Job Pack

All you need to know about working at Spark2Life

Introduction

We are delighted you are considering applying for a role at Spark2Life. We are a small, dedicated team who work with young people, families, professionals, volunteers, and partners to deliver a wide range of programmes which align with our mission. We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join our team; someone committed to reduce violence affecting young people and who wants to work with likeminded people to make a difference. This information pack contains important information about the organisation, and the specific role you will be applying for. Please read it carefully.

To request this information in other formats, or if you have any queries, please contact recruitment@spark2life.co.uk

About Spark2Life

Spark2Life is a community inspired charity. We have been running programmes since 2006 and we operate in London and Kent.

Our mission: Spark2Life exists to Prevent Harm & Promote Life.

We work to reduce the risk of children & young adults entering the cycles of offending.

We empower people through holistic therapeutic support to overcome adversity and promote wellbeing.

We advocate for equitable systems across the communities we serve.

How we work: We work in schools and the community providing a wraparound type of support to young people who are impacted by violence and criminal exploitation. We support their families and we train professionals in the sector to strengthen the support young people receive. Our programmes include: Mentoring; Casework; Detached work; Advocacy; Counselling; Awareness.

Our values

Hope

Through working together we aim to present SMART goals so those we support can reach and achieve what they do not have but need to become their best selves.

Justice

A wholistic person centred approach to justice. People may be dually convicted, but we need to make sure they are not un-fairly treated and sentenced.

Advocacy

We are committed to speaking up and standing up for those we represent and advocate for and with. We are passionate when it comes to fighting for racial and social justice to address issues of inequality and equity.

Transformation

Offer new perspectives of thinking that influences a person’s behaviour.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness can be hard to give and at times receive but carries so much power that when processed can lead to true freedom. If we want to receive forgiveness, we must learn to offer forgiveness.

Integrity

Our action must match our words and we must speak from a place of truth and honesty seasoned with love and compassion.

Love

To offer unconditional positive regard and to show the outworking of our love through acts of service especially for those deemed less deserving due to their offending history.

Wellbeing

Looking after oneself is important and rest is a necessity. Selfawareness and finding a healthylife rhythm is key to physical, emotional, and mental well-being. We seek to foster an environment that is supportive, accountable, and honest with ourselves and one another. We can only give out of what we have.

“Every role at Spark2Life is critical to our mission to keep young people safe from harm and violence, including this role. Spark2Life is an inclusive employer and keen to attract diverse talent”.

Dez Brown - CEO & Founder of Spark2Life

Casework Mentor

Salary:

£27,000

Annual leave: 25 days a year plus England Bank Holidays

Hours: Full-time (37.5k hrs/week)

Location: London

Duration: Fixed-term contract (until 31 March 2027)st

Reports to: Senior Co-ordinator

About the role

A Casework Mentor works with young people and young adults who are at risk of or who have actual involvement in criminal activity and/or serious youth violence.

As a Casework Mentor you will work directly with children, young people or young adults aged 11-30 years old who have been involved in anti-social behaviour, offending or gang related activity. You will manage a caseload of service users, providing mentoring, advocacy and support with problem solving and engagement in education, training and employment.

Job Description

Duties & Key Responsibilities

Take on a caseload of up to 15 young people and/or adults (11-30yrs old) who are known to the Youth Justice System (YJS) or Probation

Deliver bespoke 1:1 mentoring sessions looking at clients’ values, beliefs, behaviour and reasoning skills

Provide clients on your caseload with advocacy, information and support with problem solving

Motivate clients to access positive opportunities towards change

Source pathways for education, training and employment

Work with clients in the community or visit them at home, in school or in prison

Provide regular updates to clients’ professional network

Attend professional’s meetings with partners and external agencies

Support clients’ families by signposting to suitable services

Keep clear and up-to-date case work files on the information management system

Monitor the progress of clients using tools provided by Spark2Life

Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of projects

Deliver grant funded programmes that fall in line with your job description

Monitoring & Evaluation

Accurately document all client interaction on Spark2LIfe’s case

management database (ChildView), always working in line with Spark2LIfe’s case management policy

Work in line with GDPR, maintaining confidential service-user records of interventions and contact details in line with Spark2LIfe’s case management policy

Support in the collation and production of reports as requested, including ensuring that appropriate recording, monitoring and evaluation of work is completed to set deadlines

Carry out any administrative tasks, monitoring, evaluation and reporting as required

Person Specification

Qualifications

A qualification is not as important to us as relevant life experience, practical abilities and leadership skills relating to our organisational purpose

Excellent level of communication and interpersonal skills

Evidence of recent continued professional development in a professional area relevant to the post would be desirable

Skills, abilities & knowledge

The ability to access and correspond effectively with multi-agencies to offer offenders support

The ability to offer offenders some 1:1 life coaching/mentoring

The ability to present as a good role model to offenders and help them achieve their potential

Have a knowledge and understanding of child protection and health and safety practices and procedures

Have good listening skills

The ability to communicate effectively with people, families, social services and a range of other professionals

Knowledge and awareness of issues and factors related to gang involvement and reoffending

The ability to exercise initiative, work independently and take responsibility for the delivery of a programme

The ability to work flexibly and source referral pathways for service users

The ability to work effectively in a team and to work with individuals, institutions and organisations

The ability to communicate well through a variety of means (verbally, in writing and electronically)

Ability to use ICT for administration

Have an understanding and awareness of equal opportunities, experience of strategies to promote equality of opportunity and a commitment to work within our Equal Opportunities Policy

Personal Qualities

Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities and an ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.

Undertake training as required.

Commitment to the core values and ethos of Spark2Life which is based on Christian Principles.

Interested and motivated to further own skills and knowledge.

Desirable Experience & Qualities

Working with offenders who present challenges and lack motivation

Motivating offenders to access positive opportunities towards change

Managing caseloads with a difficult client group

Working with partner organisations/professionals

Excellent communication and presentation skills to groups

Experience of facilitating group mentoring

The ability to write sessions for various audiences

Evidence of relevant training and/or professional development with this client group or associating factors i.e. drugs etc.

Knowledge and experience of working with multiple support agencies

Can drive and have a car

Being part of the team

At Spark2Life we want people to grow and succeed

Alongside our values, we expect everyone to display the behaviours needed to contribute to our vision and purpose. In return we seek to offer an inclusive, rewarding, and collaborative environment and several benefits.

Stay and grow

25 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays per year

Annual performance review with development plans

Manage your attendance, expenses and development via easy to use online Bright HR system and app

Discounts for services and products via Bright HR system

Free access to counselling

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Team building sessions throughout the year

Interview Process

All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a first stage online interview for 15min

All successful first stage applicants will be invited to attend a final stage interview at the Spark2Life Head Office in Walthamstow. This interview will include a task and a face-face panel interview.

Deadline for applications:

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis as suitable applications are received.
We encourage early applications to avoid disappointment.

Interviews to be held on:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the vacancy will remain open until a suitable candidate is appointed. Interviews will be arranged as applications are received.

How to apply

To apply for this post, please complete an application form

Please note that a job offer will be conditional on the receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Equal opportunities matter

Spark2Life is committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background.

If you would like to discuss your application, or have any queries about our work, please contact recruitment@spark2life.co.uk.