YOUTH
PROGRESSIONS
COACH

Location:  Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone

Contract:  Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Salary:  £24,862.50 - £26,513.37

Reporting to:  Aspirations, Skills and Progression Lead

As our Employability & Skills offer expands through new contracts and
partnerships, we are growing our delivery team to ensure all young
people—particularly those who are NEET or at risk—have access to real,
sustainable opportunities.

As a Youth Progression Coach, you will deliver tailored, person-
centred support for young people aged 14–25, helping them gain the
confidence, skills, and connections they need to transition into
education, employment, or training. This includes managing a
caseload, delivering 1:1 and group sessions, and supporting young
people to overcome barriers to progression.

You will also act as a values-led team member by understanding,
embodying, and consistently demonstrating our HEART values in all
aspects of your work and interactions.

Registered Charity Number 1135949

ABOUT BLACKBURN & DARWEN
YOUTH ZONE

Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone, opened in May
2012 as an independent Charity, but we are proud to
be part of the growing OnSide Network.

We work with young people aged 5-19 (up to 25
with additional needs) and offer youth work, health
and wellbeing and employability services, giving
young people somewhere to go, something to do
and someone to talk to. Whilst our building and
activities provide a hook for young people to initially
engage with us, the relationships they develop with
our team of Youth Workers ensures they return night
after night. We pride ourselves as being one of the
leading youth organisations in Blackburn and
Darwen.

Our service to young people is focussed around a
state-of-the-art, multi million pound facility that is
purpose-built and remains dedicated to young
people. This facility has recently undergone a 3
million pound transformation thanks to the Youth
Investment Fund. This funding has allowed us to
redevelop our Blackburn site to be able to offer a
wider range of services for young people whilst
celebrating the history of the building. Our newly
developed Fusebox is the site where electricity was
first generated in Blackburn. Alongside our history
we also have a football pitch on our roof, this is one
of Blackburn’s best kept secrets!

Our services for young people are needed more
than ever and despite the prevalent challenges
around the lasting impact of the pandemic, young
people feeling isolated and the cost of living crisis,
our team continues to provide a home from home
for young people.

OPENED JAN 2012

FREE ENTRY, FREE
HOT MEALS

5000+

YOUNG PEOPLE ATTEND
OUR SERVICE P/A

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

3 MILLION POUND
TRANSFORMATION

Registered Charity Number  1135949

How we made a difference in 2024

22,834

Young people supported by
Blackburn & Darwen  Youth Zone
since it opened its doors in 2012

17%

Young people with
additional needs

27,095

Free hot meals to young people

Young Person quote

''Youth zone has helped me
make more friends.''

493

Sessions held

66,478

Attendances

Per annum

1,446

New members in 2024

576

Young People
Supported into
Education,
Employment or
Training
(since the launch
of Youth Hub in
2021)

13,337

 Engagements in Maker
Zone ( STEM )

26,639
Engagements in Sports

8,160

Engagements in health &
wellbeing

Young Person quote

“I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t
have the support of the Blackburn
Youth Hub. Through 1-1s they have
given me the opportunity to gain my
confidence back and they have helped
me push my limits even further and got
me out of my shell.”

Registered Charity Number  1135949

Key Accountabilities

Deliver targeted employability programmes for NEET and at-risk young
people aged 14–25
Support young people through tailored 1:1 interventions and group
sessions
Monitor and report on outcomes, progression, and impact against KPIs
Collaborate with employers, training providers, and partners to open up
progression routes
Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with safeguarding and
contractual requirements
Contribute to a culture of aspiration, support, and continuous
improvement

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Help young people progress into positive destinations (EET)
Support participants in work experience, training, or education—including
aftercare and mentoring
Conduct initial assessments and identify individual needs
Input and manage data on attendance, development, and outcomes;
support reporting requirements
Share responsibility for team performance around recruitment,
engagement, and retention
Support participant signposting and referrals to specialist support (e.g.
housing, wellbeing, etc.)
Keep up to date with labour market changes, professional standards, and
local opportunities

Measurable Outputs and Behaviours

Outputs (KPIs & Targets):

Minimum of 70% of caseload progress into education, employment, or
training
Minimum of 85% retention of young people once engaged on programme
Minimum of 85% of referrals convert into active engagement on
programme
100% of young people receive an individual action plan and regular reviews
Accurate records maintained on CRM system within 48 hours of delivery or
contact
All safeguarding, risk assessment, and compliance actions completed in
line with policy

Registered Charity Number  1135949

At least 1 external progression opportunity facilitated per young person
(e.g. employer visit, course enrolment)
Quarterly reporting completed on time, to required standard

Expected Behaviours:

Empowering: Champions young people’s potential and maintains a
strengths-based approach
Accountable: Delivers against commitments, follows through on actions,
and owns results
Solution-focused: Responds to barriers with practical, positive action
Collaborative: Works effectively with colleagues and external partners to
support progression
Professional: Maintains confidentiality, boundaries, and represents the
Youth Zone with integrity
Reflective: Seeks feedback and engages in continuous learning and
improvement
Inclusive: Promotes equity, diversity, and access for all young people

Safeguarding and compliance.

