Residential Youth Worker

Job Overview: Residential Youth Worker Ockley, Surrey.

The Amber Foundation provides supported accommodation and a structured programme for homeless, unemployed and disadvantaged young people aged 18 to 30. The young people we support may be experiencing multiple disadvantage, including homelessness, unemployment, substance misuse, mental health difficulties and offending histories.

Our residential centres provide 24-hour support alongside a full-time programme focused on employability, independent living, health and wellbeing, and personal development. We help young people build the skills, confidence and resilience they need to move into employment and safe, sustainable accommodation, with education, training, work experience and volunteering used to support their journey where appropriate.

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Residential Youth Worker to join our team.

Responsible to - Senior Team Leader and Service Manager

Hours of Work - Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm + one overnight shift per month + on-call responsibility (1/5 weeks) (included in the salary)

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £30,283.47 per annum .

The Residential Youth Worker is responsible for leading a team of residents through Amber's programme and supporting each young person to make measurable progress towards their agreed goals. The role requires patience, creativity, strong organisation and the ability to motivate and positively challenge young people while maintaining clear professional boundaries.

A central purpose of the role is to help young people progress into paid employment as an outcome of their stay. They will ensure that employability is embedded throughout each resident's programme, build productive relationships with employers and opportunity providers, and create clear pathways into work experience, employment, college, vocational training and volunteering.

Amber is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all young people within its services. All applicants must be able to evidence their suitability to work with young people and will be subject to safer recruitment checks.

Key responsibilities

Employment education training and volunteering outcomes

Make progression into paid employment a central intended outcome of each resident's stay, while recognising when education, vocational training, work experience or volunteering is an appropriate step towards that outcome.

Work with each young person to understand their aspirations, experience, qualifications, strengths and barriers to work and agree a realistic, ambitious employment pathway.

Ensure every resident has clear employability goals and actions within their support and action plan, with progress reviewed regularly and barriers addressed promptly.

Provide practical employment support, including job searching, applications, CVs, cover letters, interview preparation, workplace expectations, travel planning and sustaining employment.

Proactively identify suitable vacancies, sector opportunities, apprenticeships, traineeships and other routes into paid work that reflect residents' interests and abilities.

Build and maintain productive relationships with local and regional employers, promoting Amber's young people positively and developing routes into interviews, work trials, work experience and employment.

Engage employers to understand recruitment needs, workplace expectations and reasonable adjustments and use this information to prepare and match residents effectively.

Develop and maintain links with colleges, adult education providers, vocational training organisations and employability services so residents can access relevant qualifications and skills development.

Identify and arrange meaningful work-experience placements that are safe, structured, relevant to the resident's goals and supported by clear expectations and feedback.

Develop volunteering opportunities that build confidence, routine, recent experience, references and transferable skills and support progression towards paid employment.

Support residents to attend employer meetings, interviews, careers events, college visits, training, work experience and volunteering, providing practical assistance where appropriate.

Maintain regular contact with employers and placement or training providers, respond promptly to concerns and support residents to overcome difficulties and sustain opportunities.

Work closely with Jobcentre Plus, DWP partnership teams, local authorities, employment services and other partners to maximise access to employment support and available schemes.

Record employment, education, training, work-experience and volunteering activity and outcomes accurately on In-Form and provide evidence of progress against individual and service targets.

Celebrate progress and success while ensuring residents remain focused on the practical steps required to secure and sustain employment and accommodation.

Resident progression and case management

Take responsibility for the development and progression of the residents allocated to the team, ensuring support is purposeful, coordinated and outcome-focused.

Complete and review individual needs assessments, risk assessments, risk management plans, support and action plans and move-on plans to the required standard and within agreed timescales.

Plan and manage the caseload effectively, prioritising residents according to their needs, risks, opportunities and agreed actions.

Deliver relevant one-to-one sessions, interventions and group work and ensure agreed actions are completed and followed up.

Make timely referrals to external services and agencies, support residents to engage and record outcomes appropriately.

