Youth Worker

Principal Role 

The principal responsibility of the Youth Worker will be to provide guidance and support to young people and to help them reach their full potential. The Youth Worker will be responsible for supporting young LGBTQIA+ people through the Rainbow Youth Project. They will work with the young people to develop workshops, programmes, activities and events over the course of the project. 

Key Responsibilities 

• To carry out health & wellbeing assessments with young people.
• To assist with the facilitation of drop-in sessions for LGBTQIA+ young people.
• To assist with the development and delivery of health and wellbeing improvement workshops for young LGBTQIA+ people.
• To organise and facilitate courses/programmes based on the needs of young people accessing this service.
• To develop a relationship with young people based on respect and trust, ensuring they have a safe place to develop their identity and place in society. 
• To work in partnership with families and other key people in the young person's life, as well as with professionals from other organisations involved with young people such as social care, health, police, education, youth offending teams and local authorities, in order to build a strong support network 
• To deliver the outcomes of The Rainbow Youth Project. 
• To carry out additional duties relevant to this role and as identified by The Rainbow Project.

Demands 

• The Rainbow Project addresses issues that can be viewed as political and/or controversial. The post holder will need to handle all issues astutely and diplomatically, and with party political impartiality. 
• The post holder will represent the Rainbow Project professionally and effectively to external stakeholders at both a local and national level. 
• The post holder will be expected to handle a varied workload which may require a rapid response to external events. This may include some evening and weekend work. 
• This role requires travel to other areas; the post holder will undertake regular travel between Rainbow Project’s offices and to other locations as required. 
• The post holder will undertake any other tasks that may be requested, commensurate with the nature and level of the post.

General responsibilities 

• To work collaboratively as part of the Rainbow Project staff team to develop and achieve shared goals and objectives.
• To contribute to the general administration, good running and development of the Rainbow Project, while adhering to safeguarding, confidentiality, data 
protection, health and safety, equality and other organisational policies.
• Monitor your own continuing professional development and identify training, growth and development opportunities.
• To maintain good relationships with colleagues, volunteers, and other stakeholders, while also upholding high standards of professional accountability.

Person Specification 

Essential 

1. Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant area.
2.  Have a commitment to working with LGBTQIA+ young people. 
3. Have experience in organising your own workload and the ability to be self supporting within the role.
4. Understand the need for confidentiality, clear professional and personal boundaries and accurate record keeping.
5. Experience in developing, delivering and evaluating educational, development or training programmes.
6. Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability and flexibility to: work cooperatively and collaboratively.
7. Rise above personal, ideological and other differences.
8. Build relationships and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and colleagues. 
9.  Have a flexible, outgoing and approachable personality; 
10. Be able to work evenings and weekends as required (time off in lieu will be provided); 

Desirable 

1.  Previous experience of working with LGBTQIA+ young people. 
2. An understanding of the diversity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and those yet unsure of their sexual orientation and or gender identity. 
3.  An understanding of heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia and the impact this can have on LGBTQIA+ young people as well as their ability to access mainstream health, youth and other services

.