Ensure the charity has a robust approach to risk management, including
person centred risk assessment and risk management processes
To understand and adhere to BYZ policies and procedures and ensure all
staff and volunteers are responsible for doing likewise.
To promote social integration and inclusion, and proactively challenge any
prejudice and discrimination.
To keep updated with any new legislation, policies and procedures related
to primary years

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience
Essential

Experience of providing high quality coaching support that ensures
learners access employment, education or training
Able to build a learners/job seekers self-confidence, self-esteem,
motivation to help them achieve in the world of work and lasting
employment/career development
Identifying skills and qualities in a learner to match appropriately with
vacancies
Progressing learners and job seekers into education, employment or
training and apprenticeships and sustaining them in these

Registered Charity Number  1135949

Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with referral
partners to ensure a constant flow of new referrals
Experience of providing high quality coaching support that ensures
learners access employment, education or training
Able to build a learners/job seekers self-confidence, self-esteem,
motivation to help them achieve in the world of work and lasting
employment/career development
Identifying skills and qualities in a learner to match appropriately with
vacancies
Progressing learners and job seekers into education, employment or
training and apprenticeships and sustaining them in these

Desirable

Experience of providing high quality CV, job search, interview support to
learners/job seekers
Experience of delivering services in the employability sector
Experience of providing high quality CV, job search, interview support to
learners/job seekers

Education/Training/Qualification
Essential

Relevant professional qualification
First Aid

Desirable

Five GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above
IAG Level 3
Coaching qualification

Skills
Essential

Strong commitment to young people and ability to engage and build
positive relationships with disengaged young people
Ability to identify and challenge discrimination and discriminatory
behaviour, taking appropriate action as necessary
Good organisational skills
Ability to plan, monitor, evaluate and prioritise work through setting
realistic targets
Ability to coach others and bring out the best in them
Ability to build trusted networks and liaison with relevant partner
agencies

Registered Charity Number  1135949

Desirable

Ability to lead and motivate a team of part-time staff and volunteer

Knowledge
Essential

Knowledge of approaches including those relating to coaching, emotional
intelligence that ensure people are well prepared for the world of work
Principle of effective youth work practices
Knowledge of the issues affecting young people
Knowledge of monitoring and reporting on key Performance Indicators in
relation to project delivery and contractual obligations from funders and
commissioners

Desirable

Knowledge of compliance on ESF contracts
Co-active coaching

Personal Qualities
Essential

Patience, tolerance and flexibility
Desire to develop and undertake training as required
Embody BYZ values
Outcome and target driven
Creative and enthusiastic
Happy to work flexible hours

Selection criteria for guidance only, alternative methods may
be used to assist the selection process

Values based Practice:
All staff are expected to demonstrate behavioural competencies that
reflect our organisational values in their day-to-day work, and in how they
build positive, respectful relationships with young people, colleagues, and
external stakeholders.
Safeguarding:
Understanding of safeguarding procedures and best practices when
working with young people (Essential). Staff are expected to demonstrate
behavioural competencies aligned with our values, acting with integrity,
professionalism, and respect, and contributing to a positive, responsible,
and safeguarding-focused culture.

Registered Charity Number  1135949

Benefits

FREE GYM ACCESS

33 DAYS HOLIDAY
(INCLUSIVE OF BANK HOLS)

WELLBEING SUPPORT

WORKING HOURS

The hours of work are those necessary to fulfil the
requirements of the position. This will involve working
unsocial hours in evenings and at weekends during
Youth Zone sessions or at events, and also working
during the day.

HOW TO APPLY

Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone is committed to the
safeguarding of young people. In accordance with our
Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this
position requires an enhanced DBS check.

The strength of OnSide Youth Zones comes from the
diversity of the people within our vibrant network. We
are proud that our Youth Zone team reflects the
communities we serve, and we value people working
together from a range of different backgrounds locally
and nationally, and with different experiences, all with
a shared passion for boosting the aspirations of young
people across the country. Diversity brings innovation,
fresh ideas and creativity, and we actively strive to
create a culture that is truly inclusive and fair for all
and where everyone in the team can be themselves
and thrive. The Youth Zone welcomes applicants from
all sectors of the community.

FLEXIBLE WORKING

To apply, send your CV and cover
letter via the Indeed HERE

BIRTHDAY DAY OFF

Registered Charity Number  1135949

Our HEART values are at the
core of everything we do.

Honesty

Respect

Our Values

Excellence

Teamwork

Accountability

Registered Charity Number  1135949