Greater Manchester Youth Federation
Youth Work Co-Ordinator
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Purpose of Role
The Youth Work Co-ordinator plays a key role in the day-to-day delivery of high-quality youth work within the centre and the wider community. Working closely with the Centre Manager, the postholder coordinates sessions, leads delivery in practice, and provides guidance and support to youth workers during activities.
The role supports, but does not replace, the Centre Manager’s accountability for staff line management, safeguarding leadership, and overall centre management.
In the absence of the Centre Manager, the Youth Work Co-ordinator acts as the senior on site lead for day-to-day centre operations and youth work delivery, while not holding line management or strategic authority. This responsibility relates to immediate operational safety and session delivery only, and does not include line management, budgetary authority, or strategic decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
Youth Work Delivery and Session Leadership
- Lead and deliver high quality, inclusive, and young person-centred youth work across centre based provision, outreach, street-based work, community settings, and outdoor activities.
- Co-ordinate day to day youth work delivery, ensuring sessions and activities (on site and off site) are engaging, purposeful, and responsive to young people’s needs.
- Work with the Centre Manager and wider GMYF team to contribute to programme planning, curriculum development, and forecast of events planning including centre based, outreach, and community-based youth work.
- Take a lead role in session planning, recording, and evaluation to ensure learning, participation, and youth voice remain central across all settings.
- Model excellent youth work practice and set clear expectations for delivery during sessions, outreach activity, and community-based work.
Team Co-ordination and In Session Support
- Co-ordinate and support youth workers and volunteers during sessions, providing clear guidance and practical leadership.
- Deliver session-based briefings and debriefings, ensuring staff are clear on expectations, roles, safeguarding responsibilities, and session focus, and that key information, incidents, and outcomes are accurately recorded and handed over when the Centre Manager is not on site.
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and reflective support to staff to strengthen practice and confidence.
- Support the Centre Manager with staff development and performance processes through practice-based feedback and reflective support during delivery, where required.
Safety, Safeguarding and Inclusion
- Act as a key operational safeguarding contact on site, supporting the Centre Manager and following GMYF safeguarding procedures.
- Record, report, and escalate safeguarding concerns promptly and accurately.
- Promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all young people.
- Provide in-session pastoral support by shaping the environment and staff responses so young people feel safe, included and able to participate, using restorative and de-escalation approaches to support wellbeing and relationships.
- Provide timely, proportionate interventions to de-escalate behaviour and support positive outcomes for young people, modelling restorative and trauma-informed practice during sessions.
- Work with external agencies and partners to support young people’s needs where appropriate.
Centre Operations and Activities Support
- Support the Centre Manager with daily site checks, risk assessments, and health and safety requirements, escalating issues as required.
- Lead safe evacuation and implement fire or lockdown procedures when acting as the senior on-site lead in the absence of the Centre Manager, ensuring young people, staff and visitors are accounted for and safe.
- Maintain accurate attendance, visitor, and session records.
- Use Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, Word and PowerPoint) and organisational systems (e.g., Views/Evolve) to support communication and maintain accurate records, monitoring and reporting.
- Support Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) checks and report building or equipment issues.
- Manage petty cash and resources responsibly in line with GMYF procedures.
- Support the effective use of centre spaces, equipment, and materials.
- Open and close the centre safely in line with GMYF procedures when acting as the senior on-site lead.
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Residentials, Projects and Quality Development
- Support off site visits, residentials, holiday programmes, and special projects e.g. Events
- Lead or co lead residentials and trips as part of the youth work team, providing pastoral care and in session coordination of staff and young people.
- Work collaboratively with the Outdoor Education Team, recognising their role in activity planning and instruction, while the youth work team leads on pastoral support and group dynamics.
- Work collaboratively with Youth Work Co-ordinators and teams across GMYF centres to support consistency of youth work practice, coordinate provision linked to forecasted activity, residentials, and external events, and contribute to shared learning and best practice.
- Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes, including funding and quality frameworks.
- Support the centre’s self-evaluation and continuous improvement processes.
Professional Conduct and Representation
- Uphold GMYF’s values, policies, and professional standards always.
- Build positive, respectful relationships with young people, colleagues, families, and partners.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development (CPD) and reflective practice, using supervision, peer learning, and feedback to continuously improve practice.
- Represent the centre and GMYF positively in the community and at relevant meetings and events.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as directed by the Centre Manager.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications & Professional Development
- Level 3 Qualification in Youth Work (or equivalent), or demonstrable experience delivering youth work practice, with a commitment to work towards a Level 3 where not already held.
- Commitment to safeguarding, continuous professional development (CPD), and reflective practice
- Willingness to undertake further relevant professional qualifications and development as required
Experience
- Experience delivering youth work in a centre based, community, or outreach setting
- Experience leading sessions and co-ordinating activities involving other staff or volunteers
- Experience of safeguarding practice, including recognising concerns, recording information, and escalating appropriately
- Experience working with children and young people who face barriers to participation – such as neurodivergence, experiences of trauma, or social exclusion.
Knowledge & Skills
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- Good understanding of safeguarding, risk management, and inclusive practice in youth work
- Ability to foster positive relationships and support young people in managing behaviour through restorative, relational and de-escalation approaches
- Ability to plan, co-ordinate, and evaluate engaging, young person-centred sessions
- Confident communication and interpersonal skills with young people, families, colleagues, and professionals
- Ability to maintain accurate records, including session records and incident logs
- Competence using Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, Word and PowerPoint) and able to learn and use organisational systems (e.g. Views/Evolve) for recording, monitoring and reporting.
Leadership & Personal Attributes
- Ability to provide calm, visible, hands-on leadership during sessions and activities
- Sound judgement and confidence when acting as the senior on site practitioner in the absence of the Centre Manager
- Ability to work collaboratively with Centre Managers, Youth Work Co-ordinators, wider GMYF team and a range of stakeholders including schools, community partners, and families
- Commitment to equality, diversity, safeguarding, and young person-centred practice
- Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy operational environment
Additional Requirements
- Willingness to work flexibly, including evenings and occasional weekends and residentials
- Willingness to complete required training (e.g. First Aid, safeguarding, fire safety) within agreed timescales
- Enhanced DBS check
Desirable Criteria
- Degree-level qualification in Youth Work or a related discipline.
- Experience supporting, mentoring, or guiding youth workers, sessional staff, or volunteers in practice
- Experience supporting offsite activities, residentials, holiday provision, or targeted programmes
- Experience contributing to or supporting monitoring, evaluation, or reporting processes
What happens next?
Please submit your CV, and cover letter outlining your interest, experience and suitability for the role to HR@gmyouthfed.org. The cover letter is an important part of the application and helps us understand your motivation for youth work and your fit with GMYF’s values and approach.
For an informal conversation about this role, please contact: Noz Uddin, Centre Manager - nozuddin@gmyouthfed.org
Other Requirements
GMYF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; the applicant will be subject to safer recruitment checks including enhanced DBS.
GMYF is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
This is a UK-based post, and applicants must be living in and have the right to work in the UK. If applicable, please detail your Visa status in your covering letter.
Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments during the application or recruitment process and we’ll be happy to support you.
Closing date for applications: Monday 10th August, 12pm
Interview Dates:
- Part 1 - Young person - Tuesday 18th August, 4pm onwards - You will be required to come prepared to deliver a 15 minute engagement activity to a group of young people.
- Part 2 Panel interview - Wednesday 19th August, 12pm onwards
Start Date: As soon as possible, subject to the completion of pre-employment checks, including DBS and onboarding
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