Catch22 is a forward looking social business; a not-for-profit business with a social mission. We have been at the heart of public service delivery for over 200 years, designing and delivering services that transform disadvantaged lives and build stronger communities.

The National Citizen Service (NCS) is a fantastic opportunity open to all 15 to 17-year-olds across England, providing them with skills and experiences that can’t be learnt in the classroom. We aim to support participants' personal and social development and help them develop the confidence, skills and attitudes they need to take on active roles in their communities and develop themselves for their own future. 

Since 2010, 28,856 young people have taken part in Catch22 National Citizen Service (NCS) programmes, dedicating over 430,000 hours to social action and community projects. Over 3,000 dedicated members of Catch22 NCS staff helped make this happen. You could join us and help make our NCS programme even better. Apply now and gain new skills that employers will love.

We are looking for dynamic and confident people to join our NCS team this summer. You will be an organised and confident person, able to engage and support a group of up to 15 young people aged 15 to 17 through an intensive four-week programme including residential trips away from home, local skills workshops and social action activities.

The programme is split in to three distinct parts:

• Week one: Away residential: You will go away with your team for four nights and five days for outdoor adventure, new challenges and team-building.
• Week two: Home residential: You will go away with your team for four nights and five days, to a local residential setting. This is the part of the programme where the young people learn new skills and get to know the community better.
• Weeks three and four: You will support your team to design and implement a project that will make a real difference to their local community.

This role is ideal for anyone interested in working with young people. Catch22 will provide you with all the training and support you need to excel.

Main Duties and Accountabilities

1. Support, encourage and motivate a team of fifteen young people to complete all phases of  the NCS programme, including pre-programme engagement, 2 four-night-five-day residentials, social action planning & delivery and graduation events.
2. Assist the NCS Coordinator/ NCS Wave Leader and NCS Lead Mentor to ensure all necessary and appropriate safeguarding, data handling, health & safety and other legal requirements are in place to protect NCS participants and staff.
3. Work with the NCS staff team to deal with challenging behaviour from young people.
4. Engage and build positive relationships with young people and their parent/carers to provide effective support on a one-to-one or group basis to achieve NCS outcome targets.
5. Ensure programme content is relevant to the local community and builds on existing relationships with partner individuals and organisations in order to provide young people with a quality NCS experience, ensuring they learn community and citizenship values within their local environment.
6. Ensure any matters for concern are reported immediately to the NCS Lead Mentor or NCS Coordinator / Wave Leader and support the completion of any necessary reporting (including safeguarding reports and incident reports).
7. Assist in ensuring in-kind funding opportunities are maximised and on or above target.
8. Attend regular supervision sessions and compulsory training to enable all duties to be carried out effectively.

Other duties

• You will be required to work two four-night-five-day residentials.
• To make sure that you read, are familiar with, and follow all Catch22 policies and procedures, and to read and accept key Catch22 policies.
• To act as an ambassador for Catch22, upholding and promoting our corporate values.
• To undertake any other duties which can be reasonably expected of you within the level of your job.
• This post will involve overnight stays and it will also involve some evening and weekend working.

Essential criteria:

• Experience and understanding of the issues affecting young people.
• An understanding of Health and Safety, Safeguarding and data handling practices.
• Knowledge of the NCS programme.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels, orally and in writing.
• Ability to work on your own initiative to an agreed action plan.
• Ability to organise your own work routines effectively.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues with tact and diplomacy.
• An awareness and understanding of Equality & Diversity issues.
• Punctual and reliable to ensure professional service.
• Creative and flexible and able to work well with others in a team.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Able to work within a flexible timetable and to commit to at least one 4 week programme.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of working directly with young people in a paid or voluntary position.
• A relevant qualification in Youth Work, Health and Social Care or equivalent.
• Coaching qualifications.
• Experience of planning and delivering activities in partnership with young people.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car for work purposes.

Dates: June – August 2019

Payment:

• Support Mentor 18-20 years old: Earn up to £1,184.40 for the Summer 2019 programme.
• Support Mentor 21-24 years old: Earn up to £1,293.60 for the Summer 2019 programme.
• Support Mentor 25+: Earn up to £1,379.28 for the Summer 2019 programme.

Accommodation, meals and transport: Provided for residential weeks one and two

Level of DBS  Disclosure required: Enhanced

Reports to: NCS Lead Mentor

Please note that this particular role will be based in the Wirral area. However, flexibility in where you can work (Liverpool/Sefton/Wirral) will give you more opportunities for a role.