Young People's Participation & Development Worker

Exciting Job opportunity: we are looking for a Participation and Development Worker

Are you looking for a job that enables you to work directly with young people, make a real difference to their lives and where you can support them to get their voices heard and listened to on a local, regional and national level? If so, then this might just be the job for you.

The National House Project (NHP) is committed to working with care experienced young people, encouraging them to take ownership of their futures and supporting them to live connected and fulfilling lives. The approach was co-designed with young people from the start and is centred around a groupwork approach. It supports young people to move into properties that become their homes whilst also building a strong and supportive friendship network.

NHP supports Local Authorities to establish Local House Projects (LHPs) and put young people at the centre of the decision-making processes Once an LHP has been established it supports staff to work with young people in an inclusive way, encouraging them to find the solutions to the challenges they face. LHPs enable young people to leave care in a planned and supported way, their outcomes are improved, and staff develop a way of working that is relationship based and psychologically informed.

To ensure that young people are involved at every level of the organisation each LHP elects two young people to represent them at the Care Leavers National Movement (CLNM). This forum provides the platform to hear, amplify and act on the voice of young people, who not only support the development of their own LHP but also contribute to developing practice and policy at a national level. CLNM meets regularly, undertakes Peer Evaluations, hosts and delivers their own National Conference and provides an expert user consultancy. Members from this group also sit on the Board of Trustees as expert advisors.

We are looking for someone who is motivated and experienced in working with young people and excited by the thought of working directly with young people and supporting them to have their voices heard and acted upon.

Many people go into youth work and social work to do just that but find that the systems that sit around large organisations inhibit the difference that can be made. At NHP you will be able to use your energy and enthusiasm to work in a creative way, enabling young people to use their care experience to make a positive difference to the way in which those systems support them. You will work with CLNM as well as the core NHP team to ensure that young people continue to drive our work at both a local and national level.

You will need to have a professional/academic qualification in a related field eg Youth Work, Social Work, Education, Health. Current registration with a professional body is desirable. We actively encourage applications from those who are care experienced and will guarantee an interview if the essential criteria are met.

The NHP office is in Crewe. We support hybrid working and currently spend a minimum of two days in the office. In this role you will be expected to travel to LHPs and attend meetings across the country on a regular basis. There will be some planned weekend work throughout the year.

Benefits: 31 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays, 10% Contribution to Pension, Salary Sacrifice Option, Hybrid working, Professional Development

Safeguarding Statement
NHP is committed to protecting the well-being of young people. All staff must adhere to our safeguarding policies.

Recruitment Agencies: We do not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies.

General Requirements: Right to work in the UK, two professional references, and a DBS check.

Find out more

If you re excited by the opportunity to build something transformative, we d love to hear from you.

You are invited to join the Participation & Development Worker online briefing.

When: Tuesday 29th April :00-1:00 pm

Please register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

How to Apply

Apply via CharityJob with a CV and Cover Letter detailing what skills, knowledge and experiences make you the best candidate for the role by Monday 5th May 2025.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you require adjustments during the process, let us know.

Interviews are due to take place on Friday 23rd May