Youth Worker

We're looking for someone a bit special who believes in the deep potential of children who are not thriving elsewhere in life. We’re looking for experience, passion, energy and the drive to go the extra mile on these young people’s behalf.

The position is a dual role. You’ll join as one of two dedicated Youth Workers and will lead on a portion of Free to Be Kids’ year-round follow-on support for vulnerable young people who we have already engaged via our Thrive Outside residentials. Crucially, a core aspect of the role will be leading an average of 8-10 of our residential projects across each year - working on the ground with the children, leading the volunteers, and helping make the projects special, safe, and transformative for vulnerable young people, many of whom have complex needs. You’ll be joining a small staff team of 8, supplemented by a vibrant and committed group of volunteers.

Attendance at approximately 8-10 five-six night residential projects per year outside London is a core component of this role.

On offer to the right candidate:

Salary: Circa £29,000-£34,000, dependent on experience.

Hours: Fulltime: 37.5 hours per week. Essential attendance on at c.8-10 residential projects a year.

Leave: 25 days per year, plus bank holidays and up to 13 additional pre-set discretionary reward days in September and during the Christmas period.

Other benefits: 4% employer pension contribution paid on full base salary, rising by 1% per year of service, up to a maximum of 6%, hybrid working, office with great transport links, flexible working (outside core hours), employee reward scheme, a tight-knit effective team with great morale.

Based: Hybrid – our small office in Waterloo, London. Hybrid working is well established with the majority of the team splitting time around 50:50 between the office and home.

To start: Ideally, February 2025.

Who we’re looking for:

Our next Youth Work hero. You'll be fun, active, energised, deeply experienced in work with young people with complex needs, and looking to join an organisation you can believe in and who in return will believe and invest in you.

You’ll have multiple years’ experience working alongside young people who might struggle in other settings and will be used to dealing with a range of challenging behaviours and complex support needs, ideally including mental health support needs,with a good understanding of safeguarding. You’ll have the flexibility to work away from home on up to 10 week-long residential projects per year. Ideally, you’ll also have experience of leading projects for children – whether residential or non-residential. Experience of working on or leading residentials projects themselves is not required but may be an advantage.

We are a small, vibrant, friendly staff team of 8, growing to 9 by the summer, supported by a committed volunteer base of around 200.

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from those who can help us represent the lived experiences of our children through their own lived experience or background.

To apply:

See full Job Description & Person Specification on our website.

Send a copy of your CV or up to date LinkedIn profile, as well as a covering letter, by the closing date of 8pm, Sunday 5th January 2025.

Covering letters should be very approximately 1 to 1.5 sides A4 and address the question of: ‘Why this role, why now’, as well as ‘what strengths, experience and skills you would bring with you to the role’.If you prefer, you are welcome to submit a short (2 to 4 minutes) video covering these questions either instead of, or to supplement, your cover letter. We have found this helps bring the strongest applications to life, though the video is not a requirement.

Selection Process and Timeline:

Selection will be via two stage interview. As there is only a short turnaround from application closure on 5th January to 1st stage interviews 8th-9th January, we will assess applications and offer interview slots throughout the window. However, you will not be disadvantaged if you need to wait till the closing date to submit.

1st stage interviews:Weds 8th – Thurs 9th January (virtual)

2nd stage final interviews: Monday 13th January (in-person, London Waterloo)

Please hold interview dates as alternates dates are unlikely to be available.

​The role requires an Enhanced DBS check and existing right to work in the UK.

If you have any questions about the role, contact us via our website and we’d be happy to arrange an informal chat. We look forward to hearing from you!