Complex Needs Mentor

Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: 3-year fixed-term contract

Location: Milton Keynes

We're delighted to be partnering with the National Lottery Community Fund as part of our Youth Mentoring MK project. Their funding and support means we're able to expand our mentoring support for children and young people across Milton Keynes, helping those experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination to build confidence, improve their wellbeing and achieve their goals.

We're looking for a compassionate, resilient and motivated Complex Needs Mentor to support young people who have experienced significant challenges in their lives.

You'll mentor with care-experienced young people, those on the edge of care and young people who need additional support to navigate life's challenges, build confidence and take positive steps towards their future. This role is about building trust, being consistent and helping young people recognise their strengths, overcome barriers and believe in what's possible.

The opportunity

We're passionate about ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive, whatever their background or circumstances.

As our Complex Needs Mentor, you'll provide tailored one-to-one mentoring and practical support to young people who may have experienced trauma, instability, disrupted relationships or difficult transitions.

You'll work primarily within community settings, building meaningful relationships and providing the consistent, trusted support that can be so important in a young person's life.

Every young person is different. Some may need support developing confidence and emotional resilience. Others may need practical help with independent living, education, housing or navigating relationships and services.

You'll take the time to understand what matters to each young person, work alongside them to set achievable goals and celebrate the progress they make, however big or small.

You'll also work closely with families, carers, social workers and other professionals to ensure young people receive the right support at the right time. Above all, you'll be someone who shows up, builds trust and makes a lasting difference.

What you'll be doing

You'll play a hands-on role in supporting young people to build more positive, stable and independent futures.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Building trusting, consistent relationships with young people who have experienced complex challenges.
• Delivering tailored one-to-one mentoring and practical support within community settings.
• Working with young people to understand their needs, recognise their strengths and develop achievable personal goals.
• Supporting young people to build confidence, resilience, emotional awareness and positive relationships.
• Helping young people develop essential life skills, including budgeting, managing routines and preparing for independent living.
• Supporting young people through important transitions, including changes in care, education, housing and adulthood.
• Advocating for young people and ensuring their voices, wishes and aspirations are heard.
• Working collaboratively with social workers, carers, families and other professionals to provide joined-up support.
• Recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns, ensuring young people's safety and wellbeing remain a priority.
• Monitoring progress, maintaining accurate records and demonstrating the positive impact of the mentoring programme.

Just as importantly, you'll help young people feel listened to, valued and supported to make their own choices about their future.

About you

We're looking for someone who genuinely cares about young people and believes in their potential, even when life has presented them with significant challenges.

You'll understand that building trust takes time, that progress isn't always straightforward and that consistency, patience and encouragement can make a powerful difference.

You'll have experience supporting young people with complex needs and be confident working independently, managing challenging situations and knowing when to seek additional support.

You'll also understand the importance of safeguarding, professional boundaries and working collaboratively with other services.

You'll be someone who:

• Has experience supporting young people affected by trauma, instability or challenging life circumstances.
• Understands trauma-informed, person-centred and strengths-based approaches.
• Can build positive, trusting relationships with young people from different backgrounds.
• Is compassionate, patient and resilient, particularly when situations are challenging.
• Can assess individual needs and develop practical, achievable support plans.
• Understands safeguarding responsibilities and knows how to respond to concerns.
• Is confident working independently and providing support in community settings.
• Communicates effectively with young people, families, carers and other professionals.
• Is organised, reliable and able to manage their own workload and records.
• Believes in empowering young people to make decisions, develop independence and achieve their potential.
• Brings energy, commitment and a genuine desire to make a difference.

A relevant degree-level qualification in youth work, social work, education, social sciences or a related field is required.

Experience working with care-experienced young people, those on the edge of care or supporting transitions into independent living would be particularly valuable.

Why Join YMCA South Midlands?

Because this is more than just a job. It's an opportunity to be the person who makes a real difference at a critical point in a young person's life.

You'll join an organisation that believes in the potential of every young person and is committed to creating opportunities for them to thrive.

As part of our Youth & Community team, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Build meaningful relationships and see the difference your support makes.
• Work directly with young people who will benefit from consistent, trusted mentoring.
• Be part of a supportive and collaborative team that genuinely cares about the work we do.
• Develop your experience and skills in trauma-informed mentoring and complex needs support.
• Contribute to an important project helping young people build brighter, more independent futures.

Everyone is Welcome Here

At YMCA South Midlands, we believe everyone should feel they belong.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and communities. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the people we serve and where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

As a charity with a Christian heritage, our faith inspires our values and our commitment to serving others. We welcome people of all faiths and none. All appointments are made on merit.

Safeguarding

YMCA South Midlands is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to complete appropriate safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and a children's barred list check where the role is eligible.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want every candidate to have the opportunity to perform at their best throughout our recruitment process.

If you have a disability, long-term health condition or are neurodivergent and would benefit from any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply or contact us at any stage. We'll be happy to discuss how we can support you.

A note to recruitment agencies: We are managing recruitment for this role directly and are not seeking support from recruitment agencies. Please do not submit speculative CVs or contact us regarding this vacancy.

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