Wellbeing Advisor - Children & Young People

Hours: 8 hours per week (Monday- Wednesday 16:00-19:00)

Salary: £25,250 - £27,250 FTE per annum (pro rata), £5,459 - £5,892 per annum.

About ONSIDE

ONSIDE is a charity working across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, established in 1993 stemming from a belief that everyone has the right to be a valued human being and to be treated in a just and fair way. In support of this belief we provide a range of support and services to ensure fairness and equality for adults who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or discriminated against.

We make a difference to the lives of over 14,000 people a year through our dedicated team of experienced staff and volunteers recruited, trained and supported to work as advocates, mentors, befrienders and appropriate adults.

Whatever your role at ONSIDE, you’ll be part of an organisation that is passionate about making a positive difference in people’s lives.

About the role

Join ONSIDE as a Children & Young People Wellbeing Advisor and make a meaningful difference to the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 11–18.

Working as part of the Strong Young Minds Reaching Out programme, you will provide flexible, community-based support across Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding area. You will build trusted relationships with young people and provide support in ways that work for them, including one-to-one sessions, informal drop-ins, brief interventions, workshops and group activities.

You will help young people build confidence, resilience and practical coping strategies, supporting them with challenges including anxiety, low mood, self-harm, relationships and family conflict, school transitions, caring responsibilities and engagement with education, employment or housing.

This is an outreach role, so you will work in a range of community settings, making support visible, approachable and easy for young people to access.

Key responsibilities

• Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people, including those who may find it difficult to engage with services.
• Provide flexible one-to-one, group, workshop and drop-in support, identifying needs and agreeing appropriate next steps.
• Work with young people to identify what matters to them, set achievable goals and review their progress.
• Deliver practical and brief interventions that support emotional wellbeing, confidence, resilience and positive coping strategies.
• Support young people through important transitions, including moving to secondary school and into early adulthood, education, employment or training.
• Advocate for young people and help them engage with other services, including education, social care and housing.
• Develop positive relationships with parents, carers and other important people in a young person's life, where appropriate.
• Plan and organise engaging and responsive sessions in partnership with the Team Lead.
• Support opportunities for young people to participate, volunteer and connect with their peers, including the development of Wellbeing Ambassadors.
• Contribute to outreach events and community activities that promote positive mental health and raise awareness of available support.
• Maintain accurate and timely records, including assessments, progress reviews, outcomes and closure information.
• Gather feedback and young people's views to help demonstrate the impact of the programme and improve our services.
• Follow ONSIDE's safeguarding, confidentiality and risk management procedures at all times.

All ONSIDE employees are expected to

• Work in line with ONSIDE's values, policies and procedures.
• Take responsibility for safeguarding appropriate to their role and raise concerns promptly.
• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and individual empowerment.
• Work collaboratively and flexibly with colleagues across the organisation.
• Contribute to the development and sustainability of ONSIDE.
• Take responsibility for their own learning, development and wellbeing.
• Support appropriate promotional, community and networking activities.

This job description sets out the main responsibilities of the role but is not intended to be exhaustive. Duties may develop over time in line with the needs of the service and organisation, following appropriate discussion with the postholder.

Person Specification

We are looking for someone who can build positive relationships with children and young people, provide practical and compassionate wellbeing support, and work flexibly within the Ross-on-Wye community.

Experience & Knowledge

• Experience of working with children and young people in a paid or voluntary capacity.
• Experience of supporting children and young people with emotional wellbeing or mental health needs.
• Experience of building positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
• Experience of helping young people develop confidence, resilience and coping strategies.
• Understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection.
• Good understanding of the issues that can affect children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.
• Understanding of person-centred approaches and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Skills & Abilities

• Able to engage effectively with children and young people, including those who may find it difficult to engage with support.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to adapt your approach to different people and situations.
• Able to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and manage challenging situations.
• Able to work independently while contributing positively as part of a team.
• Well organised, with the ability to manage your own workload, prioritise and respond flexibly to changing needs.
• Able to maintain accurate records and use IT systems confidently, including Microsoft Office and databases.
• Able to build effective working relationships with families, colleagues, professionals and community partners.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification or equivalent experience working with children and young people.
• Good standard of education.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and professional development.

Desirable

• Level 2 Counselling qualification, or working towards one.
• Health and social care or other relevant qualification.
• Training in mental health support, care planning, safeguarding or related areas.
• Experience of early intervention or community-based support.
• Experience of supporting children and young people with complex needs.
• Experience of delivering group work, workshops or structured wellbeing interventions.
• Experience of working in schools, community settings or voluntary organisations.
• Experience of working with families or supporting family relationships.
• Experience of working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Understanding of trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches.
• Experience of supporting volunteers, peer mentors or young leaders.
• Knowledge of local services and support networks in and around Ross-on-Wye.
• Understanding of the BACP Counselling Skills Competence Framework.

This role will involve working in different locations, and will require you to travel around Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding areas, therefore the ability to drive and have access to a vehicle is essential.

You must have the Right to Work in the UK or be able to independently obtain this by the start date. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Benefits

• 26 days annual holiday (pro rata), plus Bank Holidays
• Your Birthday Off
• Supportive working environment & good work/life balance culture
• Support with continuous professional development
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Company Sick Pay Scheme (after qualifying service)
• Additional Maternity & Paternity Pay (after qualifying service)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to premium Calm App
• Time off to volunteer
• Employee Engagement Forum to ensure our employee’s voices are heard