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.

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.

The postholder will have a key role in the Citadel’s 13+ Team, working across our services for young people aged 13 to 19. These include evening youth clubs, detached youth work and employability services for young people aged 16 to 19 who are not in education, training or employment. The postholder will also be based in a local high school one day per week, providing mental health and wellbeing support for targeted pupils.

MYPAS promotes the health and wellbeing of young people across East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders and currently focuses on working in the areas of mental health, substance use and LGBT+ support. MYPAS is a community-based organisation with charitable status and based in Dalkeith, Midlothian. The Scottish Borders base is in Galashiels.

The postholder will be responsible for providing community counselling to young people aged 12-18 across The Scottish Borders and within a holistic service. The postholder will offer counselling to young people who have left school, are not attending school or who do not have a good relationship with school. It is anticipated that some of the young people may have experience of using substances or living with substance users. The postholder will also develop and promote further therapeutic work both within and outwith MYPAS.

Qualified to Diploma level (or equivalent) in a counselling therapeutic discipline, a member of a recognised professional body (e.g. BACP, COSCA) and have experience of working with young people, you will also be committed to delivering a service according to best practice and within community settings.

The postholder will work within a multi-disciplinary service and work effectively with other agencies in partnership settings. Contributing to the wider MYPAS service, the postholder will work with young people using a holistic approach through effectively linking the work of the Therapies team with other areas of MYPAS’ work, as well as that of partner organisations.

This post may require regular evening and occasional weekend work.

Special conditions:

• The post is funded for a fixed term of 18 months (continuation dependent on MYPAS securing further funding)

• The post may involve evening working and occasional weekend working – to be negotiated depending on client needs

• You must be able to travel across The Scottish Borders

• PLEASE NOTE: we are open to discussing hours configurations with the successful candidate – for example, a 28 hour a week post is possible

This post is funded by: The Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Borders Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP).