**CVs AND EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. PLEASE VISIT NO LIMITS WEBSITE FOR FULL JOB DESCRIPTION AND TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FOR THIS ROLE**
We're looking for an experienced and motivated Community Detached and Mentoring Youth Worker to join our Drug and Alcohol Support Hub (DASH) team in Southampton
Role terms
Salary: Band D £27,582 – £30,581 per annum (Full-Time Equivalent, 37.5 hours per week)
Actual salary will be pro-rata £5,884 to £8,826 based on agreed working hours
Hours: 8 to 12 hours per week, to include evenings and occasional weekends
Contract Type: Fixed-term – 18 months
Place of work: No Limits Advice Centre, Southampton and community locations across Southampton
Essential car user: Yes – DASH is a community-based project of use of a vehicle for work is essential
Closing Date: 9.00am on Wednesday 17 September 2025
Interview Date: Monday 22 September 2025
Our Charity
No Limits is the leading youth services charity in Southampton, supporting children and young people in the city and across Hampshire.
At No Limits, it is important our staff and volunteers reflect, represent, and have experience of the challenges faced by the children and young people we support. We are proud of and appreciate our many staff and volunteers who use their own lived experience to support the children and young people they work with.
With this in mind, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of our work and organisational culture – and when recruiting, it's important to us that we continue diversifying our staff and volunteer teams, with children and young people at the centre of everything we do. You can learn more about our DEI approach here.
When we talk about talent, we value the transferrable skills and experiences you can bring to No Limits, whether through work (in the same or a different sector), volunteering, or personal experiences. To make sure we get the best talent on our team, we are open to and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and sections of the community, including diverse ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodiverse individuals.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Youth Worker to deliver a blended role across both our mentoring and detached youth work in Southampton. This post will combine structured one-to-one mentoring for young people aged 11-18 who are at risk of exploitation or offending, with community-based detached youth work in identified hotspots, engaging young people on their own terms in public spaces.
The role offers variety and impact building trusted relationships, supporting young people to develop resilience, wellbeing and positive choices, while also contributing to safer communities through a visible and approachable youth work presence.
Your key responsibilities will include:
* Deliver regular detached / outreach sessions as part of a team of youth workers
* Engage young people in community spaces (for example, streets, parks, venues, and other hotspots) in a friendly, non-judgmental way
* Build trusted, consistent relationships with young people, especially those who may be disengaged from mainstream services
* Hold a very small caseload (1 to 2 young people at a time) where appropriate, providing short-term mentoring (typically up to 12 weeks)
* Support young people to build resilience, confidence and positive coping skills
We are committed to making a difference in the lives of the children and young people we work with, and as such, you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the No Limits ethos. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is paramount.
We particularly welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and those who have had experiences similar to the young people we aim to support. We are committed to creating a diverse environment where people can be their authentic selves, where their experiences and opinions are valued, and we are all open to learning from each other.
As part of our team, you'll receive a comprehensive induction and access to learning and development opportunities relevant to your role, supporting your ongoing growth.
You'll have the essentials of:
* Ability to build trusting relationships with young people, enabling them to develop new skills and make their own informed choices
* Demonstrate effective communication, organisational and time management skills
* Ability to problem solve, identifying when a problem needs addressing and devising workable and creative solutions
* Demonstrate commitment to the principles and working practice of equal opportunities
* Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
* Demonstrate motivation and shows initiative in work practice
* Possess excellent IT skills, the ability to produce reports to a high standard and maintain records effectively using a variety of systems
* Able to engage young people in the community in their own environments
You may also have:
* Experience of working with children and young people on issues such as substance use, education and training, family/relationships and (mental) health
* Experience and a working knowledge of effective interventions with young people experiencing substance misuse issues
* Knowledge and experience of partnership working with other agencies
* Experience of multi-agency safeguarding approaches and communicating efficiently with other professionals to support young people
Please let us know if we can support you with any reasonable adjustments at any point prior to, during or after the selection process, such as access arrangements, flexible working, or a suitable place to pray.
Staff Benefits
We are committed to being a great place to work, where people achieve and feel valued. In our People Survey, 98% of staff and 100% of volunteers said they were proud to tell people they work or volunteer for No Limits. We're proud to offer some great benefits, on top of being able to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of local children and young people:
* 36 days annual leave (including public holidays).
* Two additional wellbeing days per year - Supporting you to take additional time off for your wellbeing or development.
* Pension scheme - Supporting your future by matching your additional pension contributions up to 2%.
* Life assurance scheme - Giving you peace of mind with 2x annual salary cover for pension members.
* Hybrid and flexible working - Giving the flexibility to work in the best way for your role.
* Comprehensive induction and training offer - Including our online learning management system with hundreds of opportunities to support your development.
* Employee Assistance Programme - Providing you with counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services.
Interested..? We'd love to hear from you
Find out more about the role or apply on our website.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 18 months
Pay: £27,582.00-£30,581.00 per year
Benefits:
* Additional leave
* Casual dress
* Company pension
* Cycle to work scheme
* Flexitime
* Health & wellbeing programme
* Sick pay
Work Location: In person