We require Sessional Staff for The GIVIT Youth Recovery Project. Sessional Youth Navigators will support young people (13 – 25yrs) affected by problematic alcohol and drug use. They will use a flexible outreach and wrap-around support approach with all participants.

Sessional Youth Navigators will offer practical and emotional support to help young people identify and overcome barriers which prevent them from achieving their goals. Our Navigators should primarily have a youth focused background, with an excellent understanding of alcohol & drug issues to support their practice.

Sessional Youth Navigators will build relationship-based support, provide face to face support and assist with groupwork interventions. Working alongside participants, the Navigator will develop a Personal Recovery Support Plan and risk assessment for each individual that will ensure a clear pathway to the young person’s chosen treatment/recovery initiatives.

As part of a multi-disciplinary team the Sessional Youth Navigator will have the knowledge and connections to present a wider range of positive opportunities for young people.

Successful applicants should have experience of working with young people and or addiction or recovery services.

JOB INFORMATION

Organisation Profile:

Regen:fx Youth Trust is a registered charity established in 2007. We work in partnership to develop and deliver a co-ordinated Youth Diversion Programme throughout South Lanarkshire for disadvantaged young people between the ages of 8 – 25yrs. Please check out our website regenfxyouthtrust.org.

Job Overview

Regen:FX Youth Trust is recruiting a Youth Navigator to join The GIVIT Youth Recovery Service. This role is central to delivering intensive, relationship-based support to young people aged 13–25 affected by their own alcohol and substance use.

You will build strong, trusting relationships, manage a caseload and support young people to overcome barriers and achieve meaningful outcomes in their recovery journey.

Candidate Information

Joining Regen:FX Youth Trust means joining an organisation that values relationships over processes, compassion over judgement and learning over blame.

You will receive a comprehensive induction, regular supervision and opportunities for reflective practice, alongside ongoing professional development and specialist training in youth work, substance use and trauma-informed practice.

We are looking for a confident and reflective practitioner who combines strong professional knowledge with a commitment to continuous learning, and who brings warmth, authenticity and compassion to their work with young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one and group-based support to young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• Build therapeutic, trust-based relationships
• Manage and maintain a small but complex caseload
• Develop Personal Recovery Support Plans and risk assessments
• Deliver harm reduction, brief interventions and motivational support
• Work collaboratively with young people to identify, pursue and achieve realistic, person-centered goals, including improved access to education, employment and health services
• Work collaboratively with partners and advocate for young people
• Maintain accurate records.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the service through active participation in regular team meetings, CPD and Support and Development sessions.

Person Specification

Essential:

Experience & Knowledge

• Understanding of problematic drug & alcohol use and experience of working within a similar field.
• Competent written and verbal communication skills and confident with IT
• Youth Work background or experience in working with young people.
• Driving licence and access to transport.

Desirable:

• Experience of intense one to one support and groupwork.
• Lived experience of addiction and a minimum of two years in sustained recovery
• Experience of working within a homeless setting
• Working with high tariff families and young people.
• Knowledge of drug legislations in Scotland.
• Experience of supporting and promoting a specialist service with participants, communities, and partners

Personal Qualities:

• Passion for working with young people, particularly with problematic substance use issues.
• Ability to communicate complex information to individuals and groups in a way that is easily understood.
• Holistic and therapeutic approach to working.
• Ability to communicate at all levels effectively.
• Good observational and analytical skills.
• Ability to motivate and enthuse others.
• Personal commitment to making activities equally accessible and appropriate to the diverse needs of young people.
• Approachable and non-judgemental.
• Ability to work under pressure

Values & Approach

We are interested in who you are as much as what you know. If you believe people deserve respect even on their hardest days and you bring empathy, curiosity and authenticity to your work, we want to hear from you.

Other Information

This is a 7-day service including some evenings and occasional weekend. Driving licence and access to a car is essential.

Job Overview

Regen:FX Youth Trust is recruiting a Care Experienced Youth Navigator to join The GIVIT Youth Recovery Service. This role is central to delivering intensive, relationship-based support to young people who have experience of being in the care system aged 13–25 affected by their own alcohol and substance use.

You will build strong, trusting relationships, manage a caseload and support young people to overcome barriers and achieve meaningful outcomes in their recovery journey.

Candidate Information

Joining Regen:FX Youth Trust means joining an organisation that values relationships over processes, compassion over judgement and learning over blame.

You will receive a comprehensive induction, regular supervision and opportunities for reflective practice, alongside ongoing professional development and specialist training in youth work, substance use and trauma-informed practice.

