Dependable
If a Northkeeper says Thursday at four, it is Thursday at four. Reliability is the whole intervention.
The role
The people who show up.
A Northkeeper is not a job title. It is a commitment a young person can rely on when very little else feels reliable.
The identity
What it means to be a Northkeeper.
Plenty of adults pass through a young person's life. A Northkeeper is the one who is still there in week twelve — after the missed session, after the difficult conversation, after the setback nobody planned for.
It is a demanding role, and we are deliberately selective about who holds it. Being a good person is not enough on its own. Neither is a strong CV.
We don't need heroes. We need adults who keep their word.
What we look for
What we expect
Seven non-negotiables.
Patient
Progress is rarely linear. Northkeepers can sit with slow weeks without losing faith or applying pressure.
Relatable
Real, human and unpretentious. Young people can tell within minutes whether an adult is performing.
Emotionally intelligent
Able to read what is happening beneath the behaviour, and to manage their own reactions when it is difficult.
Consistent
Same tone, same boundaries, same person — whether the session goes well or badly.
Safeguarding conscious
Confident about boundaries, alert to risk, and quick to raise a concern rather than sit on it.
Able to build genuine relationships
Not friendship, not authority. A trusted professional relationship a young person actually values.
Selection
How someone becomes a Northkeeper.
Safer recruitment is not a formality here. It is how we protect the young people who trust us.
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Application and screening
Full employment history, with gaps explored rather than overlooked.
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Values-based interview
Scenario-led, focused on judgement, boundaries and how someone responds when a young person disengages.
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Enhanced DBS and references
Enhanced DBS checks with children's barred list where applicable, plus references verified directly.
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Safeguarding training
Completed before any contact with a young person, and refreshed on a regular cycle.
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Supervision and support
Ongoing supervision, reflective practice and a named lead to escalate to at any time.
Interested in becoming a Northkeeper?
We are always interested in hearing from people who think they could hold this role well. Get in touch at [email protected] and tell us why.