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Youth Support Worker in Charge - Donegall Pass Youth Club

11/24/2025

The Youth Support Worker in Charge is responsible for developing and delivering youth work programs and managing staff and volunteers. They will work directly with young people to enhance their social education and ensure their active participation in the project.

Working Hours

40 hours/week

Company Size

10,001+ employees

Language

English

Visa Sponsorship

About The Company

The Education Authority (EA) was created on 01 April 2015 as a new organisation responsible to the Department of Education (DE) for the delivery of education services to schools and youth centres across Northern Ireland. The work we do impacts the lives of tens of thousands of children, young people and their families every day. The services we provide are essential in supporting, encouraging and facilitating learning within our communities to develop generations of young people who are equipped to succeed in life and work in the modern world. As a public sector organisation, we must continue to deliver these vital services in a challenging environment of increasing financial pressure and under intense public scrutiny. EA is at the beginning of an exciting journey of organisational transformation and modernisation. Emerging from the five Education and Library Boards (ELBs) our aim is to build a new organisation which is focused on meeting the needs of all our young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

About the Role

JOB DESCRIPTION

REPORTS TO: Nominated Officer

RESPONSIBLE FOR: The development and delivery of the agreed programme, the management of appropriate staff/volunteers and the implementation of Education Authority organisational policies.

JOB PURPOSE:

To work directly with young people to develop their social education by providing programmes of activities. This post is for workers that have operational responsibility for a local youth club/project. The post holder will be line managed by the Management Committee providing strategic leadership and operational guidance. The post may involve the development of youth work across a range of settings.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To identify, prioritise and deliver a programme of youth work activities based on need in the designated area, related to the ‘Model for Effective Practice’.
To provide leadership and support for a team of part-time workers and volunteers within the project.
Ensure that young people play an active role in the project and work towards a model of youth participation.
Develop and maintain relationships with the wider community and external agencies.
Provide information and support to young people to assist them to express and realise their goals and to work effectively in groups.
Challenge oppressive behaviour in young people.
Encourage young people to broaden their horizons and be active citizens.
Monitor and evaluate the quality of youth work activities, supporting young people in the evaluation of the activities and the impact of youth work on their development.
Support young people in their understanding of risk and challenge and in taking action to address key issues in their lives.
Implement the Management Committee’s Child Protection Policy and work with young people to safeguard their welfare and the welfare of others.
Be responsible for administration within the project, including financial matters, effective record keeping and ensuring that the administrative requirements are met.
As appropriate be involved in the recruitment, selection and induction of paid staff and volunteers.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.

2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.

3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.

4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.

6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor	Essential Criteria	Method of Assessment
Qualifications	EA Youth Service Youth Support Worker qualification; OR OCN level 3 Introduction to Youth Work and Programme Development (or equivalent or higher).	Shortlisting by Application Form
Experience	A minimum of six months experience working as an Assistant Youth Support Worker (or equivalent or higher) in a youth work setting.	Shortlisting by Application Form
Skills / Abilities	Demonstrable working knowledge of information technology systems including Microsoft packages, Word and Outlook.	Shortlisting by Application Form
Other	Willingness to undertake job related training as and when required.	Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

Factor	Essential Criteria	Method of Assessment
Knowledge	Demonstrable knowledge of the following: NI Youth Work Curriculum. Risk management processes relative to the welfare of young people Department of Education Child Protection regulations.	Interview
Skills/ Abilities	In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of: Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with young people Evidence of good communication and interpersonal skills	Interview
Values Orientation	Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.	Interview

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor

Desirable Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/
Experience

N/A

Shortlisting by Application Form

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background.

Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Key Skills

Youth WorkLeadershipCommunicationInterpersonal SkillsRisk ManagementChild ProtectionProgram DevelopmentCommunity EngagementEvaluationAdministrationTeam ManagementIT SkillsYouth ParticipationSupportGoal SettingEquality