Assistant Children's and Youth Worker

Job advert and further details on how to apply: Join our Team – Ascension

Job Description and Person Specification

Job profile:

Title: Assistant Children’s and Youth Worker

Reports to: Lead Children’s and Youth Worker

Hours: 22.5 hours per week, to be worked flexibly but to include Sunday mornings, Wednesday afternoons and Monday and Thursday evenings.

Salary: £25,654 pro rata based on 37.5 hours per week FTE – (actual pay £15,392 p.a)

Annual Leave: 25 days per year (pro rata) plus statutory bank holidays (pro rata)

Special conditions: There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder be a committed, practising Christian and sympathetic to the aims and objectives of the Church of England.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure

Overview:

In 2019, Ascension’s youth group began with four young people. Following the appointment of our children’s and youth worker, our youth group has grown to an average of forty young people each week. We work with many schools in our community, providing lessons and assemblies, and hosting meetings in our building on a termly basis. Our children’s work has also expanded significantly, doubling in size, and it is clear that the Holy Spirit has been, and is currently, at work. We interact with over 250 children and young people each week, leading young people into relationship with God.

We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Children’s and Youth Worker to help facilitate and develop the work God is already doing, and to advance our work into new areas.

Role Context and Profile:

Ascension is a growing church family in the east of Southampton, serving the parish of Bitterne Park, with a population of around 15,000 people. Our vision is to see God’s kingdom come through making and growing whole-life followers of Jesus. Investing in the rising generation is central to that vision.

As a church community we are passionate about helping children and young people encounter the living Jesus, grow as his disciples, and discover their identity and calling in Christ. We are seeking someone who shares that passion and will bring faith, creativity, initiative and a pioneering spirit to help shape and grow this ministry.

This is an opportunity for someone who sees the unique potential in each child or young person through the eyes of Christ to help support this ministry. We are looking for a creative and pastoral self-starter who can work alongside our Lead Children’s and Youth Worker to recognise opportunities, develop new ideas and create welcoming, engaging environments where children and young people can belong, explore faith and flourish.

Core responsibilities:

• To be proactive in working to reach local children and young people with the love of Jesus to see them come to faith in Christ
• To disciple children and young people to become mature followers of Christ, equipping them to be disciples who disciple others, and helping them to experience wellbeing, wholeness, and healing in a fun, safe, and welcoming environment
• To help inspire the children and young people in our community to live fully and courageously the adventure that Jesus is calling them into
• To guard and grow your own relationship with Christ, including the disciplines of daily prayer and bible study
• To assist in leading and enabling other members of the church to engage practically in mission to and discipleship of young people
• To assist in the running of our Children’s and Youth programmes on Sundays
• To assist in running our Monday Night, Wednesday afternoon and Thursday Night Youth Groups
• To take a supporting role in working with the local schools both in teaching, mission, and discipleship, building on current relationships and expanding the work done here.
• To help to work towards becoming an increasingly inter-generational church, including resourcing parents and wider church family in the spiritual nurture of children and young people
• To help support and develop our youth worship ministry.
• To advocate for children and youth, taking opportunities to teach, challenge and encourage the whole church
• To help in developing our work with young people across the whole of our parish.
• To help at any weeks, weekends away or events we attend with our children or youth
• To help in the administration of the various aspects of our children and youth programmes, such as rotas, planning, and content
• To help maintain the highest standards of safeguarding procedure across the full breadth of children and youth ministries at Ascension.
• To carry out other duties commensurate with the role

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be a pastorally minded leader with a heart for mission, able to mentor young people, equip them to share their faith, and encourage them to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. They will value both age-appropriate ministry and intergenerational worship, helping children and young people become active members of the whole church family.

Working with staff and volunteers, they will inspire others, develop new initiatives and help more children and young people experience the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

We recognise that each person brings their own unique gifting, below are some of the attributes that we believe the right person for this role will have.

Essential

• A committed Christian with a dynamic faith and a servant heart.
• A commitment to sharing, with humility, the Christian faith, especially with young people.
• A passion for young people and for their wellbeing and spiritual growth.
• Experience of working with children and young people.
• Ability to build and develop relationships with young people, parents, teachers and volunteers to help facilitate our kids and youth ministry, and work in the local schools.
• Awareness of and competence in both the administrative and safeguarding aspects of work with young people.
• Ability to work closely with our Lead Children’s and Youth Worker and with our wider team.
• Ability to handle confidentiality issues in an appropriate manner.
• An understanding of and confidence in behaviour management.
• Initiative to seek solutions.
• Excellent organisational skills.
•  Excellent communication skills.
• Experience in, or a willingness to learn, digital communications and social media skills in a work context
• Is sympathetic to the aims, vision, and values of Ascension.
• Familiar with IT systems including Office 365.
• Open to flexible working patterns including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Willing to learn how to use Churchsuite, our Church Management System.

Desirable

• Qualifications in Youth Work or theology.
• Experience working in schools.
• Experience working in detached youth work contexts.
• Experience in volunteer management.
• Experience in being part of a worship band or group.

If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact: Jo on 02380 559074

To apply please complete an Application Form and submit it along with a CV to office@ascensionsouthampton.co.uk

Closing date for applications: 9am Monday 24^th August

Interviews and assessment: Week commencing 31^st August.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to join a service on the Sunday before interviews (30^th August)

Further details on how to apply on our website: Join our Team – Ascension