Empowering Young Women Project - Outreach Support Worker

Job Description

Job Title:                  Project Outreach Support Worker

Duration:                  Funding to end June 2028 (with possibility of future funding)

Key Function:         To support the implementation of all aspects of Shankill Women’s Centres, Empowering Young Women’s Project (EYW) including the development of a range of support interventions. This role will assist the successful engagement of young women aged 16-25 years who reside across North/West Belfast. Post is funded by Big Lottery Community Fund under the Empowering Young People stream. The aim of our EYW project is to help young women build and develop life skills that foster good relations, build confidence, improve self-esteem, and resilience. Supporting educational and employability opportunities and the ability to implement a range of coping mechanisms to better cope with life challenges.

Responsible to:      Line Manager, Centre Manager and Board of SWC  

Location:                  Shankill Women’s Centre

Hours per week:     35 (excluding breaks)

Salary:                       £27,344.00 per annum

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Essential Criteria

• A third level qualification in or working towards a relevant discipline (ie. Social Science, Community/Youth Work or Education) or 5 years employment as Youth Work staff on a community-based project.

• At least 2 years’ experience of working with young women (in a Youth Work / Supportive / Mentoring setting or similar environment.

• At least 1 years’ experience of supporting young women on a One-to-One individual basis with issues relating to Health & Well-being. 

• Competency in IT skills.

• Experience of facilitating and delivering accredited/non-accredited training to young people in a group work setting e.g. OCN, CCEA

• Flexible approach to working hours, evening and weekend work is a pre-requisite within this post.

• A full driver’s licence and access to a form of transport which will enable the post holder to meet the requirements of the post in full.

Desirable

• Experience in planning, organisation and delivery of community development events and initiatives.

• Experience of working alongside or advocating with external organisations and statutory bodies in support of individual’s needs.

• Knowledge of project monitoring and evaluation.

• Knowledge of concerns and issues affecting young women in areas such as the North and West Belfast.

• Relevant mentoring qualification.

Key Duties

1. To play a positive and proactive role as a member of a small team to ensure the successful implementation of the overall project.
2. To assist in the recruitment of young women aged 16-25 years to engage with the project using a variety of methods.
3. To manage a caseload of young women and facilitate one to one sessions in order to build relationships and identify individual needs requiring any additional support.
4. Facilitate and organise groupwork sessions on issues relating to young women and their needs.
5. To assess the needs of young women through a comprehensive needs analysis with the view to creating a personal development plan.
6. Assist in sourcing appropriate accredited courses/training opportunities to meet identifying needs/project requirements.
7. To deliver a range of accredited and non-accredited programmes targeting young women.
8. Development or sourcing of appropriate training materials and resources to assist in the delivery of the programme.
9. To deliver programmes and initiatives which enhance young women’s active participation in the issues, services and decisions that impact on their lives.
10. To deliver programmes which provide opportunities for young women to raise their aspirations, confidence, self-esteem and their ability to learn and grow.
11. To deliver programmes which support young women to develop leadership qualities and skills.
12. To deliver annual Social Action projects in conjunction with the young women.
13. Be responsible for sharing information and representing Shankill Women’s Centre/EYW project at events and functions.
14. Attend both internal and external meetings when necessary, to represent the project.
15. To help accurately maintain appropriate systems to monitor and evaluate the project.
16. Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team.
17. Provide regular verbal and written reports to the Project Manager.
18. Adhere to SWC and Project specific project policies and procedures.
19. Ability to provide reliable support to young women in times of stress whilst acting with integrity.
20. To undertake any other reasonable duty at the request of your Line Manager.

The post holder will keep completely confidential any information regarding the young women, their families or other information which is learnt as part of the job.  Such information must not be passed on without proper authority unless it is in the best interest of the young woman.  The post holder shall, in each instance refer to the policy of SWC to ascertain his/her responsibilities in their situation.

Note: SWC reserve the right to amend criteria if required to do so.