Youth Justice Service Senior Practitioner

Youth Justice Service Senior Practitioner

Fixed Term, Full Time

£43,477 to £52,302 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 25th February 2024

This is a Fixed Term Opportunity until March 2025.

The role

The role of the Youth Justice Service Senior Practitioner within the Early Help team is to improve outcomes for children and young people on the cusp of entering the formal criminal justice system. This is achieved through assessment, and collaborative planning to agree a targeted package of voluntary support which takes a whole family approach, to build upon strengths, address unmet needs and improve positive outcomes and sustainable desistance through enabling the child or young person to build pro-social skills and improve their future life prospects and supports the resilience of parents to respond appropriately and provide care and support into adulthood.

The postholder will manage a reduced caseload of the most complex children, in addition to providing expert supervision and coaching for colleagues. The role requires an experienced Social Work Practitioner, able to manage a more complex caseload, in addition to undertaking staff supervision, facilitating the learning and development of colleagues within the team and wider service, in addition to support team and individual performance. Building positive working relationships with key partners and stakeholders is essential.

Accountabilities

· The Senior Practitioner for the Youth Justice Service's Early Help team will have a comprehensive understanding of early help services and early intervention values and principles, which will enable them to not only undertake individual and/or family work with children or young people on the cusp of entering the criminal justice system, but also act as a source of expert supervision and guidance to colleagues within the Early Help Team and wider Youth Justice Service. This will include the development and delivery of workshops/training as well as undertaking quality assurance processes to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality assessment, planning and interventions.

· Proven experience of direct work with children, young people, and families with complex needs, and those who find it difficult to engage with services is essential. Flexibility and the ability to build strong partnerships are key to this role, which operates in a multi-agency environment. Substantial knowledge of issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and evidence of training is essential.

· The post holder will have experience of using IT databases for the recording of case work, including recording service users' data and other personal and sensitive information in line with the Data Protection Act (GDPR, 2018), and be willing to embrace new technology and processes to improve the service.

· Ensure that the voices and views of children and young people are sought, heard, and represented appropriately, and evidenced throughout their intervention.

· Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date information/case records and share information appropriately according to local and national practice guidance/policies.

· The post holder will be an experienced qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England, and have experience of supervising staff. Any additional duties as requested commensurate with post level may be required.

· Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

What experience you will bring

· A recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or maters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.

· Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to relevant professional competency/capability frameworks or knowledge and skills statements.

· Significant experience of Social Work, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date knowledge and understanding of all relevant legislation and guidance.

· Experience of mentoring and supporting practitioners, and proven ability to be a subject matter expert in professional social work practice.

· Experience of chairing meetings involving young people, family members and or/caregivers and other multi agency professionals.

· Proven ability to develop strong relationships with partner agencies and the local community to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children, young people and families.

· Knowledge and understanding of health and safety and safeguarding of children, and young people.

· A clear understanding of early help services and early interventions, values, and principles.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our 'No Magic' Children & Families video

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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