Why work for Manchester Youth Zone

• Annual leave entitlement of 33 days (pro-rata)
• We are committed to training and developing our staff, which will include a full induction and access to internal and external training opportunities
• We care about your wellbeing – Access to our EAP, an extra holiday day for your birthday, and onsite gym and sports facilities
• 5% pension contribution
• You will be part of our mission to positively impact the lives of young people in North Manchester

Manchester Youth Zone first opened to young people in 2012 as an independent charity. Located in Harpurhey enables Manchester Youth Zone to reach those young people who need “Somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to”. At Manchester Youth Zone, we have a shared purpose to create passion and pathways for every young person we work with, we do this through providing a safe and welcoming environment, high quality youth work and promoting inclusion, resilience and aspirations.

We work with young people aged 8-19 and up to 25 for those with additional needs offering a universal programme each evening that will energise and excite our members. Manchester Youth Zone has an excellent reputation in a number of areas including safeguarding, delivering high quality universal services for young people and responding to the needs of our community. We are committed to ensuring that all young people have opportunities to thrive and meet their full potential.

Job Description

Our Youth Work Manager - Juniors will be responsible for leading our centre based open access youth & play work sessions for young people aged 8-11 years old. You will be able to plan and manage youth and play workers to deliver a range of fun and exciting activities to children and young people that will nurture their potential and help them stretch themselves and grow whilst providing them with new opportunities, ensuring a consistently high standard of programming. The successful applicant will have a strong youth and/or play work background (qualified to at least Level 2), management experience and a passion for driving excellence in all provisions.

Key Duties

• Effectively line manage all direct reports assigned to you by management through effective supervision and team meetings (including leading training sessions where required), ensuring the delivery of high quality, impactful youth and play work.
• To be responsible for leading on the programming of open access sessions for young people ages 8-11 years old, using the national youth work curriculum and youth voice to meet the needs of children and young people.
• Lead a minimum of two sessions each week and be part of the delivery team on two other sessions each week.
• To manage and report on all assigned funder/stakeholder contracts and ensure that all KPIs and delivery outcomes are met.
• To be responsible for ensuring that all sessions are fully staffed in order to run safely and provide fun, exciting and developmental activities throughout the week.
• Support HR to recruit & induct new staff members when necessary, as well as support on staff investigations when required.
• Work with all youth & play workers to implement the behaviour management policy, individual safety plans and activity/building risk assessments.
• To support the quality assurance of youth work sessions by observing practice, reviewing delivery, and providing constructive feedback to staff.
• To contribute to staff development by identifying training needs and supporting the planning and delivery of relevant training sessions.
• Work in collaboration with the staff team to incorporate targeted activities into the open access sessions
• To drive and champion inclusion, diversity and equity across all youth programs and within the wider organisation.
• To ensure that delivery models, activities and environments are fully inclusive, welcoming and representative of the diverse youth communities served.
• To take responsibility for inclusion within the juniors age group, including conducting new members meetings for junior inclusion members.
• Ensure all briefing and debrief sheets are completed to a high standard, capturing data that will inform and guide future planning of sessions, share challenges/gaps with senior managers and demonstrate impact.
• To provide high quality supervision and support for youth & play workers, ensuring the staff team and any external agencies are following and adhering to all MYZ policies and procedures at all times, with particular reference to health & safety, equal opportunities, safeguarding and data protection.
• Ensure that risk assessments are up to date for all centre based activities and spaces, staff teams are following policies and procedures with regards to health & safety.
• To cover other staff members and work on other youth sessions when instructed by management.
• To establish positive and engaging relationships with young people from a range of backgrounds in order to gain feedback of services.
• Ensure youth voice is used to shape the youth & play programme.
• To establish positive and engaging relationships with schools, community groups and partners to ensure sessions are busy and the offer is varied.
• To work effectively and positively alongside HR, using your sector expertise to take part in interviews and inform the recruitment and workforce development strategies.
• Ensure Salesforce and MeApps are used effectively and kept up to date so that statistics are relevant and accurate to demonstrate impact.
• Undertake regular training and development relevant to the role.
• Actively address any bullying, harassment, or discrimination, promoting cohesion, inclusion, and positive relationships
• To understand and adhere to MYZ policies and procedures at all times with particular emphasis on equal opportunities, positive behaviour management, health and safety and safeguarding.
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people at all times, managing any safeguarding issues should they arise (training provided).
• To be an active member of the team and operate in line with the Charity’s expectations, values and principles. Work a flexible pattern including evenings and weekends in line with the role/team requirements.
• Carry out any other duties as may be reasonably determined by your line manager and be flexible to attend trips including residential trips, events and training sessions.
• Promote a positive image of MYZ through professionalism and good conduct with all our stakeholders and the public.