Project Assistant

YMCA DownsLink Group are seeking a Project Assistant to spend person-centred quality time with young people aged 16 to 25 living in two accommodation-based support services. Lansworth House and Gareth Stacey House offer high quality accommodation to 21 and 15 residents respectively, including large communal areas and garden spaces, providing opportunities for innovation in 1:1 support and group work activities. The experienced and committed teams adopt a trauma-informed and psychologically-informed approach to supporting young people who have been or are at risk of homelessness to fulfil their aspirations and ambitions.

You will work alongside the teams to maximise opportunities for young people to directly influence the service they experience, and to formulate individual pathways of support. This will include 1:1 work, group work and promoting life skills. You will use creative ways to engage young people and will empower them to identify and achieve goals, increase their resilience and solidify their sense of safety at home and in the community.

Top Criteria

We are seeking someone friendly, welcoming and professional to work alongside the team to develop safe, boundaried and consistent relationships with the young people living in the services. The ideal candidate would be someone who has understanding of the key risks, challenges and opportunities for young people and the commitment and dedication to use a range of methods and approaches to enable them to develop and thrive.

The Project Assistant will provide in-house support to maximise residents' life skills (shopping, budgeting, cooking, room hygiene, etc) as well as to seek external opportunities for engagement (signposting to agencies, referring into services, attending citywide events, etc).

Top Responsibilities

• Maximising the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors including health and safety protocols, signing in and out of visitors and guests, fire safety, building and room checks
• Promoting a culture of responsibility to prepare young people for future independence, including confidence building, sourcing and promoting education, work and learning opportunities, paying service charges, managing relationships and adhering to licence agreements and rules.
• Recording all incidents, accidents and safeguarding issues that require further investigation and sharing appropriately with the staff, managers and safeguarding team.

Key Requirements

• Experienced in and/or passionate about working directly with young people aged 16-25 and able to engage and relate well to this age group
• Ability to inspire and work proactively with young people to develop their talents
• A confident and capable communicator with the ability to engage, inspire, enhance learning and provoke thoughtful reflection
• An excellent planner and organiser, with the ability to manage multiple tasks at the same time and keep appropriate records
• Ability to build strong relationships with professionals in other organisations
• A commitment to the aims and values of YMCA DownsLink Group

Expected working pattern: Shift pattern over 7 days, including: Weekday working across both high support services between the hours of 8am-10pm (maximum of 8 hours per day); One day off in the week; One Saturday or Sunday between the hours of 9am-6pm (maximum 8 hours) every fortnight.

Flexibility in working pattern and days may be negotiated, to ensure mutual benefit to the service and post holder.

The position comes with excellent benefits, including 27 days holiday per annum pro rata (plus bank holidays), company Sick Pay scheme, Life Assurance policy (2x your annual salary), Health & Wellbeing cash plan, Employee Assistance programme and Cycle to Work scheme. Please download a job pack for more information about other benefits offered.

Further Information

YMCA DownsLink Group welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We value diversity and promote inclusion, which we demonstrate through our activities, as well as in our policies and working practices. Reinforced by our culture and values, we seek to create an inspiring and inclusive place to work.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).