The Inspire and Achieve Foundation (IAF) is a Nottinghamshire-based charity dedicated to supporting young people aged 16 to 26 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Through a range of targeted outreach projects, mentoring and training programmes including work experience and volunteering opportunities, IAF helps young people to overcome barriers and take positive steps toward employment, education and training.
IAF operates across the community, including through its alternative provision and youth hub, and is deeply rooted in meeting the real, local needs of young people. With a practical, person-centred approach, the Foundation empowers young people to build confidence, gain skills, and successfully move into work or further education.
Learn more:
The Inspire and Achieve Foundation www.inspireandachieve.co.uk
Achievement Unlocked Alternative Provision www.achievementunlockedap.co.uk
The ideal candidate will have experience of working with, supporting and engaging hard to reach young people on a one to one basis in community and educational settings. They will have experience of delivering mentoring, outreach or training programmes including employability workshops and will be confident in following the correct policies and procedures to enable activity to be delivered effectively; within health, safety and legal guidelines.
The successful candidate will have a proven ability to engage with and motivate young people who are in vulnerable situations, including those with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs and challenging behaviours. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as the role requires working confidently and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including young people, families, carers, partners, and colleagues. One-to-one mentoring and support form a core part of the role, and it is vital that this is delivered in creative and engaging ways that resonate with young people. We are looking for someone who can build strong, trusting relationships and inspire positive change through innovative approaches.
They will be a creative thinker and confident problem solver, capable of navigating daily operational challenges with a proactive and solution-focused approach. They will possess a strong understanding of what motivates and engages young people, and will be skilled at quickly building rapport while setting and maintaining clear boundaries and expectations.
Given the nature of IAF’s client group, which can at times present challenging behaviours, it is essential that the successful candidate has prior experience working with young people in similar situations and is confident in managing and de-escalating difficult behaviours effectively and professionally.
This is an exciting and challenging role for a highly motivated, dynamic and creative individual who is passionate about helping young people make positive changes in their lives. IAF is seeking an enthusiastic and driven professional who thrives on challenge, can build positive relationships and earn the trust and respect of the young people we work with, and is equally comfortable managing administrative tasks with efficiency and attention to detail.
The post carries a commitment of 40 hours per week. Due to the delivery nature of the role, some flexible working will be required. The post holder also requires regular use of a vehicle due to the nature of the role. Enhanced DBS check will be required.
Finally, and fundamentally, the successful candidate must feel passionately about helping others within our local communities, and must believe in the work that IAF do.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Operations/ Delivery:
- To assess clients, prepare individual action plans and motivate service users to actively engage with EET activities.
- To deliver projects in accordance with funding contract terms and conditions, and meet required outcomes/ outputs.
- Overall delivery and co-ordination of mentoring programmes in the community and within the IAF’s Alternative Provision and Youth Hub. This includes but is not limited to:
- Recruiting, outreach, and generating referrals
- Mentoring and supporting with personal barriers such as poor mental health, housing etc.
- Identifying individual need and how to best respond and support those needs
- Writing comprehensive support plans and action plans for young people
- Providing impartial IAG to young people as required
- Writing CV’s and supporting with Job Search
- Encouraging young people to actively address their support needs
- Supporting young people to make informed decisions about their next steps
- To support the delivery of IAF programmes such as youth led activities, community groups and activities within The Hub.
- Develop and maintain professional relationships and strategic partnerships with local partners such as colleges, training providers and other referral agencies.
- Attend meetings as required with stakeholders, partners, funders, and businesses.
- Develop positive working relationships with employers in the local area and encourage operational level linkages, such as work experience and volunteering opportunities.
Governance, Quality, Paperwork and Policy:
- To follow IAF policies and procedures to enable activity to be delivered effectively, within health, safety and legal guidelines.
- To ensure delivery and associated paperwork is correctly completed and compliant with legal requirements such as safeguarding, health and safety, risk assessments, data protection, equal opportunities, and employment law.
- To actively implement safeguarding policy and procedure on behalf of the charity.
- To uphold quality of provision and integrity of the service delivered to young people.
- To gather monitoring data and feedback across the charity as required.
- Maintain accurate and up to date records, as required by IAF or external funding contracts. These records must be managed in line with IAF’s data protection policy.
- Track the journey of each young person ensuring case notes and tracking systems are updated correctly
- To manage petty cash in accordance with IAF financial procedures and guidelines.
General:
- Help with the management and supervision of youth volunteers as required.
- Assist with the induction of new IAF staff as required.
- To uphold the charity values and be part of an engaged, pro-active and unified working culture.
- To present and promote an appropriate public image in representing the Foundation.
- To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with the post.
- Keep up to date, so far as necessary for the efficient executing of your job, with new legislation, procedures and techniques.
- To maintain strict confidentiality and discretion at all times.
- To supply information as required by IAF
- To attend weekly team meetings
Skills/Knowledge/Experience
- Recent experience of working with young people between the age of 16-26 years who are NEET
- Experience of working in an outreach and community based role with a range of agencies and organisations
- Must have relevant experience in the education/ charity sector
- Experience working within contractual guidelines and KPI’s
- Evidence of the ability to effectively support and build trusting and positive relationships with young people, resulting in positive outcomes and progression
- Experience of recruiting young people to take part in training/ outreach activities in the community.
- Experience of building and maintaining positive and productive relationships with stakeholders and professionals in aid of the recruitment process.
- Experience of managing and challenging behaviour of young people
- Must be able to write CV’s and create action plans for beneficiaries.
- A sound knowledge of Safeguarding children and young people and experience managing such situations.
- Ability to work as part of a team to achieve common objectives
- Ability to complete funder paperwork and achieve performance outcomes
- Demonstrate that you take responsibility and ownership, e.g. meeting deadline, delivering presentations to partners, managing own diary.
Personal Qualities
- Fully flexible and adaptable to the needs of the business
- Caring and Empathic nature
- Team Player
- Attention to detail
- Reliable
- Planner/thinking ahead
- Outspoken/Excellent communication skills
- Confident
- Commitment to Equal Opportunities
- Punctual
- Listen and record information accurately
- Lively and engaging
- Passionate
- Professional
Qualifications
Essential Qualifications:
Level 3 Information, Advice and Guidance Qualification (IAG), or willing to work towards
Safeguarding Qualification/or evidence of training
English and Maths to at least Level 2
Desirable Qualifications:
Mental Health First Aid Qualification/or evidence of training
ELSA Qualification/or evidence of training
IT Qualification/experience
Teaching Qualification
Terms and Conditions:
The post is fixed term for 1 year.
The salary will be dependent on qualifications, skills and experience.
IAG Level 3 Qualified £26,437-£29,000
You will be entitled to 25 daysleave (excluding recognised bank holidays) pro rata.
You will be required to work 40 hours per week
The post holder base is at the IAF offices in Mansfield Woodhouse but will be required to work in Ashfield and surrounding areas
The position with the organisation:
The post-holder will report directly to the Mentoring Manager.
The Application:
THE INSPIRE AND ACHIEVE FOUNDATION PROMOTES EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND WELCOMES APPLICATIONS FROM ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY
The Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Posts are all subject to DBS check.
It is an offence for anyone who is barred by the ISA from working with children, young people and or vulnerable adults to apply for this position.
The post carries a commitment of 40 hours per week. Expected working hours are 9am – 5pm. Please note that a DBS check will be required. Starting salary will be based on experience, skills and qualifications.
Job Type: Fixed term contract
Pay: £26,437.00-£29,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
