Role overview

This is a fixed-term maternity cover role expected to last at least nine months. New Horizon Youth Centre (NHYC) operates London's only youth-specific emergency accommodation program in partnership with Depaul UK, based at the London Youth Hub in Islington. The Hub offers critical support to young people facing homelessness, helping them transition to safe, long-term housing and achieve independence. As Youth Hub Project Manager, you’ll work alongside the Head of Services, overseeing daily operations, collaborating with Depaul UK, and building partnerships to expand housing pathways for vulnerable youth across London. You’ll also lead a small team of Assessment and Resettlement Workers, guiding recruitment, onboarding, and performance while ensuring high-quality service delivery. Responsibilities include accurate record-keeping, case review, risk management, safeguarding, and complex case oversight to support resource-securement efforts and continual project development.

Key details

• Contract type and hours: Fixed-term for at least 9 months (Mat cover)
• Salary: The starting salary for the role is £37,024.00 (pro rata).
• Location: The post is based at the London Youth Hub in Islington. The full address will be shared at offer stage. Regular travel across London will be required, including approximately one day per week to our Day Centre in Camden.
• Application deadline: 9am, Friday 6 December 2024
• How to apply: complete our application form below, submit your CV and write a 2 page cover letter/supporting statement. Please don't include your name or address in your CV or cover letter.

Reporting to: Head of Services – Rough Sleeping

Main tasks and responsibilities

Staff Management

To work with the Head of Services to lead, supervise and develop team members, both individually and as a group, and to ensure that the team makes a full and positive contribution to the achievement of New Horizon Youth Centre’s mission. This will include:

1. Participating in recruitment, selection and induction of new staff, locums, students and volunteers.
2. Leading, managing and motivating team members including volunteers, students and locum workers by means of:
• Drawing up and carrying out planned programmes of induction.
• Setting and monitoring individual performance objectives and targets.
• Holding regular, recorded supervisions, annual appraisals and team meetings
• Coaching and training staff, volunteers, students and locum workers and actively promoting a learning and development environment.
3. Managing the workload of the team and preparing rotas to ensure that adequate cover is provided at all times.
4. Dealing with problems concerning staff conduct, performance and attendance in line with policies and procedures.

Young People's Services

To work with the Head of Services on managing the Youth Hub project and delivering high-quality advice and move-on services to young people. This will include:
1. Supporting the Head of Services in all aspects of the development and delivery of the Youth Hub service, ensuring young people receive a high-quality service from the point of registration to move-on.
2. Development and management of the project to meet the standards required by clients, external assessors and funders.
3. Continued use of feedback and showing a commitment to a service that is sensitive and responsive to clients’ needs, involving:
• Ensuring that all relevant work is recorded both in case files and on the NHYC database system and that this information is evaluated both individually and in teams
• Regular reviewing of key work files and outcomes systems
• Ensuring risk management and assessment procedures are followed
• Client work, advocacy and referrals to other appropriate services
4. Processing and responding promptly and objectively to complaints from clients and other agencies.
5. Contributing to the running of the Youth Hub including coordinating daily work planning, managing Health and Safety and addressing any safeguarding issues as a priority.
6. Assisting with developing satellite services within the service, ensuring that Service Level Agreements are established, reviewed and monitored.
7. Taking a hands-on approach to dealing with complex or difficult cases.
8. Supervising and supporting workers in application for project funds and other resources.
9. Working with the Head of Services on opportunities to scale up the Youth Hub model to other sites in London.

Sharing best practice

To proactively share best practice with internal and external stakeholders in order to maximise the impact of the work of NHYC. This will include:

1. Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with specialists and agencies who might offer resources, funding, or individual services relevant to client needs e.g. Local Authorities, Social Services, the DWP, health services, and other voluntary sector agencies. Formulate Service Level Agreements where appropriate.
2. Working with the Head of Services to research and pilot new systems that will benefit the services and assist in best practice sharing throughout the whole organisation.
3. Promoting and representing NHYC at relevant external forums, meetings and events.

Information Management

To produce and maintain accurate and useful information in a range of formats in order to promote effective service delivery and evaluation. This will include:
1. Recording all contacts with clients appropriately. Maintaining all relevant files and keeping recording systems.
2. Inputting and extracting information from the CRM and other accounting systems. Ensuring relevant project monitoring and evaluation is completed.
3. Producing written reports in a variety of formats to meet the requirements of senior managers, funders and service providers.
4. Being self-servicing in day-to-day administration, including time management, and fully compliant with NHYC GDPR policies.

