Pathways Youth Worker

Role Information

Location : The Shrewsbury House Youth & Community Centre (The Shewsy), Liverpool, L5 3PE 

Salary : £29,000 – £31,000 (depending on experience) 

Hours : Full-time (37 hours per week, including 3 evenings per week) 

Contract : Permanent 

Annual Leave : 22 days + bank holidays

Benefits : NEST Pension, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Professional development opportunities 

Role Summary

The Pathways Youth Worker is responsible for supporting young people aged 16–19 who are not in education, employment, or training to move away from harm and progress towards positive, sustainable futures.

They build trusted, consistent relationships with young people facing complex barriers, providing tailored one-to-one support that promotes independence, resilience, and informed decision‑making. Through skilled assessment, planning, and delivery of targeted interventions, they help young people reduce risk, disengage from harmful lifestyles, and develop the confidence and life skills needed for adulthood.

Working in partnership with families, local services, and professional networks, the Pathways Youth Worker ensures young people receive coordinated, high-quality support that is rooted in safeguarding, youth voice, and strengths-based practice. Their work enables young people to access education, training, or employment and to sustain positive change over time.

Key Responsibilities

1. Engagement, Intervention & Relationship Building 

• Assess individual needs and risks, then design and deliver tailored interventions, both one-to-one and in groups, to support behaviour change and personal progression.
• Use trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches to build trust and promote positive change
• Empower young people to set and take ownership of their own goals and progression plans
• Coach and guide young people in developing life skills, emotional regulation, and positive decision-making, while constructively challenging and supporting them to leave harmful behaviours behind.
• Maintain comprehensive case management records, documenting interventions, progress, and outcomes for each young person

2. Pathways, Partnerships & Opportunity Creation 

• Build strong relationships with local employers, training providers, and community organisations to develop pathways into employment, apprenticeships, and further education
• Work in partnership with schools, colleges, youth offending services, and other agencies
• Advocate for young people with employers, colleges, and agencies to overcome barriers to engagement
• Support young people to sustain placements, courses, or employment through ongoing mentoring
• Track progression destinations and longer-term outcomes

3. Work Readiness & Life Skills Development 

• Ensure life skills delivery directly supports young people’s readiness for work, training, and independent adulthood, including.
• Prepare young people for the world of work by developing their CV writing and application skills, equipping them for interviews, and fostering an understanding of workplace expectations and behaviours.
• Support access to accreditation and recognised qualifications where appropriate

Additional Responsibilities 

• Maintain clear professional boundaries and work in line with safeguarding, data protection, and information-sharing policies
• Contribute to risk management and contextual safeguarding discussions where required
• Create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment
• Contribute to wider youth provision where needed
• Work flexibly to meet the needs of young people, including evening work, with patterns reviewed as engagement becomes established
• Contribute to continuous improvement and organisational development

Person Specification

Essential

• Level 3 (or above) qualification in Youth Work or related field
• Experience working with 16–19-year-olds, particularly those who are NEET or at risk
• Experience delivering targeted interventions and behaviour change support Strong relationship-building and engagement skills
• Ability to assess risk and develop intervention plans Experience working in partnership with external agencies
• Understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries Strong organisational and communication skills
• Experience managing a caseload and evidencing outcomes
• Ability to maintain high-quality case notes and monitoring data
• Confidence working with young people experiencing multiple and complex needs

Desirable

• Knowledge of youth justice, exploitation, or contextual safeguarding
• Experience supporting young people into employment or training Understanding of emotional regulation or trauma-informed practice
• Knowledge of the local Liverpool context
• Understanding of employability frameworks, NEET reduction, or transition programmes
• Experience of delivering group programmes or structured courses Knowledge of benefit systems, post-16 pathways, or barriers to participation

Personal Qualities

Passionate about improving outcomes for young people 

Able to challenge and support in equal measure 

Resilient and calm under pressure 

Proactive and solutions-focused 

Able to work independently, using professional judgement while maintaining accountability 

Committed to The Shewsy value: People matter more than things