Youth Social Action (YSA) Apprentice

Youth Social Action (YSA) Apprentice
Fixed Apprentice Salary (£18,000 per annum) 
37 hours per week, with time allocated for training

Lancaster and Morecambe College are seeking a Youth Social Action (YSA) Apprentice for an exciting new role, funded by Pears Foundation, in partnership with AoC. Lancaster and Morecambe College (LMC) will act as the host college, and you will split your time between LMC and two local partnership colleges: Furness College and Myerscough College. 

You will coordinate and manage YSA activities across these three colleges, aimed at empowering young people to take positive action and address local issues, and support our colleagues at Lancaster University to embed YSA into the innovative Morecambe Bay Curriculum. You will actively participate in a national network of YSA Apprentices, contributing to learning and development opportunities around social action. 

A passion for supporting young people and promoting values of justice, fairness and equality is essential to this role. Your previous experience may include volunteering, mentoring and/or being an innovative user of social media. You will need to be qualified to Level 2 in English and Maths, or be willing to achieve this prior to the End Point Assessment.  

You will also need excellent communication skills, the ability to develop good working relationships with students and staff across the partner colleges, and the ability to work in an inclusive way upholding the principles and values of youth work practice. This role will require occasional evening and weekend work. 

In return we will support you in achieving your Level 3 Youth Support Worker Apprenticeship and offer a wide range of staff benefits, as well as the opportunity to work within a vibrant and welcoming environment.  

Benefits include defined benefits pension scheme, generous leave entitlement, Cycle to Work scheme, opportunities for continuing professional development and good staff support services. Please note, CVs are not accepted.

Disclosure & Barring Service: This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Certificate

Please note we do not accept CVs, download the LMC application form

This exciting new role is funded by Pears Foundation, in partnership with AoC, and the apprentice will work towards achieving the Level 3 Youth Support Worker qualification. Lancaster and Morecambe College (LMC) will act as the host college, and the apprentice will split their time between LMC and two local partnership colleges: Furness College and Myerscough College. This role will require occasional evening and weekend work. 

Job Purpose:  

• To raise awareness of Youth Social Action (YSA) and to increase high-quality social action opportunities for learners across the partnership 
• Establish a strong ‘Student Voice’ across each of partner 3 colleges, to help learners develop confidence and employability skills through YSA.
• Engage with the local community to identify YSA opportunities and raise the positive profile of the partner colleges. 

Key Tasks / Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate and manage YSA activities across the college cluster partnership. These activities will be student-led and in collaboration with local and national community organisations and charities to ensure wide participation, impact and sustainability of activities. 

2. Consult with, and empower, learners to take action and address local issues, creating opportunities for them to undertake meaningful work experience around social action. 

3. Actively participate in a national network of Youth Social Action Apprentices and positively engage and contribute to learning and development opportunities. 

4. Engage with local community groups and charities to understand the need and challenges in the area and to identify ways in which students could provide support. 

5. Work collaboratively with Lancaster University to embed YSA into the Post-16 Morecambe Bay Curriculum offer.

6. Complete essential administrative tasks to support the efficient running of the projects; robust monitoring and evaluation to ensure impact is understood and insight captured. 

7. Commit to completing 18-month L3 Youth Support Worker Apprenticeship and 3-month End Point Assessment (EPA) and undertake professional development activities that will develop skills, behaviours and knowledge to enhance employability prospects

8. Other duties commensurate with the grade of post as required.

Please note we do not accept CVs, download the LMC application form

• Contribute to the quality improvement process;
• Work within health and safety guidelines and be aware of your responsibilities for health and safety;
• Adhere to College policies and procedures;
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of young persons and vulnerable adults;
• Value and promote equality, diversity and inclusion;
• Undertake professional development to ensure skills and qualifications are up to date;
• Participate in meetings and events as required, e.g. Team meetings, parents’ evenings, etc
• Work co-operatively with colleagues and show commitment to the College and its mission..
• Adhere to the College Values:
  Community – caring, collaborative and inclusive; 
  Opportunity – accessible, aspirational and transformative

Please note we do not accept CVs, download the LMC application form

Disclosure & Barring Service:  This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Certificate

Experience 

Desirable - Measured by application form and interview

• Applied experience through volunteering
• Experience of mentoring 
• Knowledge of equality and diversity relating to volunteering provision 
• Knowledge and understanding of the Further Education (FE) sector (e.g. significant time spent studying within a FE or Sixth Form College) 

Qualifications

Essential - Measured by application form

• Level 2 in English and Maths (or willing to achieve by End Point Assessment) 

Skills / Abilities

Essential - Measured by application form and interview

• Use of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Knowledge and experience of social media platforms
• Good communication skills
• Ability to build rapport and work with a range of different people

Desirable - Measured by application form and interview

• Effective and innovative user of social media

Personal

Essential - Measured by application form and interview

• Passionate about creating opportunities in YSA
• Passionate about supporting young people, promoting values of justice, fairness and equality. 
• Motivated to learn and committed to own personal and professional development 
• Reliable and flexible approach to work

Desirable - Measured by application form and interview

• Driving Licence and access to own vehicle 

Please note we do not accept CVs, download the LMC application form

JOIN OUR TEAM

Lancaster & Morecambe College is a thriving FE College, rated GOOD by Ofsted and justifiably proud of its strong links with our local community. Located between Lancaster and Morecambe, and within commuting distance of Central Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, our industry-standard facilities attract colleagues from across the North West.

We are excited to be working in partnership with the Eden Project & local partners to develop the Morecambe Bay Curriculum to meet future employment needs and to utilise our wonderful local landscape as a unique learning resource. 

LMC is a respectful, welcoming safe space to work, learn and thrive with high expectations for all. Valued as a significant local employer, we work hard to provide a supportive, productive and fulfilling working environment for our staff. We are always looking for talented and innovative people to join us.

Valued as a significant local employer, we work hard to provide a supportive, productive and fulfilling working environment for our staff. In addition to a friendly team culture and a range of excellent on-site facilities, we offer:

• Relevant staff training and development and good progression opportunities
• Defined Benefit Pension Schemes for all staff (Local Government and Teachers' Pensions Schemes)
• Generous leave entitlement
• A range of family-friendly and other supportive HR policies
• FREE College gym membership
• Dedicated Occupational Health
• On site The Salon, Restaurant and catering facilities
• FREE parking
• Cycle2work, a Government initiative that allows you to make huge Tax and National Insurance savings on the cost of a new bike and safety equipment via a salary sacrifice scheme

Please note we do not accept CVs, download the LMC application form