Work collaboratively with relevant professionals and adopt a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach where this improves resident outcomes.

Support residents to develop independent living skills, including budgeting, cooking, self-care, managing appointments, maintaining accommodation and understanding tenancy responsibilities.

Support residents to plan for sustainable move-on accommodation alongside their employment and financial goals.

Ensure residents understand and meet their rent and service-charge responsibilities and follow up concerns in line with Amber's procedures.

Arrange or provide reasonable transport support for external appointments and opportunities using Amber vehicles where authorised and appropriate.

Programme leadership and delivery

Plan, organise and lead a consistent, high-quality weekly programme that reflects Amber's four programme areas and supports residents to progress towards employment and independent living.

Ensure employability is embedded across the programme rather than treated as a standalone activity, with projects and sessions developing behaviours and skills valued in the workplace.

Facilitate and co-facilitate engaging activities, group sessions, career-planning work, community projects and practical tasks to the required standard.

Ensure the programme offers an appropriate balance of structured learning, practical projects, individual work, community involvement and enjoyable activities that maintain motivation.

Allocate responsibilities clearly and ensure planned sessions, activities and projects are adequately prepared, resourced, risk assessed and delivered.

Adapt programme delivery to residents' different needs, abilities, learning styles and stages of progression while maintaining appropriate expectations.

Monitor attendance, participation, achievement and barriers to engagement and take timely action where progress is limited.

Encourage residents to contribute to one another's progress and create a positive culture of aspiration, responsibility and mutual support.

Evaluate activities and programme delivery, act on feedback and contribute ideas and resources that improve quality and outcomes.

In Form CRM recording and outcome monitoring

Use Amber's In-Form CRM as the primary system for recording resident support, risks, actions, referrals, sessions, interventions, activities, testing, progress and outcomes.

Ensure records are accurate, objective, relevant and completed within the required timescales, providing a clear audit trail of actions, decisions, communications and follow-up.

Record and monitor employment, education, training, work experience and volunteering goals, activity and outcomes, including applications, interviews, offers, starts and sustained participation.

Ensure all required resident actions, sessions and outcome measures are completed and recorded at the specified intervals.

Ensure the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale are completed at the required intervals and used alongside other evidence to monitor progression.

Record CCIAs, including complaints, compliments, incidents and accidents, in accordance with policy and ensure associated actions are completed.

Review the quality and completeness of records for residents within the team, addressing gaps, overdue actions or poor recording promptly.

Produce accurate information for handovers, reviews, internal monitoring, external reports and service-performance requirements.

Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection requirements and Amber's information-sharing and recording standards.

Safeguarding risk and wellbeing

Maintain a clear understanding of each resident's needs, risks, strengths and protective factors and ensure relevant plans are followed and reviewed.

Recognise, respond to, record and escalate safeguarding concerns, disclosures, welfare issues and changes in risk without delay.

Promote residents' physical health, mental wellbeing, resilience and positive relationships and facilitate access to specialist support where required.

Respond calmly and proportionately to incidents, challenging behaviour, conflict and emergencies in line with Amber's policies and procedures.

Undertake supervised drug and alcohol testing where required, following the correct procedure and recording all requests, completion, refusal, non-compliance and results on In-Form.

Complete risk assessments for activities, projects, travel, work experience and other opportunities and ensure appropriate control measures are implemented.

Ensure health and safety requirements are followed so that residents, staff, visitors and members of the public are not placed at avoidable risk.

Admissions induction and move on

Support the assessment and admission of new residents as required, contributing relevant information to suitability, needs and risk decisions.

Prepare for new arrivals and deliver a thorough, welcoming induction, ensuring required checks, records and initial plans are completed.

Establish employment aspirations and previous experience early in the resident's stay so employability planning begins from induction.

Review progress towards employment and move-on throughout the placement and take action when goals or timescales are not being met.

Coordinate effective move-on planning with residents, colleagues, employers, landlords, local authorities and other professionals as appropriate.

