YMCA Downslink Group

3 job(s) at YMCA Downslink Group

YMCA Downslink Group
Jan 31, 2026
Full time
37 hours per week / £32,565 per annum / fixed-term until 31 March 2027 / working Monday - Thursday 9.00-1700, Friday 9.00-16.30. At YMCA DownsLink Group, is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health. Our Values - we do what s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other. YMCA works to prevent and disrupt the sexual exploitation of children and young people aged 5-25 across East Sussex, Brighton and Hove, and Surrey. We are a specialist team of passionate, dedicated professionals who support each other to work in this challenging area. We deliver trauma informed, consent-based work with young people, schools, statutory services and Sussex Police. The WiSE SOLAH ("safer online at home") project focuses on one-to-one interventions as well as group work, training for professionals and creation of resources to challenge the risk presented from the online space. We have an exciting opportunity to join the WiSE team as a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Practitioner - SOLAH. We are looking for someone who is passionate about safeguarding children and young people, working creatively around promoting healthy relationships, online safety whilst creating safe spaces for children and young people to be heard. You will provide early intervention support to children and young people 5-25 years who have been identified as being at risk of sexual or criminal exploitation. Working primarily across Rye, Eastbourne, Robertsbridge and Hastings , you will support children and young people to stay safe online and within their communities by providing consultation, guidance and professional support to those working directly with individuals at risk of exploitation. As the role involves travel across East Sussex, you will ideally need access to a car and the ability to drive. Your work will include exploring key topics with young people such as risk, healthy and unhealthy relationships, sex and consent, negotiation and assertiveness, protective behaviours, personal boundaries, harmful sexual behaviours, gender identities, and concepts of masculinity. Key responsibilities are: Manage a caseload of vulnerable young people and supporting them to stay safe and leave the influence of perpetrators Work with other professionals to deliver tailored care packages and provide consultation Maintain accurate case records and contributing to timely reports Liaise with Children s Services, Sussex Police and other agencies to disrupt abuse and support prosecutions Deliver training and awareness-raising workshops to professionals and foster carers Contribute to strategic development and deputising at relevant meetings This is a challenging role where children and young people do not always identify the level of risk they are exposed to or the abusive nature of the relationships they are in. The support of victims can be distressing and emotionally demanding for the workers, consequently 1-to-1 clinical supervision, weekly team meetings and regular line management supervision of cases and wellbeing. If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we re looking for. Qualifications, experience and knowledge: Qualification in Youth Work/Social Work or equivalent, or comparable experience working with vulnerable young people Proven experience in safeguarding young children Experience providing casework support young people aged 10 to 25 years old Group work experience with young people Safeguarding children and young people at risk of serious harm Delivering and risk assessing outreach work with young people Knowledge of risks posed to vulnerable young people through sexual exploitation and harmful sexual behaviour CLOSING DATE: Sunday 15 February 2026 at midnight. Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently. An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us. YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children s and Adults Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.
YMCA Downslink Group
Jan 30, 2026
Full time
36 hours per week / £36,530 per annum pro rata / permanent / working two days onsite and three days from home, working pattern to be discussed at interview At YMCA DownsLink Group, is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health. Our Values - we do what s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other. is delivered by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with YMCA DownsLink Group. We offer a variety of support including counselling and psychological therapies to children and young people within Brighton and Hove. We are looking for a compassionate and experienced Wellbeing Children & Young People's (CYP) Lead to support and shape our therapeutic services for young people in Brighton and Hove. Overview of key areas of responsibility: Leadership Provide line management support and supervision to wellbeing workers (e.g. counsellors, practitioners, therapists, link workers and trainees). Work alongside a team of leads to support the running, development and management of the service. Lead induction, mentoring, and training of new staff, trainees, and volunteers. Foster a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement across the team. Core Clinical Carry out individual general counselling assessments of children and young people and make appropriate referrals. Provide guidance and oversight for complex or high-risk cases. Ensure all interventions are evidence-based, child-centred, and trauma-informed. Develop and oversee counselling protocols, therapeutic pathways, and risk assessment frameworks. Safeguarding and Risk Lead and give oversight for safeguarding concerns, embedding a safeguarding-first culture across the service. Work to ensure all counsellors, staff, and link workers, are trained, confident, and compliant in safeguarding practice. Implement robust risk assessment and management processes. Monitor safeguarding incidents, identify themes, and strengthen safeguarding practice. Liaise with schools, health, social care, police, and other agencies in safeguarding matters. Service Development Work with the Service Manager, Leads and Clinical Leads to strengthen and expand counselling provision, including group work. Triage referrals and represent the service in multi-agency triage meetings. Promote and develop opportunities for community participation and youth voice in service design. Build strong relationships with schools, health services, local authorities, commissioners, and community partners. Represent the service at local and regional forums, influencing CYP wellbeing strategies. Please download the job profile (below), which includes detailed role description and person specification. Qualifications, knowledge, and experience More than 2 years post-qualified at graduate or post graduate level Counselling Diploma or equivalent of two years minimum duration including personal counselling or psychotherapy . BACP Registration or Accreditation and/or other eligible Professional Accreditation e.g. UKCP/HPC. Strong team-management and line-management experience is required, including demonstrated experience in supervising, developing, and supporting staff. A good level of understanding in therapeutic or counselling theory and practice and working to short-term models. A sound understanding of child developmental processes, Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding issues and procedures, along with proven experience in safeguarding young children. Solid experience in delivering counselling and/or therapy and assessment, along with experience with dealing with complex cases. Experience of multi-disciplinary team working, with the ability to work within time-limited frameworks. CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 24 February 2026 at midnight. Proposed interview date Thursday 19 March 2026. Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently. An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us. YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children s and Adults Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity checks.
YMCA Downslink Group Crawley, Sussex
Jan 26, 2026
Full time
37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. At YMCA DownsLink Group, is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health. Our Values - we do what s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other. services delivers specialist 24-hour supported accommodation where young people are supported to acquire the necessary skills in preparation for living independently, safely explore their increased freedom of choice and develop responsibilities associated with adulthood, whilst still having the appropriate level of support from an experienced team. We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and support residents into independent accommodation. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building. We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our Ewhurst Road, Crawley team, who will hold a caseload of residents and meet with them weekly to build a support plan. Main areas of responsibilities are: Housing: Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team Coaching and Engagement: Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance) General: Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details. If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we re looking for. This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people. Experience and Knowledge: Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists Skills and Abilities: Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 18 February 2026 at midnight. Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently. An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us. YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children s and Adults Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.