Senior Project Worker

The Role

Imagine this..A young person starts to see a future beyond the uncertainty they’ve experienced. They have somewhere safe to live, someone who listens, and support to take their next step. You’re there alongside them — building trust, recognising their strengths and helping them turn possibilities into progress. That’s what being a Senior Project Worker at Maida Street is all about.

Maida Street is part of the Greater Manchester Branch Project, providing safe, stable accommodation and support for young people who may otherwise face custodial remand. Working closely with Youth Justice, social care and other partners, you’ll help young people build positive relationships, access opportunities and move towards greater independence.

This is a hands-on senior practitioner role, not a line-management post. You’ll bring experience, initiative and sound professional judgement to direct work with young people, modelling good practice and offering guidance to colleagues. The role involves regular and significant lone working, including times when a manager is not immediately available on site. You’ll need to act confidently within your responsibilities, recognise when support is needed and escalate concerns promptly.

What you’ll be doing

Building consistent, trusting and professionally boundaried relationships, using trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches.
Key working young people and co-producing support plans that reflect their voice, strengths, goals and aspirations.
Helping young people develop practical living skills, positive routines and connections to education, training, employment and health services.
Keeping safeguarding central to your work: recognising concerns, taking timely and proportionate action, and reporting, recording and escalating risks in line with procedures.
Working safely and independently, following lone-working arrangements, responding calmly to incidents and seeking management or emergency assistance when needed.
Working alongside Youth Justice, social care, families and other professionals, where appropriate, to support coordinated placements, transitions and move-on.
Maintaining accurate support plans, risk assessments, records and handovers, and contributing to reflective practice and service improvement.

What you’ll bring

You’re someone who combines compassion with clear boundaries, and initiative with an understanding of when to ask for help. You can stay calm when circumstances change, prioritise competing demands and make thoughtful, defensible decisions without constant supervision.

Above all, you see a young person’s potential, not just the challenges they are facing.
You’ll bring an understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, professional boundaries and the importance of young people having a meaningful say in their support. You’ll be confident working independently and undertaking regular lone working safely, with strong communication, recording and partnership-working skills. Knowledge or experience of Youth Justice would be welcome. A relevant qualification and continued professional development are desirable,
alongside a willingness to keep learning and developing your practice.

Working Arrangements

37.5 hours per week, Monday to Sunday (ad hoc evening work)
Our Offer
In return, we offer a competitive and supportive benefits package, including:
26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days
Westfield Healthcare Cash Back Plan (including cashback for optical, dental, therapies, plus 24/7 GP access and counselling support)
Matched pension scheme up to 6% (with salary sacrifice option)
Enhanced family leave from day one, including enhanced maternity/adoption and paternity pay
Occupational sick pay
Financial support options, including season…