours: 35 per week
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Flexitime
* Free parking
* On-site parking
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 06/10/2025