Assistant Programme Leader

We are looking for Assistant Programme Leaders who will work for two, four or six weeks during summer 2013 and live on the programme on a fully residential basis in London, Surrey, West Midlands or North West England.

The Assistant Programme Leader (APL) is jointly responsible with the Programme Leader for the pastoral care of all sixty young people on the programme and is in charge of behaviour management. The APL will report to the Programme Leader in the delivery of the Personal and Team Challenge weeks of the programme. The APL does not work on the Real Challenge part of the programme.

This role is suitable for a specialist in managing behaviour of young people with significant experience of residential youth work. This is a fulfilling and demanding position which involves supporting the pastoral care and development of sixty sixteen-year-olds.

About the Opportunity:
A single programme for an Assistant Programme Leader lasts two weeks and includes outdoor activities and residential experiences.

The Assistant Programme Leader will:
• Work intensively with individual challenging young people as required throughout the Personal and Team Challenge
• Provide floating support to the five teams of young people as required by the Programme Leader
• Support each of the mentors in working with their teams and to give them some time off
• Support the Programme Leader in management of the discipline system where required

All meals and accommodation is provided for in this role.

Work Dates:
The Assistant Programme Leader will work for one, two or three full two-week roles (i.e. ten, twenty or thirty days of work) plus work on up to two additional days per role: the final day of Real Challenge Action (28th or 29th September) and graduation (12th or 13th October).

Requirements:
Candidates must demonstrate the following skills and characteristics:

Essential:
• Extensive experience of working directly with groups of young people
• Experience of working with young people with behavioural difficulties
• Experience of working with young people in a residential environment
• Experience of working in a fast-paced and demanding environment
• Willingness to develop project management and decision making skills

Beneficial:
• Experience of working with sixteen-year-olds
• Experience of managing or motivating groups of people in stressful environments (in a paid or voluntary capacity)
• Experience managing projects or events (for example youth programmes or complex events)
• Experience working with young people with a support requirement

We also look for all employees to show The Challenge characteristics. These are:
• Trust-building: Works hard to build trust with people. Brings people together in the community
• Responsibility-taking: Takes responsibility for actions and attitudes. Claims and solves problems in the community
• Understanding and Empathy: Works to understand others - their strengths, fears and needs. Ready to stand up for someone who is different

All staff who work on The Challenge programme must have prior to starting work a returned enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure dated since 1 September 2012 and two satisfactory references regarding their suitability to work with young people.