Job Description

The SOS+ Peer Advisor role at St Giles Trust involves mentoring vulnerable children and young people aged 10-25 in York and North Yorkshire to prevent exploitation, gang involvement, and youth violence. Applicants with lived experience are encouraged, and training is provided. The role requires safeguarding knowledge, resilience, and commitment to empowering communities.

Responsible to:

SOS+ Team Leader

Responsible for:

Mentoring children and young people who are victims of, or have been affected by, sexual or criminal exploitation, or frequently missing from home.

Hours:

Flexible

Grade:

Volunteer

Location:

Districts within York and North Yorkshire (Scarborough/Ryedale, York/Selby, Harrogate/Craven, Hambleton/Richmond shire)

Holiday:

Salary:

Volunteer

Application Deadline:

Sunday, 20th July 2025 at 11:00pm.

We will be shortlisting and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close this position at any time.




Please note this role requires Enhanced DBS checks.
St Giles Trust is a Charity helping people facing severe disadvantage to find jobs, homes, and the right support they need. We help them to become positive contributors to local communities and wider society. We passionately believe everybody is capable of changing their lives. Our mission is we empower people to overcome injustices for themselves, their families and their local communities - we achieve this through offering support from someone who has been there. Our peer-led services form the backbone of our work.

BACKGROUND ON THE SOS+ PROJECT:

Giles Trust's award-winning SOS+ project educates children and young people around the risks and signs of exploitation, serious violence, and gangs, through group facilitated sessions and tailored one-to-one intervention sessions in schools and other community settings. The mission of SOS+ is to prevent children and young people becoming involved in gangs, youth violence, and exploitation by equipping them with tools, knowledge and support delivered by practitioners and/or peer advisors with direct or indirect lived experience of such matters. The project also equips parents and professionals with the knowledge, understanding, and tools to help safeguard children and young people from becoming involved in gangs and violence, and/or affected by exploitation.

THE PROJECT

The SOS+ model is an evidence-based approach which educates professionals and parents, as well as children and young people between the ages of 10-25 years, around exploitation, county lines, weapon awareness, grooming and gangs. The project aims to: Prevent young people becoming involved in serious youth violence and criminal activity by demystifying gang culture and educating them about the harsh realities of knife crime and prison life. Impart real tools that young people can utilise to make better informed decisions, build resilience, and avoid negative lifestyle choices. Increase commitment to school and the value placed on education. Equip parents and professionals with the knowledge, understanding, and tools to help safeguard young people. Reduce 'missing from home' incidents

THE ROLE:

With full training, including a Level 3 Information Advice and Guidance qualification, SOS+ Peer Advisors will provide support to SOS+ caseworkers developing and delivering educational sessions to children and young people between the ages of 10-25 years, on topics such as: weapons awareness; the reality of prison; gangs; county lines; and child sexual exploitation.

We positively encourage applications if you have previously worked on a client-led support project, have had personal adverse experiences such as homelessness, substance misuse, debt, involvement with gangs etc. This will include experience of the criminal justice system, having served a prison sentence. You will need to demonstrate how your lived experience supports your ability to carry out the role to the benefit of the clients we work with.


Sessions will be facilitated in schools and other community settings. You will be part of our St Giles Yorkshire team, and our Central SOS+ team.

(1) Key Deliverables

-------------------------

To support SOS+ Caseworkers with mentoring children and young people between the ages of 10-25 years, in school and community settings. To support SOS+ Caseworker with intervention sessions and group sessions. To comply with organisational safeguarding policies of the schools/community settings, and those of St Giles Trust. In doing so, you will ensure all measures are in place to protect the confidentiality of clients who use the service and appropriate disclosure procedures are followed. To attend mandatory training such as Safeguarding, Prevent, and other training highlighted by line manager. To promote the value of lifestyle changes to the client group. To implement the current policies and procedures of St Giles Trust. The postholder will be expected to deliver on the following:

(2) Knowledge & Experience

--------------------------------


What we are looking for from you - Person Specification. When completing your application form please address the points marked with

(A)

set out below.

Experience

To have lived/personal experience of the Criminal Justice System, and/or been affected by criminal or sexual exploitation.

(A)

Experience of socially excluded children, young people and/or adults.

(A)

Experience of providing advice and guidance and/or mentoring

(not essential)

.

(A)

Knowledge

Knowledge/understanding of criminal and sexual exploitation.

(A)

Knowledge/understanding of drug distribution via county lines and how they operate. Commitment to consultative & collaborative ways of working. Commitment to and understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries. Respect for the values and ethos of St Giles Trust. Personal and professional integrity.

(A)

Positive attitude towards staff, clients and our Peers/volunteers. Emotionally Resilient.

(A)

#

Skills and Abilities

Skills & Abilities

Ability to communicate and understand different experiences and perspectives without judgement. (A) Ability to be personable and resilient in order to build and maintain trusted professional relationships with children and young people (A) Ability to be reliable and committed to the purpose of the service and the children and young people we work with. (A) Full UK Driving License with access to a vehicle for work OR the ability and wiliness to travel within the area.

Attitude

Commitment to consultative & collaborative ways of working. Commitment to and understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries. Respect for the values and ethos of St Giles Trust. Personal and professional integrity.

(A)

Positive attitude towards staff, clients and our Peers/volunteers. Emotionally Resilient.

(A)

Other

An ability to work with children and young people as well as vulnerable adults. An enhanced DBS Check is required for this role. #

Qualifications

Award in Education and Training and/or Mentoring Level 3 qualification (or be willing to work towards this).

(A)

(3) About Us

-----------------


In St Giles, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, season ticket loan and much more.


We are an equity and inclusion-confident employer. We welcome all applications and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi-heritage) and those who identify as disabled, nonresponsive, or neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.


St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the for the vacancy.

Ready to Apply?

-------------------



1.

Click HERE to download

the application form.
2. Complete the application form, including the personal statement in relation to the job description.
3. Once completed, please return it by email to humanresources@stgilestrust.org.uk. Please include the Job Title and Job Code in your email subject.
4. The deadline for this job application is

Sunday, 20th July 2025 at 11:00pm.

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.


Tianna Graham



People Officer