Safer Communities are recruiting for a Youth Justice Transitions Practitioner
Description:
There is an exciting opportunity to join a team on the Seen Heard Believed Project. Safer Communities are looking for passionate, motivated people who are keen to use trauma informed practice in their work; to deliver an independent service particularly to children, young people but also their families who are often unwilling to engage with statutory service and find it difficult to disclose their personal traumas and can present challenging and complex behaviours. Our model is about building trusted relationships with sensitivity and respect that shows an active interest in their wellbeing and building successful family relationships
30hrs Fixed Term contract ending June 2024. There will be an expectation of some evening and weekend working as dictated by the project need.
Please Note: you must include a covering letter detailing your reason for applying or your application will be disregarded.
Closing Day for Applications Wednesday 26th October
Interviews W/C 7th November
Requirements:
Responsible to: Senior Practitioner Manager– Seen Heard Believed Project and ultimately the Safer Communities Board of Directors
Location: Office base Corvette House, Falcon Court, Stockton but the post holder will be working in one of the three Youth Justice Service areas: Stockton, Hartlepool and South Tees (Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland).
Hours and Terms: 30hrs Fixed Term contract ending June 2024
There will be an expectation of some evening and weekend working as dictated by the project need.
Context of the Seen Heard Believed Project (SHB)
The Seen Heard Believed Project is a partnership project between Safer Communities and Middlesbrough Council and funded from a variety of external partners including the Colonel Cohen Trust and the KPMG Foundation. For this post we have received funding from the CRC Legacy Fund to support young people transitioning from youth Justice services to adult probation services.
Whilst the job is closely aligned to mainstream statutory services this work is to demonstrate additionality and as such will be evaluated as a stand-alone project; the role of the worker is to ensure that the impact of the VCSE is recorded; has increased new opportunities to families at the early stages of vulnerability, risk and those measurable outcomes are monitored and recorded throughout the intervention as evidence of change.
Seen Heard Believed works on a whole family approach using Trauma Informed Practice in recognition that one member of the family’s trauma can affect the whole family.
Job Purpose:
- Case manage cases of young people transition from referred from the Cleveland area Youth Justice Services:-
- Using Trauma Informed Practice work on a whole family approach to support a young person’s smooth transition from the following (target group)
- Young people transferring from Youth Justice Service to Adult Probation Services;
- Young people leaving the youth Justice services;
- Young people resettling after a custodial sentence.
In order to reduce youth crime and criminal behaviour, In all instances the post holder will:
- Work closely with the Youth Justice Case Manager provide support and a link to other services that may benefit the young person’s onward journey as identified in their plan.
- Liaise with other professionals/agencies involved with the young person to ensure continuity of care but not to duplicate any statutory responsibilities.
- Create positive voluntary relationships with the young person, their family and wider family network if appropriate, to reduce risk of continual Justice with the adult environment.
Model and Expectation of Service Delivery
The Seen Heard Believed Project uses Trauma Informed Practice and Principles in engaging with families; the post holder will be expected to deliver interventions using these same methodologies.
Key values of working with families:
- Treat people with respect and dignity.
- Respect and promote people’s rights to take control and make their own informed choices and decisions (empowerment)
- Ensure the safety and welfare of children and young people is paramount.
- Recognise boundaries both professional and personal within the delivery practice.
- Demonstrate – empathy, consistency and boundaries.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
● To undertake assessment of young people in accordance with the demands of Youth Justice Board (National Standards).
● Deliver a range of interventions underpinned by Trauma Informed Practice to support a young person’s smooth transition out of the Youth Justice Services.
o Including involving their immediate family members
● To supervise and take case responsibility for young people in the target group referred to Seen Heard Believed.
o Work with the young person to identify their goals and aspirations and to divert from continued Justice.
o Using outcome focused tools and resource
o Complete case management notes/input that are factual, accurate and appropriate data that demonstrates the invention/support provided.
o Ensure effective and timely communication.
o Consider safeguarding and the welfare of the young person and family at all times.
● Where necessary attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings in order to ensure the best outcomes for the young person and families involved.
● Advocate on behalf of families/individuals – gaining consent; negotiate packages of support with a range of stakeholders (if required and or appropriate)
● Produce/prepare performance reports, data analysis as required, in supporting the Seen Heard Believed evaluation process.
● Network and liaise with partners and other providers in the furtherance of supported family interventions.
● Undertake professional development training commensurate with the responsibilities of the role.
● Participate in training; supervision as required.
● Identify gaps and opportunities to broaden the offer to families that support their recovery and or improve outcomes.
General Information:
● Safer Communities is committed to the active promotion and practice of equal opportunities as an employer and in the provision of services. It is the responsibilities of every member of staff to ensure the practical application of this policy.
● Under the Health & Safety at Work Act, all employees are required to take care of their own health and that of other employees in the company as their statutory duty.
● We will make every reasonable effort to supply the necessary employment aids, equipment or adaptations to enable employees to perform the full duties of the job in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 where a post holder is disabled.
● Follow all organisational and legislative Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
● From time to time, the role may require attendance at meetings and other events outside of normal working hours, and/or outside the Locality, to meet the needs of management and key stakeholders Flexibility in working hours and location, as per contract of employment, with a reasonable consideration for personal circumstances and needs.
● It is advantage to hold a full driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work purposes.
● This job is subject to safer recruitment procedures including an Enhanced DBS Check and follows the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
NOTE: As a developing project the above roles and responsibilities may change over time as such the organisations reserves the right to vary tasks within the salary grade
Person Specification:
In recognition that this is a new and developing project we would expect that training and upskilling is required:
Skills and Attributes:
- Experience of using IT systems and computer-based packages, including managing information on a database; creating; populate and analysis data
- Ability to manage own workload within a demanding environment
- Experience/ability to work with vulnerable and challenging young people (17years + age range)
- Ability to work as an effective member of a team and within partnerships across a variety of sectors.
- Effective interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
- Active listening skills
- Good organisational and time management skills
- Able to develop positive relationships with families, children and young people in order to deliver timely interventions based upon their identified needs.
- Understand and maintain professional and personal boundaries
Knowledge and Qualifications:
- Educated to Degree Level or equivalent in Youth & Community and or Social Care or can demonstrate transferrable skills and theorical knowledge of children and family services or can demonstrate ‘field based’ experience for a minimum of 2 years.
- Up to date knowledge of the Criminal Justice System
- Experience of carrying out assessment to identify the needs of young people and the risks they present, able to create action plans and goal setting with young people.
- Able to use resources and tools to support families and young people’s goals and aspirations.
- Understanding of the locality and the local voluntary sector and other youth agencies.
- Understand Trauma Informed Practice and Principles.
- Understanding of Adverse Child Experience and its long-term effects.
- Valuing Diversity – demonstrates and understand of working within anti-discriminatory practice and can demonstrate an understanding of the negative effects of discrimination and prejudice.
- Sound knowledge of, and experience in, matters of safeguarding (training is mandatory)
Work related circumstances
- Ability to work unsocial hours including evenings and weekends including residential stays
- We would expect our staff to hold a full driving licence and be use their car for business purposes.
- Active commitment to continuous personal professional development and workforce development.
- Attend supervision, clinical supervision and additional training as required.
Benefits:
Pension
Health Shield
Bike to Work Scheme
Tech Scheme
Christmas Savings Club
To find out more and to apply for this role, please visit: https://talent.sage.hr/jobs/86572a12-d506-4441-8236-da443ad1981c
Contact
Safer Communities
01642 664440
info@safercommunities.org.uk
The closing date for this job is 9 November 2022 - 10:00am.