The Youth Advocate reports to a Team Leader. 

This post requires working within the YAP strengths-based model, to provide 1:1 support for vulnerable young people and their families and to support them in their home and local communities so that they can achieve their goals. YAP Ireland provides a strengths-based, needs led service for 6-12 months to children, young people and families who are struggling with a range of issues in their lives. You will work intensively with them to achieve positive change and meet their goals.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• To deliver a 1:1 service to young people and families under the supervision and support of the Team Leader.
• Together with the Team Leader to build a positive, supportive working relationship with the young person and their family using the YAP strengths-based model to help them achieve their goals.
• Together with the Team Leader, to develop a plan of work (Individualised Service Plan) to focus on the abilities, strengths and needs of the young person and their families.
• To carry out day to day work with the young person and family, addressing their needs as outlined in the ISP. This may involve supporting the young person to participate in appropriate education, accessing appropriate services or finding community activities to link the young person into.
• To promote, enable and empower the young person and families voice to be heard and ensure they have a voice in their service/life/community. This includes activity groups, participation and consultation groups.
• Together with the Team Leader, to adopt a Wraparound approach that will bring together those key people and services who can offer support to the young person and family during and after the YAP Service.
• To identify and evaluate the changing needs and interests of the child/young person as the relationship progresses and to adapt the service accordingly.
• To understand the Health and Safety policies required for all activities with young people including any specific medical history, medications and specific special needs and/or diagnosis.
• To complete in a timely and accurate manner the required weekly paperwork and to submit to the line manager by the agreed deadlines.
• To be familiar with all Yap’s current policies and procedures, especially in the areas of Child Protection, Confidentiality and On-Call and to work within those in a professional manner.
• To attend staff development, training and supervisory sessions as scheduled. This will include regular supervision. Some training courses are mandatory and advocates will be required to attend this training.
• To undertake other duties as appropriate.

Advocate Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Life Experience relevant to young people and families e.g. raising children, child minding, sports coaching, 
  community work, volunteering, youth club or lived experience of overcoming the challenges facing young 
  people and families.

Non-essential

• 3 months experience of working / volunteering within a youth work, family support or community setting 

Skills
Essential

• A positive attitude towards children and young people and an ability to work from a strengths based perspective, be non-judgemental and creative.
• A knowledge/understanding of issues affecting young people.
• Good communication skills
• Good time management and organisational skills
• Basic computer skills
• Ability to write reports on work undertaken 
• Full Driving Licence and own transport.