Youth Participation Worker

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Increase participation by children, young people, parents and carers involved with Bedfordshire Hospitals in shaping the services available to them by developing and coordinating a young people's advisory group of young people with lived experience of health conditions

Together with the group, complete wider scoping with young hospital patients to find out what support, activities and resources they might engage with

Based on feedback from young people, to develop events or projects which promote and support the wellbeing of young people with long-term conditions

Mapping of existing local resources, and engagement with potential community partners as well as internal stakeholders who may be able to support programme delivery

Delivery of the planned events, and collection of relevant outcome data to evidence their impact

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• GCSE or equivalent in English and Maths
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Child Development or Youth Services
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable criteria

• Degree level education

Experience

Essential criteria

• Previous experience of advocacy or consultation, and/or evidence of working in a similar field (e.g. youth work)
• Experience of designing, leading, and evaluating programmes of work for children and young people
• Experience of working with children and young people affected by health difficulties or disabilities
• Experience of co-production with young people and other stakeholders
• Experience of liaison with wider stakeholders/ organisational networks
• Experience of working with diverse communities and in different cultural and social contexts
• Understanding of safeguarding and child protection policies and their application to working with children and young people

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with children, young people and families affected by acute or long-term physical health difficulties
• Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties and/or SEND needs
• Conducting audit and/or evaluation projects
• Contribution to research programmes
• Understanding of current NHS/Social Care policies/ practices relating to children's healthcare services

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people living with long-term medical conditions or with disabilities
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate effectively (both verbally and in writing)
• Ability to creatively engage children, young people and families with a range of developmental and health needs
• Knowledge of co-production principles
• Ability to present the views of service users to a variety of stakeholders, including at a strategic/managerial level
• Ability to adapt communication to meet the needs and developmental stage of the audience
• Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload.
• Able to work independently, and to seek support as appropriate

Desirable criteria

• Previous development or consultation role
• Good working knowledge of statutory, voluntary, and health agencies involved in providing services for children and families
• NHS Constitution - Having experience for ensuring that the values including Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment are adhered to daily, and any matters of concern are raised with the relevant Line Manager or through the necessary processes within the Trust

Personal Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to effectively manage boundaries as well as exposure to distressing/ emotional circumstances that might arise when working with groups who have a variety of health and/or developmental issues/needs
• Able to use supervision to support and improve output
• Able to be flexible, and to adapt approach according to need
• Able to work to flexible hours (i.e. outside of usual office hours) and in a variety of different contexts

Desirable criteria

• Ability to develop and use multi-media materials for presentations in public and professional settings
• Able to drive, or to travel between different locations as required for the role

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

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