Youth Participation Worker

Job description

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for an exceptional Youth Participation Worker to amplify the voices of some of Devon's most vulnerable and marginalised children and young people.

The post will work across Devon Youth Justice Service (YJS), LINKS and YSMART, supporting children whose lives are often impacted by significant adversity, trauma and risk.

Devon Youth Justice Service (YJS) works with children who have entered the youth justice system or are at risk of doing so, helping them achieve positive outcomes whilst preventing further offending.

LINKS supports adolescents who are experiencing harm outside the home, including child criminal exploitation, child sexual exploitation, serious youth violence, missing episodes and other complex safeguarding concerns.

YSMART provides support for young people affected by substance use and related vulnerabilities, helping them reduce harm and make positive choices.

The children and young people supported by these services often face multiple and interconnected challenges, including trauma, abuse, exploitation, family breakdown, school exclusion, mental health difficulties, substance use, offending behaviour and involvement in serious violence. Many have experienced repeated involvement with statutory services and may be reluctant to engage or share their views.

This is not a desk-based participation role. Success requires energy, persistence, creativity and determination. You will need to find innovative ways to build relationships, earn trust and create meaningful opportunities for young people to influence the services designed to support them. At times, engaging with young people may require considerable patience, flexibility and tenacity.

Your work will ensure that children's voices are heard, valued and used to improve practice, policy and service delivery across Devon.

Key Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with children and young people across YJS, LINKS and YSMART.
• Develop and deliver creative participation activities, both individually and in groups.
• Design innovative approaches to engage young people who may be reluctant to participate through traditional methods.
• Lead consultation, co-production and engagement activities that actively shape service development.
• Ensure children's views, experiences and ideas influence decision-making at both operational and strategic levels.
• Capture and communicate the lived experiences of young people to professionals, managers and strategic leaders.
• Work collaboratively with social care, education, health, police and voluntary sector partners.
• Promote Child First, trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches throughout your work.
• Support children and young people to develop confidence, influence and a sense of belonging within their communities.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with vulnerable adolescents facing multiple and complex needs.
• Can engage young people who may be resistant, distrustful or difficult to reach.
• Is highly creative and able to develop innovative approaches to participation and engagement.
• Understands the impact of trauma, exploitation, substance use, offending behaviour and contextual safeguarding risks.
• Is passionate about children's rights, participation and co-production.
• Is resilient, adaptable and able to work flexibly in response to the needs of young people.
• Can build strong relationships with children, families and professionals.
• Has excellent communication, facilitation and relationship-building skills.
• Believes that every child deserves to be heard and has the potential to thrive.
• A full driving licence and access to a car is useful for this role which involves meeting young people across the County

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of services for some of Devon's most vulnerable young people.

You will:

• Champion the voices of children and young people whose experiences are often overlooked.
• Help shape services that respond more effectively to exploitation, harm and adversity.
• Work across innovative adolescent and youth justice services.
• Be part of a passionate and committed team dedicated to improving outcomes for children.
• Make a genuine difference to the lives of young people and communities across Devon.

If you are passionate about participation, believe in the power of children's voices, and have the creativity and determination to engage those who are often hardest to reach, we would love to hear from you.