Ensure employment, income, travel and accommodation arrangements are considered together so that move-on plans are realistic and sustainable.

Leadership teamwork and professional practice

Provide visible, positive and consistent leadership to residents and colleagues and contribute to the smooth running of the centre.

Model and embed Amber's values of Compassion, Inclusive, Accountable and Aspirational in decisions, relationships and everyday practice.

Communicate clear expectations, allocate tasks appropriately and support colleagues to deliver high-quality, consistent work.

Build strong working relationships with centre colleagues, managers, Head Office functions and external partners.

Contribute actively to handovers, team meetings, supervision, reflective practice, training and service-development activity.

Share relevant information promptly and professionally, particularly where it affects resident safety, progress, employment opportunities or service delivery.

Manage delegated expenditure responsibly and remain within agreed team budgets.

Use IT systems confidently and complete all administrative requirements associated with the role.

Take an active role in achieving organisational, centre and team objectives and contribute to a proactive, solution-focused culture.

Work flexibly according to service needs and undertake any other reasonable duties required for the safe and effective operation of the centre.

Person specification

Experience and knowledge

Essential

Experience of supporting disadvantaged or vulnerable young people or adults with complex needs.

Experience of motivating people to set goals, overcome barriers and achieve measurable progress.

Experience of delivering one-to-one support, group sessions, practical activities or structured programmes.

Experience of building effective relationships with external organisations and professionals.

Understanding of the barriers that homelessness, poor mental health, substance misuse, offending histories, low confidence and limited qualifications can create in accessing employment.

Knowledge of safeguarding, risk management and professional boundaries.

Experience of maintaining accurate electronic case records and managing agreed actions within timescales.

Confidence using digital systems and Microsoft Office, with the ability to learn and use In-Form CRM effectively.

Ability to plan, prioritise and manage a varied caseload and programme responsibilities.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

Experience of employment support, employer engagement, recruitment, careers guidance or workforce development.

Experience of developing work-experience, volunteering, training, college or apprenticeship opportunities.

Knowledge of local labour markets, Jobcentre Plus, benefits, employability programmes and routes into vocational education and training.

Existing relationships with employers, colleges, training providers, voluntary organisations or employment services.

Experience of using In-Form or another Salesforce-based case management or CRM system.

A relevant qualification in youth work, support work, employability, information advice and guidance, health and social care or a related field.

Health and safety, food hygiene, first aid or fire-safety training.

Skills and personal qualities

Aspirational for young people and genuinely motivated to help them progress into paid employment and independent living.

Able to engage employers and opportunity providers confidently and represent Amber and its residents positively.

Creative and persistent in identifying opportunities and overcoming practical barriers to employment.

Compassionate, patient and approachable while able to set clear expectations and provide appropriate challenge.

Inclusive and able to adapt support so that residents with different needs and backgrounds can participate and progress.

Accountable, organised and reliable, with a strong focus on follow-through, recording and outcomes.

Able to lead, motivate and foster teamwork in a busy and sometimes pressured environment.

Able to make sound decisions, solve problems and seek guidance appropriately.

Committed to resident participation, empowerment, equality and anti-discriminatory practice.

Flexible, reflective and open to feedback, learning and continuous improvement.

.

Pay: £30,283.47 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• Tell us about a time when you proactively approached an employer and helped create an opportunity for someone to move into paid work. How did you engage the employer, and what was the outcome?
• Give an example of how you challenged assumptions or adapted an approach so that someone facing disadvantage could access an employment or development opportunity. What did you do, and what difference did it make?
• Describe a time when you supported someone who had lost confidence or disengaged following setbacks. How did you show understanding while encouraging them to take responsibility and move towards their goals?
• Tell us about a time when your initial approach to securing an opportunity or achieving an agreed outcome was unsuccessful. What responsibility did you take, what did you change, and what was the result?
• Are you aware that this job is based in Ockley, Surrey RH5 5NG? Essential to have full driving licence and own vehicle.

Work Location: In person