JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Reporting to: Location: Salary: Holidays: Part Time Activity Worker Youth Worker (Junior Club and Senior Club) Mahdlo (Oldham Youth Zone), Egerton Street, Oldham 7.50 per hour (minimum of 6 hours per week) 12.07% of hours worked

Job Purpose: To deliver a range of exciting activity programmes to children and young people that will challenge, stimulate and provide new opportunities, in line with the Mahdlo six key themes: Get Active (Sports); Get Creative (Arts); Get Sorted (personal development, crime prevention and health and wellbeing); Get Outdoors (outward bound and environmental activities); Get Connected (leadership, volunteering and citizenship); Get Ahead (employment and enterprise). Context of the post: An iconic state-of-art Youth Zone, is under construction in Oldham and due to open in March 2012. Attracting young people from across the borough with its fantastic facilities, the Youth Zone will provide positive activities and practical support, especially for those who are disadvantaged. The aim is to enable them to make constructive use of their leisure time and to raise their aspirations. The centre will be open seven nights a week, at weekends and during school holidays. The Youth Zone will also develop and deliver other projects to improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in the area. 5 million capital funding is secured and building work is well under way on the three-storey building which will have a dedicated sports halls, a climbing wall, gym, boxing ring, dance and performing arts studio and music and multi-media spaces. Also included are a cafe, games and social areas and an outdoor all-weather pitch. Main duties and responsibilities: Working directly with children and young people (8-12 years and/ or 13-21 years) to develop their social skills and build their confidence by delivering programmes of activities, services and facilities at Mahdlo which will take place during the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays and will occasionally include residential work. To directly deliver a planned, high quality programme of activity that is exciting, safe, innovative, developmental and directly responds to the diverse needs, concerns and interests of our members. Offering opportunities and encouraging all children and young people to participate in a range of activities and experiences across our 6 key themes: Get Active; Get Creative; Get Sorted; Get Outdoors; Get Connected; Get Ahead. To establish positive relationships with children and young people. To work with children and young people in groups, 1-2-1 and in outreach settings. To work flexibly to ensure the needs of our members are met, including disadvantaged children and young people and those with disabilities or additional needs. To ensure that our members maintain a high standard of behavior and discipline during sessions. To work alongside Youth Workers, Volunteers and Young Leaders to deliver activities. To promote cultural cohesion and inclusion, and proactively challenge any prejudice and discrimination.

 Ensure the participation of young people in activities and that their ideas contribute fully in the delivery and evaluation of activities. To understand and adhere to Mahdlo policies and procedures at all times with particular emphasis on equal opportunities, health and safety and safeguarding. To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people at all times. To monitor, record and evaluate sessions in accordance with Mahdlos systems. To be an active member of the team and operate in line with Mahdlos values and principles. To take a creative and enthusiastic approach to making Mahdlo a valued facility in Oldham and a leader in its field. To promote a positive image of Mahdlo through your work with children and young people Additional Information: The hours of work are contracted and are variable (minimum of 6 hours per week) and will be worked flexibly in line with the needs of Mahdlo and its key activities. This will involve working in the evenings and at weekends during Mahdlo sessions or during the day during our holiday club. Mahdlo sessions will be delivered in Junior Club (8-12 years) and Senior Club (13-21) and will include: weekday twilight sessions (3.30pm-6pm), evening sessions (6.30pm-9pm junior club) and (6.30pm-10pm senior club), and weekend sessions (10am-10pm) In accordance with our Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an enhanced CRB check. Mahdlo is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Closing date for applications is 12noon Monday 23rd January. Application forms must be, completed we will not consider CVs. Please send completed application forms by email to mita.shah@mahdloyz.org and include the word Recruitment and the position applied for in the subject line, or by post to Mita Shah (Recruitment), Mahdlo, c/o Positive Steps Oldham, 80 Union Street, Oldham, OL11DJ. We will be interviewing between the hours of 4pm and 9pm on the 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th January 2012. Please indicate on the application form any dates that you are not available for interview. Unfortunately we will only be able to notify candidates who are shortlisted for interview. If you have been invited to interview will we have contacted you by the 25th January 2012. For any additional information (but not applications) please contact Laura Windsor-Welsh on 0161 621 9322 or laura.windsor@mahdloyz.org

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Qualifications Introduction to Youth Work or Youth & Community Work NVQ / VRQ Level 1, or a Level 1 Sports Leaders Award Experience Face to face activity delivery, working with children aged 8-12 and / or young people aged 13-21 both in groups and individually Experience of delivering sports and / or arts activities and / or targeted personal development programmes Experience of supporting young people who are disaffected, underachieving and or have social/emotional barriers to participation Experience of working with young people with additional needs and disabilities Experience of working in an outreach or detached setting Residential work with young people Experience of working in a team and alongside volunteers Organising a programme of youth work activities Knowledge and Skills Understanding of the principles of working with children and young people Delivery of activities within an equal opportunities framework Understanding of issues affecting young peoples lives Knowledge of Health and Safety, Diversity Awareness and Safeguarding best practice and how these relate to children and young people within Mahdlo Strong commitment to children and young people and ability to engage and build positive relationships with all young people including disengaged and disadvantaged young people Ability to establish good professional relationships with children, young people and adults Ability to work with young people to develop their social education by providing programmes of activities, services and facilities that are fun and enable young people to develop Ability to coach, encourage, motivate and provide reliable support to children and young people Confident in managing a group of children and young people Ability to deliver high quality activity programmes with children and young people who face social exclusion, disadvantage and disaffection Ability to identify and challenge discrimination and discriminatory behavior, taking appropriate action as necessary Excellent communication skills Personal Attributes Positive and enthusiastic Punctual and reliable Commitment to personal and professional development Able to work in the evenings and at weekends and in a residential setting Desirable