Young Person's Advisor

An exciting opportunity has become available within the Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children’s Team (UASC Team) as a Young Person’s Advisor. This is a temporary role for 12 months.

The Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children’s Team (UASC Team) provide consistent specialist support, care and guidance for asylum‑seeking young people who have come to Durham under the National Transfer Scheme or have spontaneously arrived in the area. The team supports both Children Looked After and Care Leavers.

Young People’s Advisers (YPA) within the team support young people transitioning towards leaving care and who have left care between the ages of 16 and 25.

• Work closely with each young person and a range of agencies such as the Home Office, housing, adult services, and education and training providers, ensuring the young person is safeguarded and supported to achieve goals and aspirations, including a home, education, training, or employment, financial independence, and strong social networks.
• Gain an understanding of the asylum process and the potential outcomes, and how to support young people with these outcomes.
• Hold case responsibility for young people who are care leavers with varying levels of need.
• Complete Pathway Needs Assessments alongside young people aged 18‑25 to assess their needs and plan for their future.
• Ensure visits take place to young people and record the content of these visits accurately, including the young person’s views, any concerns, and the progress of their plan.

• Level 3 qualification in a relevant children’s services field or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Significant experience of direct work with young people (teenagers) in a social care, health, education, housing or youth and community setting.
• Able to form positive and effective working relationships with young people.
• Have a person‑centred and non‑discriminatory approach towards young people.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All employees and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought, inclusive of a check of the Children’s Barred List and Adults Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity.

Interviews will be held 24th‑26th June 2026.

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career‑average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

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