Alternative Education Youth Worker
Salary: £24,912.17 - £27,505.05 - Grade 2
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday, Term Time (41 weeks)
Reports to: Deputy Manager / Tutor
DBS: Enhanced check required
Our values:
- Ambitious – Striving for excellence in everything we do
- Brave – Fearless in our boldness
- Creative – exploring innovation and embracing change
- Collaborative – feeling valued and adding value
Purpose of Role
The purpose of the role is to build positive, trusted relationships with young people aged 14–16 (KS3–KS4) and young people who are NEET, supporting them to re-engage with education, develop confidence and emotional resilience, and achieve positive educational, personal and social outcomes.
Working within Petty Pool's trauma-informed, therapeutic and SEND-led Alternative Education provision, the Youth Worker will provide mentoring, pastoral support and experiential learning that enables learners to overcome barriers to learning and prepare successfully for their next stage of education, employment or training.
The role combines youth work, mentoring, learning support and outdoor education, recognising that positive relationships are central to successful alternative education.
Key Responsibilities
Learner Relationships
- · Build positive, trusting relationships that promote attendance, engagement and wellbeing.
- Act as a consistent and positive role model, encouraging confidence, resilience and learner voice.
- Support learners to develop emotional regulation, self-esteem and positive relationships.
- Create an emotionally safe, inclusive environment where every learner can succeed.
Learning Support
- · Support learners to access classroom, vocational and outdoor learning.
- Adapt approaches to meet individual SEND, SEMH and communication needs.
- Reinforce agreed strategies identified within EHCPs, behaviour support plans and risk assessments.
- Deliver one-to-one and small group mentoring to develop confidence, teamwork and resilience.
- Support tutors during learning activities, promoting independence and positive engagement.
Behaviour and Wellbeing
- · Promote positive behaviour using trauma-informed and restorative approaches.
- Support learners experiencing emotional dysregulation and de-escalate challenging situations safely.
- Encourage learners to reflect, take responsibility and develop positive coping strategies.
Outdoor and Experiential Learning
- Support the delivery of outdoor education, environmental projects and experiential learning activities.
- Encourage teamwork, confidence, resilience and personal development through practical learning.
- Supervise learners safely during off-site visits and community-based activities.
Personal Development
- Support learners to develop communication, confidence, independence, teamwork, emotional regulation, employability skills and preparation for adulthood.
- Record and monitor learner progress using RARPA or other agreed systems.
Safeguarding
- Safeguard learners in accordance with statutory guidance and Petty Pool policies.
- Recognise and report safeguarding concerns promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy DSL.
- Contribute to learner risk assessments, behaviour support plans and wellbeing reviews.
- Promote safe working practices across indoor, outdoor and community learning environments.
Partnership Working
- Work collaboratively with tutors, commissioning schools, parents/carers and external professionals to support learner progress.
- Liaise effectively with Local Authority services, SEND teams, CAMHS, Social Care, Youth Justice, Virtual School, Early Help and other partner agencies as required.
- Work alongside the Outdoor Education team to deliver high-quality "Learning Without Walls" experiences.
Recording and Administration
- Maintain accurate learner records, including CPOMS entries, progress records, behaviour logs and attendance information.
- Monitor attendance and follow agreed procedures where learners fail to attend.
- Contribute to individual, dynamic and educational visit risk assessments.
Professional Responsibilities
- Participate in regular supervision, reflective practice and professional development.
- Work in accordance with Petty Pool policies, procedures and values.
- Contribute positively to the ongoing development of the Alternative Education provision.
Person Specification
Essential
- Commitment to Petty Pool’s values of Brave, Ambitious, Collaborative and Creative
- Qualification in Youth Work, Mentoring, Education Support or a related field (or eqivualent experience)
- Experience supporting young people in education, youth work or community settings
- Experience supporting vulnerable young people with SEND an/or SEMH
- Understanding of trauma-informed practice, SEND, SEMH and EHCPs
- Ability to build positive, trusting relationships and maintain professional boundaries
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to use restorative and relational approaches to behaviour
- Calm, resilient and emotionally intelligent approach to challenging situations
- Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to maintain accurate learner records and contribute to safeguarding processes
Desirable
- Level 3 Youth Worker qualification
- Experience within Alternative Education
- Experience of outdoor learning or forest school
- Outdoor education or activity qualifications
- First Aid Qualification
- Mental Health First Aid
- Safeguarding Level 3
- Training in Autism, ADHD or related SEND areas
- Knowledge of RARPA
Staff Benefits:
- Working 41 weeks per year (term time) 11 weeks holiday
- On-site parking
- Company Sick pay (after passing probationary period)
- Employee Assistant Programme
- Free meals when commuting by car sharing, walking, or cycling
- Bike rack
- Eye care vouchers
- Company pension
- Smart casual dress
Closing Date: Friday 31st July 2026
Interviews will take place 12th or 13th August 2026
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £24,912.17-£27,505.05 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
