View Vacancy -- Youth Participation Worker

We are investing in creating a better borough for all our residents, improving the lives of children and young people in Haringey, which is our first corporate priority. We are located in the north of the capital with a population of approximately 250,000 people and a growing population of 0 - 19 year olds. We are a diverse and fast-changing borough and tomorrow’s leaders, artists and innovators are busy growing up here. Our population of 16-18 year olds is approximately 5,500 and growing. 

It is a borough priority to ensure that every young person, whatever their background, has a pathway to success for the future. To do this, we want to enable all young people to access routes to achievement and success, to feel prepared for adulthood and to reduce the number of young people in the criminal justice system.

We are seeking two Youth Participation Officers to join our Raising Participation Age Team (RPA), who hold the responsibility for meeting statutory requirements relating to young people’s participation in education, employment and training and Raising the Participation Age as outlined in statutory guidance.

About the Role:

The post holder will contribute to and support the implementation of Haringey’s RPA strategy. This will involve assisting with the tracking, monitoring and supporting young people into positive destinations. It will be necessary to develop good relations with: schools, colleges, employers, other providers of education and other key stakeholders to ensure effective support is in place for young people and challenge where that is not the case. The post holder will give direct support to young people to support them into, and to sustain post 16 provision and may be responsible for delivering specific activities that contribute to the RPA agenda i.e. employer workshops, careers events, NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) events and re-engagement activity.

Main responsibilities include:

• Help to develop pathways to identify young people who have no offer of learning, or at risk of being NEET, and ensure they receive appropriate support by working in partnership with schools, colleges, employers other providers and local authority teams. Identify or develop funding sources to support where appropriate.
• Work within a holistic approach ensuring that young people who are NEET have their needs assessed holistically and that a co-ordinated plan is put in place. This includes carrying out early help assessments where needed.
• Provide support for young people who are NEET to reengage into education, employment or training through the most appropriate and client centred approach. This may be through directly delivered advice and workshops or through referral to other providers, local authority teams and external agencies.
• Provide appropriate support and challenge to the leadership in schools, colleges and training providers, and other local authority teams, on their support to re-engage young people who are NEET.
• Work with the RPA Lead to help ensure that schools, colleges, employers and other providers have access to intervention and re-engagement programmes as necessary and to implement and embed these programmes in conjunction with senior leaders.
• Liaise with other teams and agencies to source data and help track young people who are currently NEET and at risk of becoming Not Known, e.g. training providers, Electoral Services, Benefits, DWP/Job Centre Plus, learning providers, Mosaic and LRS.
• Working to tracking lists provided, making contact by telephone or face to face with young people with whom the Service is seeking to engage.

About You:

• Careers qualification to a minimum of Level 4 is essential.
• Excellent interpersonal skills liaising with young people, parents/carers, schools/colleges and additional stakeholders.
• Understanding and knowledge of the youth landscape, issues affecting young people and ability to address these in a meaningful way to reduce the risk of being NEET.
• Proficient IT skills, particularly in the use of Excel and IYSS and the ability to follow guidelines that ensure compliance to Data Protection and other statutory requirements.
• The ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Occasional flexibility outside of office hours 9am-5pm may be necessary to meet the needs of families during evenings and weekends.

Closing Date: Sunday 24th January 2021

Virtual Interviews to be held week commencing 1st February 2021