Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Specialist Education Worker, Early Intervention (CSE)
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent: 37.5 hours Term Time Only
Hours
Term time hours - 37.5 hours per week (Term Time Only (38 weeks))
Job ref
847-CW-25-V595
Employer
Spectrum Community Health CIC
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Navigation Walk, Wakefield
Town
Wakefield
Salary
£29,970 - £36,483 pro rata (TTO)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/06/2025 23:59
Interview date
25/06/2025

Employer heading

Spectrum Community Health CIC logo

Specialist Education Worker, Early Intervention (CSE)

NHS AfC: Band 5

Job overview

This role offers an exciting opportunity to deliver direct work to young people affected by, or at risk of, Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and exploitative relationships in line with Spectrum Community Health CIC’s values. The post-holder will be a member of the Sexual Health Prevention & Outreach Service working primarily at a targeted level through the delivery of tailored group work and 1:1 intervention.

The post exists to reduce inequalities and provide improved resilience and protection from harm through early intervention in schools, academies, colleges, and community setting for young people with low levels of protective factors and high levels of risk indicators that make them potentially vulnerable to CSE.   There is no gender bias with this role, and it is expected that the post holder will engage with any young person vulnerable to sexual exploitation.  Young people may be at risk from exploitative relationships including CSE through different channels and it is a requirement of the post that the successful applicant will be able to engage with all those with risk indicators of CSE regardless of channel. 

There is a requirement to be flexible, meeting the needs of young people with their preference to location and channel of communication (e.g., face to face, online etc.). The post requires regular travel around the district and between Wakefield & Barnsley.  

 

 

Main duties of the job

The RESPECT group work and 1:1 programme will promote positive choices around risky behavior and relationships and will raise self-worth in sexual relationships.  The aim of this post is to support children and young people to recognise risks in relation to exploitative relationships and achieve improved emotional well-being. 

The Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) work is integral to the sexual health prevention & outreach service, and as such the post-holder will work closely with the wider team and the clinical teams in Wakefield and Barnsley, including supporting their wider duties as required.  They will also work in partnership with other local organisations including local schools, 0-19 service, Youth Offending Team, and statutory and voluntary Youth Services.  The post-holder will be expected to be proactive in identifying young people at risk in local communities and work in a variety of settings. 

The post holder will work with organisations who contribute to safeguarding children and young people, including the sharing of intelligence and feedback from activity.  

Working for our organisation

BE THE DIFFERENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Join our team

We’re looking for passionate individuals to join our diverse and innovative team.

Whether you are starting out in your healthcare journey or are an experienced healthcare professional looking for a new challenge we’ve got a role for you!

  • Access to NHS Pension
  • Annual leave on your Birthday
  • Welcome payment for some posts
  • Refer a friend scheme
  • Training and Development opportunities
  • Flexible Working
  • Access to Employee Assistance and Health and Wellbeing programmes
  • Up to 33 days annual leave

We have an ambition to become a truly lived experience inclusive employer, changing how we approach staff experience and value personal stories our colleagues bring with them.

We welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who belong to LGBTQIA+ Community and are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and Asexual, people with a disability, neurodivergent applicants and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. 

Spectrum Community Health CIC provides a range of award-winning healthcare services on behalf of the NHS, Local Authority Public Health services, and other partners across substance misuse, sexual health, and health and justice settings. As a not-for-profit social enterprise and Community Interest Company our focus is centred on people – our patients, service users, staff and partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.      Communication and Relationships

·       Engage and support young people at risk of coercion and exploitative relationships in accessing Spectrum’s RESPECT trauma-informed support programme through one-on-one and group-based intervention.

·       To improve the safety and knowledge of young people affected by, or at risk of, exploitative relationships, improving outcomes for these young people.

·       To use evidenced based practice and ensure outcome measures are completed throughout the direct work with young people to support the RESPECT programme aims.

·       To raise the profile of the RESPECT Programme by effectively engaging with local strategic partners to advise on the local picture, share best practice and contribute to the training of professionals.

·       To ensure that safeguarding practice is embedded within Spectrum’s working practices to effectively support those ‘at risk’ of exploitative relationships.

·       To develop good relationships with health care professionals both internal and external to the integrated sexual health service, and other statutory and voluntary sector agencies involved in the safeguarding of young people, ensuring they are aware of the RESPECT Programme and wider Sexual Health Prevention & Outreach services.

·       To review and implement referral pathways into the RESPECT Programme with partner agencies.

·       To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

·       To contribute to team meetings and organisational priorities, strategic goals and key performance indicators.

·       To work according to the Spectrum’s values, policies and Behavioural Framework.

·       To act as a local subject matter expert for exploitative relationships and CSE, early intervention and young people’s risk and protective factors in the local district, providing intelligence on local specific risks both on and offline. 

2.      Knowledge, Training and Experience

·       To regularly review and co-produce a variety of resources with young people to support the work around exploitative relationships and associated issues.

·       To take professional responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own for personal development, updating and maintaining professional knowledge and skills appropriate to the role. The postholder will undertake all mandatory training required, there will be a particular emphasis on safeguarding training.

·       To participate in a system of individual performance review

·       To be guided by the RSE Lead in the development of the role in accordance with the contractual & service and team objectives

·       To participate in the induction programme of new members of staff in the sexual health prevention & outreach service.

·        To participate in health education projects in the district, where appropriate, to both young people and other professionals.

·       To share information, enable access and development of promotional activities, such as showcasing events, safeguarding board activities and conferences.

·       To have knowledge and experience of positive relationship building skills, especially when relating to young people at risk of exploitative relationships and the key stakeholders involved with this work.

