Youth Worker, Bradford (September 2026 start)

Youth Worker – Alternative Provision Setting
📍 Bradford
🕒 Full-time | Long-term Opportunity | September 2026 Start

About the Role

We are working in partnership with a specialist Alternative Provision setting in Bradford seeking a dedicated Youth Worker to join their team from September 2026. The setting supports children and young people from KS1 to KS3 who have been, or are at risk of being, excluded from mainstream education.

The provision supports pupils with a range of Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, trauma-related behaviours, and additional challenges linked to adverse childhood experiences. Many pupils may present with challenging behaviour and require consistent, therapeutic, and relationship-focused support from trusted adults.

The school is looking for a resilient and compassionate Youth Worker who can build meaningful relationships with young people while maintaining clear boundaries and high expectations. The ideal candidate will be calm under pressure, nurturing in approach, and passionate about helping vulnerable children overcome barriers and achieve positive outcomes.

Your Role

• Providing one-to-one and small group support to pupils with additional behavioural, emotional, and social needs
• Acting as a positive role model and trusted adult to support young people’s emotional wellbeing and personal development
• Supporting pupils who may experience dysregulation, challenging behaviour, or difficulties with trust and authority
• Building positive relationships that promote safety, structure, confidence, and engagement
• Encouraging resilience, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and positive behaviour choices
• Supporting pupils both inside and outside of the classroom environment
• Working collaboratively with teaching staff, pastoral teams, families, and external agencies
• Supporting young people to develop coping strategies, improve social skills, and re-engage with education
• Providing feedback on pupil progress, wellbeing, and behaviour

The Children You Will Support

The pupils within this provision may:

• Have SEMH needs and trauma-related behaviours
• Be at risk of exclusion or returning from periods out of education
• Require support with emotional regulation, confidence, and social interaction
• Display challenging behaviours including verbal outbursts, refusal, or dysregulation
• Need consistent routines, boundaries, positive relationships, and strong role models

We Are Looking For Someone Who:

• Is calm, resilient, and able to remain professional in challenging situations
• Can build trust and rapport while maintaining clear boundaries and expectations
• Has a nurturing and empathetic approach, while understanding the importance of structure and accountability
• Is passionate about supporting vulnerable children and young people to reach their potential
• Works well as part of a wider pastoral, safeguarding, and support team
• Understands the impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences on behaviour and development

Ideal Backgrounds Include:

• Youth work or mentoring vulnerable young people
• Residential care or support work with Looked After Children (LAC)
• Experience within Alternative Provision, PRUs, or SEMH settings
• Young Offender Institution (YOI) or youth justice experience
• Behaviour support, pastoral, or family support roles
• Community outreach, support work, or intervention programmes
• Sports coaching, mentoring, or engagement work with young people

The Ideal Candidate Will Be:

• Proactive, adaptable, and able to think on their feet
• Confident supporting and de-escalating challenging behaviour using calm and consistent approaches
• Able to form positive, professional relationships with young people
• Passionate about improving outcomes for children facing barriers to education
• Committed to safeguarding, inclusion, and supporting every child to succeed

Why Choose Engage Education?

• Competitive pay in line with Agency Worker Regulations
• A dedicated consultant providing ongoing support and guidance
• Access to free CPD and training opportunities delivered by experienced education leaders
• £50 Amazon voucher referral scheme

How to Apply

If you are passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and believe you can make a positive impact within an Alternative Provision setting, we would love to hear from you.

This is a full-time, long-term opportunity starting in September 2026, offering the chance to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people who need support the most.

Apply today to find out more about this rewarding opportunity.

All candidates will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check. Full assistance will be provided.

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