Youth Mentor – Gateshead (Part‑time, Flexible)

About the role

The Youth Engagement Mentor works one‑on‑one with students who are persistently absent or excluded from school, including those with SEND, SEMH challenges or complex barriers to learning. The purpose is to build a “re‑engagement bridge” that guides young people back into a stable learning environment, further education or vocational pathways.

Key responsibilities

• Meet the young person in their own environment – sometimes at their front door – to build trust and provide trauma‑informed emotional support.
• Deliver 1:1 sessions that develop confidence, emotional regulation and self‑esteem, while offering a calm presence during crises.
• Design and run low‑pressure, interest‑based activities that rekindle a love of learning and practical life‑skills such as budgeting and public‑transport navigation.
• Accompany students to interviews, placements or college visits to reduce anxiety and model independent navigation of services.
• Represent the child’s voice in multi‑agency meetings with Social Care and CAMHS and support parents in creating a home environment that encourages attendance.

Required profile

• Demonstrated resilience and genuine passion for improving outcomes for vulnerable youth.
• Ability to build rapport quickly and work flexibly across a range of settings, including homes and community sites.
• Strong communication skills for collaborating with multi‑disciplinary teams and advocating on behalf of the young person.