YOUTH FOCUS SOUTH WEST Amplify Voice Lead Worker – South West
£29,575 pro-rata (15 hours per week @ £16.25/hour)
Location: Youth Focus South West is based in Plymouth and covers the wider South West region. The Amplify Development Worker can work from home or from the Plymouth office, and will be expected to be able to travel across the region and occasionally beyond. Youth Focus South West co-work together for 1 day a week.
Reporting to: Regional Youth Work Development Manager, Youth Focus South West
Responsible for: Team of up to 4 Peer Educators years)
What is Amplify?
Amplify – Regional Youth Voices in Action is a national youth voice development programme, managed through the Network of Regional Youth Work Units. It is funded for 5 years by the National Lottery Community Fund. Youth Focus South West (YFSW) is leading the project in the South West region.
Amplify: Regional Youth Voices in Action | PYLThrough Amplify we plan to:
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1. Review the range of models of youth voice and youth engagement with peer researchers across the regions, gathering data and insight from young people and professionals
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1. Run events and training sessions for organisations on the various approaches in place
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1. Create resources with young people i.e. podcasts, videos, training resources
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1. Develop regional advisory boards across England
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1. Learn from the devolved nations about their work
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1. Build cross regional partnerships on different themes i.e. global majority groups, care experienced young people depending on needs
As a result there will be:
* · Greater national consistency to youth engagement and systems-change.
* · Enhanced impact of young people's voice and influence, with young people developing skills, knowledge and leadership.
* · System change as a consequence of young people building skills that help them develop in the workforce and in life, and robust structures so young people's engagement creates meaningful consideration of young people's perspectives in decision making.
* · The inequalities and barriers faced by under-represented/marginalised young people will be highlighted and addressed in youth engagement programmes
3 / 6Principal Duties
To work as part of Youth Focus South West and the Network of Regional Youth Work Units to build an inclusive and equitable approach to youth voice and youth engagement, ensuring the most marginalised and under-represented young people have their voices heard and acted upon across the UK. This will include:
* · The collation of best practice around youth voice
* · The facilitation of peer research approaches
* · Facilitating learning networks and peer support groups
* · Delivering training and support programmes
* · Overseeing all communications related to the project
* · Contributing to the online information hub on evidence for youth voice and co-production
* · Contributing to evaluation and impact reporting requirements
Main tasks
Project Management
* · To coordinate the regional delivery of the programme, developing regional work plans, tracking delivery and impact and coordinating regional partnerships
* · To lead on the regional implementation of the programme of work in line with the agreed funding priorities
* · To coordinate activities, network meetings and cross regional partnerships
* · To work in collaboration with the other regions as part of the Network of Regional Youth Work Units
* · To work with the YFSW Regional Youth Work Development Manager to manage the budget for all allocated programmes of work and provide regular updates on allocated spend to lead partner – Partnership for Young London
* · To report on developments in line with the funder's requirements
* · To recruit and support young people in the region as peer researchers through supervision, reflective practice and line management
Learning and Development
* · To facilitate peer research and youth engagement activities across the work in line with the project plan
* · To facilitate training programmes, regional seminars and networks in line with the delivery plan with a particular focus on addressing inequalities and young people
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* · To gather information on evidence frameworks and analyse research to build evidence for policy development, such as outcomes frameworks and evaluation tools
Partnership Development
* · To maintain and increase the profile of Amplify – Regional Youth Voices in Action across a range of stakeholders including research organisations, think tanks, VCS providers and national, regional and local government
* · To develop partnerships across the Network of Regional Youth Work Units as well as in region
* · To develop collaboration with key stakeholders to create collaborations across various areas of work both on a strategic and practitioner basis
* · To identify new partners to engage with the overall work plan for Amplify Regional Youth Voices in Action as part of the Network of Regional Youth Work Units build links in line with the business plan objectives
* · To provide regular reports to line managers and Trustees on developments
Communications
* · To develop and maintain high quality communications about the programme including web-based materials and contribute to the monthly bulletin on opportunities and resources
* · To present updates on the work of the programme at a variety of forums and networks to profile the work and build the reputation of YFSW and the Network of Regional Youth Work Units
* · To draft a range of materials for a variety of audiences including consultation papers, reports, newsletters, briefings and articles
Funding and resourcing
* · To work in line with the budget and track all expenditure in line with the funding bid
* · To provider updates and reporting around finances for the funder
Other
* · To support on the engagement of young people in all aspects of programme delivery and review the impact of this in line with their needs
* · To represent the programme in a variety of forums
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* · To undertake other such duties as are appropriate to the post as agreed by the Strategic Director
Person specification
The ability to meet these criteria will be assessed as part of shortlisting
(E = Essential; D = Desirable)
Qualifications
* · Qualified to degree level, with knowledge and understanding of peer research, youth work, education, social work or similar (D)
* · A JNC recognised Level 6 or 7 qualification in Youth & Community Work (D)
Experience
* · Expertise in leading a range programmes with young people (E)
* · Research and data analysis expertise (D)
* · At least three years' experience as a practitioner, working with children and young people (E)
* · Experience of working across different sectors relating to young people (D)
* · Experience of building partnerships and working in cross sector collaborations around young people's services (E)
* · Experience of working across diverse communities and the ability to bring that expertise into all aspect of the work (E)
Knowledge
* · A clear understanding of the issues facing young people, and an understanding of the role of peer research to influence policy and practice (E)
* · A good knowledge of current legislation, activities and services relating to young people services (E)
* · An understanding of work across the voluntary youth sector/private sector/ local authorities around youth voice, young people's engagement and peer research (E)
* · A good level of knowledge of working collaboratively, and partnership working (E)
* · Experience of working in a team environment and contributing to shared objectives (E)
* · A sound working knowledge of equalities legislation and its practical application in relation to young peoples' issues. (E)
* · A solid understanding of safeguarding duties and responsibilities in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 (E)
6 / 6Essential skills (E)
* · Good communication skills, with the ability to deliver messages to a wide range of stakeholders
* · The ability to use a range of social media as well as traditional media to profile the work and keep up to date with the latest developments
* · Good networking skills and the ability to form and develop new partnerships
* · Ability to work flexibly and willing to undertake a wide range of duties in a small organisation
* · Good organisational skills and able to work effectively and manage diverse work loads
* · Training and facilitation skills working with diverse ranges of practitioners and strategic decision makers
* · Advanced Microsoft Office skills
* · Ability to travel across the South West region and beyond
Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 60 months
Pay: Up to £28,459.78 per year
Expected hours: 15 per week
Benefits:
* Casual dress
* Company pension
* Flexitime
* Work from home
Application question(s):
* Youth work 11-25 year olds
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Plymouth PL1 4EF