We are looking for a confident and reflective practitioner who combines strong professional knowledge with a commitment to continuous learning, and who brings warmth, authenticity and compassion to their work with young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one and group-based support to care experienced young people.
• Build trust-based relationships
• Manage and maintain a small but complex caseload
• Develop Personal Recovery Support Plans and Risk Assessments
• Deliver Harm Reduction, Brief interventions and motivational support
• Work collaboratively with young people to identify, pursue and achieve realistic, person-cantered goals.
• Work collaboratively with partners and advocate for young people in line with The Charter of Rights for People affected by Substance Use and The Standards for Young People.
• Maintain accurate records.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the service through active participation in regular team meetings, CPD and Support and Development sessions.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Experience & Knowledge

• Understanding of problematic alcohol & drug use and experience of working within a similar field.
• Competent written and verbal communication skills and confident with IT
• Recovery or Youth Work background or experience in working with young people.
• Driving licence and access to transport.

Desirable:

• Experience of intense one to one support and groupwork.
• Lived experience of addiction and a minimum of two years in sustained recovery
• Experience of working within a care setting or with young people who have experience of being in care.
• Working with high tariff young people.
• Knowledge of drug legislations in Scotland.
• Experience of supporting and promoting a specialist service with participants, communities, and partners.

Personal Qualities:

• Passion for working with young people, particularly with problematic substance use issues.
• Ability to communicate complex information to individuals and groups in a way that is easily understood.
• Holistic and therapeutic approach to working.
• Ability to communicate at all levels effectively.
• Good observational and analytical skills.
• Ability to motivate and enthuse others.
• Personal commitment to making activities equally accessible and appropriate to the diverse needs of young people.
• Approachable and non-judgemental.
• Ability to work under pressure

Values & Approach

We are interested in who you are as much as what you know. If you believe people deserve respect even on their hardest days and you bring empathy, curiosity and authenticity to your work, we want to hear from you.

Other Information

This is a 7-day service some evenings and occasional weekends. Driving licence and access to a car is essential.

An opportunity to support volunteer mentors and help young people improve confidence, wellbeing and build positive relationships.

Benefits

• 35 days annual leave, inclusive of public holidays, pro rata for part-time hours.
• Additional annual leave after five years’ service, increasing by one day per year thereafter up to a maximum of five additional days.
• An additional wellbeing day and a budget to support wellbeing activities.
• Membership of an employee health cash plan.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Continued learning and development opportunities, including across the wider YMCA movement.

About the role

We are looking for a proactive and relationship-focused individual to join our team as a Mentoring & Wellbeing Coordinator.

Mentoring coordination is the main focus of this varied and rewarding role. Working within our mentoring team, you will coordinate volunteer-led mentoring that helps children and young people build confidence, develop positive relationships and improve wellbeing. This includes contributing to established programmes such as intandem (for care-experienced young people) and Plusone (preventative and early-intervention mentoring support).

Supporting volunteer mentors is central to the role. You will provide regular guidance and encouragement, recognise their contribution and celebrate successes, helping them build safe, consistent and meaningful relationships with young people. These relationships can make a significant difference to young people’s wellbeing, confidence and sense of connection.

Alongside mentoring coordination, you will provide targeted 1:1 support and contribute to occasional youth work and group activities, particularly for young people engaged with mentoring services. Workload and delivery commitments will be agreed within your 21 weekly hours, with support, supervision and relevant training provided.

What you’ll be doing

• Coordinating volunteer-led mentoring for children and young people
• Supporting and developing volunteer mentors, recognising their contribution and celebrating successes
• Contributing to mentor recruitment, induction, training and ongoing support as part of the mentoring team
• Building strong relationships with young people, families and partners
• Involving young people and volunteers in shaping their support and influencing our services
• Maintaining records, monitoring activity and contributing to reporting
• Providing targeted 1:1 support and contributing to occasional group activities for young people

About you

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with children and young people
• Can support and coordinate volunteers or groups of people
• Builds strong, trusting relationships with a wide range of people
• Is highly organised and able to manage competing priorities
• Has strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Is committed to an inclusive, participatory and relationship-based approach, and willing to reflect and learn

Our approach

Based in Leith, YMCA Edinburgh supports children, young people and families locally and across the city. We take a relationship-based and participatory approach, strengthening the supportive scaffolding around young people. We create opportunities for young people and volunteers to shape and influence what we do, and work collaboratively with families and partners.

Additional information

• This post involves a regulated role with children. Appointment is subject to the appropriate PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme membership and disclosure checks. You do not need to be an existing PVG member to apply.
• Appointment is also subject to satisfactory references, including one from your current or most recent employer where applicable, and verification of your right to work in the UK.
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Equal Opportunities

An equal opportunities monitoring form is included as part of the application pack. Completion of this form is voluntary. The information is used for monitoring purposes only, is kept separate from your application, and is not shared with the recruitment panel.

Accessibility and Adjustments

We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible. If you require this information in an alternative format or need any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact jobs@ymcaedinburgh.com