Reviewing Personal Performance and Development Needs

To be proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement. This will include:
1. Reviewing and evaluating own performance to identify strengths and areas for development. Identifying own learning and development needs and opportunities.
2. Undertaking development and training opportunities and being responsible for obtaining maximum benefit through review, reflection and practice.

Other

To contribute positively and constructively to the development of the teams, service and NHYC. This will include:
1. Acting on behalf of the Head of Services on day to day matters in their absence and contributing to the overall management of the team as requested.
2. Covering for other members of the team as necessary, including at our day centre in Camden.
3. Following NHYC’s policies, procedures and performance expectations in all functions of the post.
4. Undertaking as required any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by the Head of Services, Director of Operations and CEO.

Person specification

We are looking for an individual who can demonstrate the following competencies to a high level and want to use these to the full in their work.

E = essential, D = desirable

Qualifications, Experience and track record

Additional job requirements

• Willingness and ability to work outside of normal hours on occasion (within New Horizon’s flexible working arrangements), including work over the Christmas period when required. (E)
• Willingness to work flexibly in response to changing organisational requirements. (E)
• Willingness to work from different sites including our day centre in Camden and some flexible home working. (E) 

Experience and Track Record 

1. Experience of managing a programme of activities within a youth work, advice or day centre setting, including specialist work and resolving difficult situations with clients. (E)
2. Ability to support staff teams to help young vulnerable people to identify personal goals and support mechanisms for change, including those young people with multiple complex needs. (E)
3. Experience of managing staff and/or volunteers, including coordinating the work of a number of individuals to achieve effective outcomes. (E)
4. Ability to create and maintain effective external partnerships to achieve organisational aims and objectives, including working in partnership to deliver services. (E)
5. Experience of using IT systems (including knowledge of databases to support the achievement of personal and collective work goals. (E)
6. The ability to multitask in a pressured environment. (E)
Specialist Knowledge and Role Requirements
7. Knowledge and experience of effective line management and the ability to motivate and lead staff teams to deliver high quality services. (E)
8. Ability to maintain enthusiasm for contact with clients on a day-to-day basis and a genuine interest in helping young vulnerable people to make changes in their life and move towards independent living. (E)
9. Understanding of the kinds of challenging behaviour that clients might demonstrate and the ability to deliver basic strategies for dealing with such behaviour. (E)
10. Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of:
• Local and National Government policies and procedures in relation to the client group (D)
• Relevant organisations and their role/responsibilities in providing support to vulnerable young people (D)
11. Knowledge of working to performance indicators, including monitoring and reporting on service outputs/outcomes, client tracking, analysing performance information, and identifying corrective action. (E)
12. An understanding of and a commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as it applies to a supportive service and in the workplace (E)
13. A high level of knowledge of health and safety issues in a working environment. (E)
14. Experience and knowledge around safeguarding policy and procedures for children and vulnerable adults. (E)

Additional requirements

15. Willingness and ability to work shifts including occasional evenings and weekends and over the Christmas period. (E)
16. Willingness to work flexibly in response to changing organisational needs. (E)
17. Willingness to travel across London on occasion and to work occasionally from our main day centre in Camden. (E)

Timescales and how to apply

Dates

• Closing date for applications: 9am, Friday 6 December 2024
• Shortlisted candidates will be informed: 10 December
• Interviews: Monday 16 December 

Application process

1. Complete the application form below
2. Upload your CV setting out your career history, education or qualifications, and other key responsibilities or achievements. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME OR INITIALS IN THE DOCUMENT FILE NAME
3. Write a cover letter / supporting statement (no more than 1500 words) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the ESSENTIAL criteria listed on the Person Specification, and any additional relevant desirable points you wish to share. Do not include your name, address or any personal details. This is an important part of your application so must be completed. We recommend you work on this in another text file (such as Word) and copy and paste it into the box below when you are ready to submit.

We do not consider incomplete applications.

You will be notified if you have not been shortlisted. However, we are unfortunately unable to provide each individual application with feedback.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a call to discuss the role, please feel free to email us at recruitment@nhyouthcentre.org.uk or call 0207 388 5560.

Click here to see the job pack in PDF format or the job pack in Word format.