3.      Analytical Skills

·       To manage feedback, engagement and outcome data, inputting data onto the database and collating information to produce relevant quarterly reports.

·       To gather feedback from participants and support the analysis of this data to improve service delivery.

·       To provide tailored 1:1 work and facilitate group work activities with a diverse range of young people and their individual needs.

·       To have IT Skills (Excel/Word/PowerPoint/social media).

·       To interpret and respond to data and local intelligence relating to exploitative relationships and CSE.

4.      Planning and organisational skills

·       To be able to work independently and plan own workload, taking in to account commitment to group sessions, 1:1 sessions and professionals training.

·       To complete work in a targeted and time-limited way in line with the project aims, working flexibly to meet with young people at a regularity that suits both the young person, and the intensity of any work required.

·       To interpret referrals in relation to need, priority, eligibility and suitability for programme, and to be able to advise accordingly/refer/signpost to appropriate agencies when required.

5.      Physical Skills

·       Minimal physical effort is required.

 

 

6.      Responsibility – patient/client care

·       To promote public health issues by delivering high quality evidence based small group work interventions and one-to-one sessions

·       To act as a young person’s advocate. 

·       To take account of and ensure equitable access for those young people with more complex needs, such as learning disabilities, physical or mental health issues.

·       To carry out risk assessments as per policy and advise other team members on issues relating to risk.

·       Ensure the safeguarding of individuals is paramount in the delivery of work.

 

7.      Responsibility – policy and service

·       To review and evaluate effectiveness of referral pathways into the service and work innovatively to encourage or make access easier.

·       To understand local and national policies relating to exploitative relationships and CSE, safeguarding of children, and young people e.g. The Children’s Act, Local Safeguarding Policy, Regional Safeguarding Policy.

·       To be able to recognise the limitations of the early intervention programme and refer or signpost on to appropriate practitioners or organisations as required. 

·       To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies, and issues in relation to both the specific client group and sexual health.

·       To establish and maintain good working relationships with key partners and stakeholders.

·       To participate in organisational policy development, proposing changes where appropriate, which may impact other areas of work.

·       To work collaboratively on projects and priorities with your line manager which may vary from time to time.

·       To maintain professional and appropriate boundaries in all work with young people and key stakeholders.

8.      Responsibility – finance and physical

·       To contribute to the effective and economical use of resources and safe use of equipment. 

·       To contribute to cost efficiencies within the service.

9.      Responsibility – staff/HR/leadership/training

·       To engage with training events when relating to safeguarding, both as a provider and participant.

·       To ensure mandatory training matrix is maintained.

·       To maintain personal and professional development including safeguarding supervision.  

·       To provide leadership and guidance to staff more junior to the post holder.

·       To work closely with the safeguarding leads within the service.

·       To participate in annual appraisal activity.

10.  Responsibility – information resources

·       To be able to present data in a recognised and professional format e.g., group/1:1 resource, PowerPoint/excel and word.

·       To write concise, clear factual reports when required. 

11.  Responsibility – research and development

·       To participate in research projects associated with the service and initiate improvements in the service.

·       To be proactive in keeping up to date with current, new, and emerging trends relevant to effective development of health training within exploitative relationships, CSE and the vulnerabilities of young people.

·       To support diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.

12.  Freedom to act

·       The post holder will be expected to make and act on own decision making. 

·       To demonstrate a culture of safe practice demonstrating an understanding of readiness to follow referral process of young people affected by exploitative relationships and CSE, working with the S/G Lead both for the organisation and service.

·       To actively engage in regular internal safeguarding supervision sessions to support professional development and reflective practice.

·       This post does not have a gender bias and  includes 1:1 work with all young people.

13.  Physical effort

·       There is very limited physical effort.

14.  Mental effort

·       There is occasional requirement to concentrate for sustained periods of time.

15.  Emotional effort

·       To respond effectively to frequent situations which can be highly emotive, distressing, and unpredictable.

·       There may be frequent occasions when there are stressful situations in the classroom and other settings where behaviour for learning skills are needed to prevent escalation.

·       The nature of this work would imply that there may be cases which could have detrimental effects on emotional and mental health and well-being and attending safeguarding supervision is essential to support this aspect of the work.

16.  Working conditions

·       The post holder is expected to show enthusiasm for young people and their aspirations and be able to travel independently around the Wakefield and Barnsley Districts.

  

 

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria
  • Degree or equivalent experience including experience of working with young people in a formal or an informal education setting
  • Achieved minimum of Level 2 child protection
  • Understanding of Child Sexual Exploitation, coercion, and sexual health issues for young people.
  • Understanding of Ethical practice including confidentiality & knowledge of relevant practice in relation to safeguarding children and young people.
  • Understanding of Have experience of adhering to safe, effective, and professional working practices with regards to referrals, assessment, procedures, relevant policies, and presenting KPI’s to commissioners.
  • Has effective communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to manage own caseload, appointments and provide a specialist children and young people’s CSE group work and 1,1 support service.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working with and managing risk behaviours and building resiliency.
  • Experience of working (employed or voluntary capacity) with people experiencing CSE/grooming.
  • Recent experience of successfully delivering support interventions to young people in an education or community setting.
  • Have experience of diverse youth work: different client groups different settings different styles and be able to adapt session materials to these.
  • Can manage behaviour and conflict and find appropriate resolutions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDApprenticeships logoPositive about disabled peopleDisability confident leaderMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Andi Cope
Job title
RSE Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07900607646
Additional information

Email is preferred contact

Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies