Due to growing demand, award-winning youth charity Mentoring Plus is seeking additional professional mentors to support higher-need young people with weekly 1-1 mentoring in the community.
These are paid roles, in a separate project to our longstanding volunteer mentoring project. For children and young people, the experience is the same: a trusted, positive adult role model offering an engaging weekly mentoring session following their positive interests. It’s a safe space to talk, an opportunity to get out of the house, to try new things and build confidence and self-esteem.
The only difference is that these are young people who need a higher level of support than we would ask of a volunteer. They are living with more difficult challenges, often with significant mental wellbeing issues causing low school attendance. Mentoring sessions are mostly during the school day, and may form part of an alternative timetable. Interventions are usually at least 14 weeks and many last a year or longer, dependent upon need and funding.
For an experienced professional with a level of confidence and expertise, it’s fulfilling work where real impact can be made. Mentoring sessions can involve anything from a walk and chat to playing sports, cooking a meal, playing music or horseriding together (agreed expenses and travel are paid). It’s important mentees are supported to choose what they want to do, creating a positive setting for conversations.
You get to build trusting relationships over time, and see the positive changes in young people you help to stay safe, engage with opportunities and find their own unique path forward.
As you’d expect, this work can involve complexities and safeguarding concerns. You’ll need a good basic knowledge of these, and to engage with regular supervision with your practitioner and a clinical supervisor to discuss approaches and support your own wellbeing. We provide mentor skills and other relevant training.
We deliver professional mentoring across BathNES and the surrounding region, including to young people experiencing rural isolation, so driving and reliable access to a car are essential (mileage paid). Most work is out in the community, but occasional attendance is necessary at our Bath-based office for supervision, group meetings and similar.
Some of our professional mentors deliver just one session a week with a mentee, taking 2-3 hours plus travel. Others work with six or seven mentees across the week, or are long-term onsite mentors in a school, meeting 5 or 6 young people during a school day. Session timings are flexible - this is work that can fit around other commitments and is usually termtime only.
Long-term freelance contracts are standard, or we can consider PAYE permanent contracts for mentors available for several sessions per week.
We have a number of mentees waiting to be matched now, and are likely to recruit several new professional mentors. We will continue to advertise until current demand is met.
A full job description including a person spec is available here.
Please read this carefully and then complete this application form setting out how your skills, knowledge and experience help you meet the requirements of the role. Details of how to submit a completed application are in the form.
Questions about the role? Please email Meg Ely or call 01225 429694.
Mentoring Plus is committed to maximising inclusion irrespective of age, gender identity, heritage, ethnicity, background, life experiences, disabilities, learning difficulties, lifestyle, beliefs etc, provided that individuals are able to meet the requirements of the role with appropriate support. We operate a strict equal opportunities policy for both adults and young people. Our central Bath premises have parking and are wheelchair accessible.
Safer Recruitment procedures will be followed including an enhanced DBS check and employment references taken and verified.