Assistant Youth Worker – Charnwood

Assistant Youth Worker – Charnwood

Job Breakdown

• Employer: Leicestershire County Council (Youth & Justice Service)

• Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire (Primary work base: Mountfields Family Hub)

• Salary: £25,995 – £26,409 per annum (Pro rata for part-time hours)

• Working Hours: 5 hours per week (Monday and Thursday evenings)

• Contract Type: Permanent / Contractor

• Key Dates: * Closing Date: 6th April 2026

  • Interview Date: 16th April 2026 (from 4:00 PM onwards)

• Estimated Average Salary: While the full-time equivalent is ~£26k, the actual take-home for 5 hours per week is estimated at approximately £3,500 – £3,600 per year.

Key Responsibilities

• Session Delivery: Assist in the planning, setup, and active delivery of youth work sessions and community events targeted at young people aged 11–19.

• Engagement: Build respectful, consistent, and approachable relationships with children, ensuring an inclusive environment for all backgrounds and abilities.

• Assessment & Support: Contribute to complex assessments of the needs of children and families who require support beyond universal services.

• Advocacy: Actively listen to and amplify the “Children’s Voice,” ensuring young people are at the heart of decision-making processes.

• Safeguarding: Strictly follow safeguarding procedures, identifying risks and reporting concerns promptly to protect vulnerable service users.

• Collaborative Practice: Participate in multi-agency teamwork, clinical supervision, and reflective training to continuously improve youth justice practice.

Requirements

• Qualifications: A recognized Youth Work qualification or Degree is preferred; however, demonstrable equivalent experience is accepted.

• Experience: Proven ability to engage with teenagers (11–19) and assist in running structured group sessions.

• Compliance: An Enhanced DBS check with barred list clearance is mandatory.

• Logistics: A valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are required for travel within the county.

• Legal: Must have permanent rights to work in the UK.

• Soft Skills: Must be dependable, punctual, and proactive with a commitment to challenging discrimination and bias.

Benefits

• Child-First Culture: Work within an ambitious, forward-thinking service that prioritizes advocacy and the rights of the child.

• Inclusive Environment: Join a diverse, multicultural team that reflects the community it serves.

• Professional Development: Access to regular supervision, team reflection sessions, and ongoing training opportunities.

• Unique Recruitment: Experience a participatory hiring process where children play an equal role in selecting their support workers.

Job Description

The Role Leicestershire Youth & Justice Service is seeking a passionate and committed Assistant Youth Worker to join our Charnwood team. Based at the Mountfields Family Hub in Loughborough, this role is designed for someone who believes in a “Child First” approach and is dedicated to supporting children aged 11 and older as they navigate difficult challenges. This is a part-time, evening-based position (5 hours per week) perfect for a professional looking to make a targeted impact within the Youth Justice system.

The Impact You Will Make In this role, you are more than just a facilitator; you are an advocate. You will work within a vibrant, multicultural team—including professionals from probation, police, and health sectors—to deliver non-statutory and statutory interventions. Your primary focus will be engaging young people in a way that makes them feel welcome and supported. By assisting in the delivery of evening sessions on Mondays and Thursdays, you provide a consistent, safe space for children who may be experiencing significant life hurdles.

We pride ourselves on our commitment to the “Children’s Voice.” You will work in an environment where the children themselves are involved in decision-making, including the recruitment of this very position. Your success will be measured by your ability to listen to these young people and act upon their needs to strive for the best possible life outcomes.

Who You Are The ideal candidate is someone who is proactive and dependable. You should have a solid foundation in youth work—either through formal qualifications or significant hands-on experience—and a clear understanding of safeguarding protocols. Because we work with a diverse range of families, we are looking for someone who understands and challenges bias, ensuring that our service is inclusive for everyone.

Why Join Leicestershire County Council? Leicestershire is a uniquely placed county that blends urban and rural communities. By joining our Youth & Justice Service, you become part of an ambitious organization that is striving to reflect the unique experiences of all its residents. We offer a supportive culture of reflection and learning, ensuring that as you help children build their “brighter futures,” we are helping you build yours through professional supervision and specialized training.

The search for these entities in Newcastle upon Tyne reveals a mix of national government collaboration, shared service partnerships, and a localized management firm. While Nottingham and Leicestershire are geographically distinct from the North East, they are linked to Newcastle through digital recruitment, social care frameworks, and professional service networks.

1. East Midlands Shared Services (Partnership)

East Midlands Shared Services (EMSS) is a formal partnership between Nottingham City Council and Leicestershire County Council.

• Role: It provides business support services, including HR, payroll, and finance, to both councils and external partners.

• Newcastle Connection: EMSS often recruits for specialized Digital, IT, and Business Analyst roles through national frameworks. Because Newcastle is a major UK hub for government digital services (home to the DWP Digital campus), many “Work from Anywhere” or hybrid roles for these councils are advertised to talent in the North East.

• Culture: The partnership is defined by “innovation and efficiency,” aiming to provide high-quality public sector support at a lower cost through shared technology.

2. EAST MIDLANDS LTD (Newcastle-Based)

Distinct from the government bodies, there is a private entity physically registered in the city.

• Location: 45 Rothbury Terrace, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE6 5XJ.

• Nature of Business: Classified under Management Consultancy and “Other retail sale not in stores.”

• Status: A private limited company (incorporated 2021) with active directors as of March 2026. This firm likely provides localized business consulting or acts as a regional branch for broader trade activities.

3. Nottingham City Council

As one of the UK’s core cities, Nottingham City Council interacts with Newcastle-based professionals primarily through academic and social care networks.

• 2026 Context: The council is currently undergoing significant Local Government Reorganisation, moving toward a “much stronger footing” with government backing for continued service improvement.

• Recruitment: They frequently look for Children’s Social Workers and Residential Care Managers. In 2026, they are using “fostering myths” campaigns to attract carers nationwide, including those in the North East who may be considering relocation.

• Innovation: Known for the “Nottingham Accelerator,” a business growth initiative that supports companies in adopting AI and digital tools—often collaborating with tech experts from the “Silicon Alley” corridor that includes Newcastle.

4. Leicestershire County Council

Leicestershire is currently proposing a move to a Unitary Council system (expected April 2027), which has increased their demand for strategic project managers and change consultants.

• Employer Status: Voted by 93% of staff as a “good employer” in recent surveys.

• Specialist Services: They lead the “Shared Lives Service,” a highly-regarded alternative to traditional home care for adults with disabilities. This model is often studied and emulated by social care professionals at Newcastle University.

• Key Roles (2026): Currently recruiting for Strategic Leads in Public Health and Senior Technicians, with many interviews now conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams, allowing Newcastle-based experts to apply.

Summary Table: East Midlands Presence in Newcastle