SOS+ Embedded Mentor (Ref SIM-242)

Are you a dynamic, empathetic and highly organised individual with direct or indirect experience of the criminal justice system? 

Do you have proven experience of supporting young people involved in or at risk of entry into the Criminal Justice System?

If so, St Giles is looking for an Embedded Mentor to work on our pioneering SOS project where, as part of a high-performing team, you will combine your lived experience of overcoming similar barriers to the client group and professional experience to play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable young people who are at high risk of becoming involved in violence and entry into the criminal justice system. 

About St Giles Trust 
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need.  Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

About SOS+

Working with young people in a variety of educational settings, St. Giles’ SOS+ Service delivers early intervention work, through one-to-one mentoring and preventative sessions on violence, vulnerability and exploitation.  The mission of SOS+ is to prevent children and young people becoming involved in gangs and youth violence by equipping them with tools, knowledge and support delivered by experts with lived experience.

About this key role

Our successful candidate will focus on overseeing the delivery of the SOS+ Embedded Mentor Programme to targeted at risk students.  You will also be expected to establish and maintain positive relationships with students to provide emotional support, guidance, and mentorship and to address individual student needs and challenges, utilising personal experiences, local knowledge, professional skills and SOS+ materials to offer support and intervention.

We will count on you to assist students in setting and achieving academic, personal, and career goals and help them to develop positive, pro-social attitudes, behaviour and social skills, while also collaborating with professionals to support and develop strategies to minimise the risk to students. Supporting and/or co-delivering whole school awareness sessions; professional sessions; and parent/carer sessions is a vital duty, as is maintaining open and effective communication with mentees, professionals, parents/carers and partners and keeping accurate records of student interactions, progress, and outcomes in line with delivery SOS+ protocols.

What we are looking for

• Knowledge of the challenges and issues facing vulnerable young people
• An understanding and demonstration of professional standards and accountability
• Experience of working collaboratively with multi-agency partners
• A commitment to promoting inclusivity and equity
• Excellent record keeping and good technical literacy of Microsoft Applications
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written
• A flexible, collaborative and professional approach to your work.

Fixed Term Until 30th March 2026

As an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will require an Enhanced Child and Adult with Child Barred DBS Check.

We actively encourage people with personal experience of the criminal justice system or lived experience of the issues facing this client group to apply for this role.

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher 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, neuroexpansive, 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 Job Description for the vacancy.