community navigators

The community navigators will provide 1:1 support to young people and young adults (up to 25), affected by exploitation across Bedfordshire [Luton, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire]. The successful candidate will have an excellent track record of engaging with young people, ensuring they meet young people 'where they are at' and help them to navigate a complex system guiding them through day-to-day challenges that they may be experiencing. Regular 1:1 support will take place in community settings and will provide both emotional and practical support such as housing, school reintegration, employment and access to mental health services. Where appropriate, there will be an element of partnership work with families to strengthen relationships and collaboration with community organisations and statutory services to provide safe spaces. The community navigators will work closely with a range of partners in Bedfordshire including multi-agency panels and missing-from-home teams to ensure young people's wishes and feelings are heard with the ultimate aim of reducing harm and disrupting exploitation through a coordinated trauma-informed response.

In order to be successful in this role, you must have:

• Extensive and relevant experience of working with young people affected by exploitation
• The ability to work flexibly, act creatively, think systemically and respond to new and challenging situations.
• Experience of building and maintaining relationships both with young people, communities and partners
• The ability to work in a culturally sensitive and holistic way, recognising and responding to children's individual needs in 1:1 settings
  
  We view diversity and inclusion as fundamental to achieving social change. To tackle the complex issues facing young people, we need access to diverse talent, perspectives, experiences and working practices. Applications from diverse backgrounds and communities are encouraged and we have policies to support flexible, inclusive and accessible employment.
The Children's Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children's lives happier and safer. Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more. The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services.