We are seeking an Adolescent Practitioner to join Hertfordshire’s Youth Justice Service to work with children aged 10-18 who have received either a diversionary resolution (pre-Court) or Court Order.
Hertfordshire Youth Justice Service is undergoing an exciting transition, evolving from its integration within children's social care to becoming a centralised youth justice service.
This role provides the opportunity to work with a skilled, motivated and dedicated workforce, who are passionate about supporting children to desist from offending through robust assessment and delivery of tailored interventions which achieve positive change for children and keep them and wider communities safe.
About the role
The role of Adolescent Practitioner is to build relationships with children based on their individual needs, responding to their heritage, neuro diversity, learning style and self-identity enabling them to achieve positive change and be safe. The role involves:
- Working in partnership with Children’s Services staff and other statutory and voluntary agencies, to provide robust programmes for children subject to out of court and court orders requiring skilled case management, to meet National Standards to reduce and manage risk to the public and prevent further offending.
- Managing a caseload of children open to Youth Justice on an Out of Court (diversion) or community-based Court Order.
- Through appropriate assessment of risk and risk management, develop, provide, co-ordinate and monitor programmes of intervention for children to prevent further offending in accordance with evidence-based practice.
- Contributing to the delivery of the full range of services for children, their families and victims within Youth Justice Services.
- Working in partnership with other professionals and with the parents/carers and families of children to ensure consistency with programme arrangements and to maximise the benefits of individual programmes for children.
- Maintaining accurate and timely comprehensive case management information on ChildView and comply with deadlines and statutory standards and requirements.
- Providing high quality reports e.g. Referral Order reports based on an AssetPlus assessment.
- Liaising with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies to exchange, provide, gather, collate and evaluate information and data as may be required for monitoring the compliance of children, maintaining the positive benefits of individual intervention programmes.
- Participating in wider team activities such as operational duty, court cover, including evenings and weekends of programme operation.
About you
Essential Criteria:
- Relevant qualifications in youth work, criminology or criminal justice or relevant experience of providing interventions and working as part of a child focused multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to meaningfully engage and communicate effectively with children as well as a range of individuals including parent/carers, victims, wider professionals and external agencies.
- Understanding of the child first approach and proven experience of building positive relationships with children and parent/carers.
- Strong IT skills to maintain confidential and accurate records on both case management systems and Excel spreadsheets.
- Experience of dealing with conflict and problem solving.
- Good IT, organisation and communication skills are essential as you will need to record information on a case management information system, coproduce intervention plans, produce reports, and correspond with children, parent/carers and partners.
- Diving Licence and access to a vehicle.
Desirable:
- Experience of youth court and crown court work is desirable.
- Experience of developing and delivering engaging programmes of groupwork to children.
- Experience and a sound knowledge of relevant legislation and policies relating to victims, children and their families within the youth justice service.
- Self-motivated and able to organise and effectively manage own workload whilst maintaining high quality standards.
This is an incredible opportunity to make a real difference in children’s lives at a critical time. As an Adolescent Practitioner, you will be on the front line, helping children navigate challenges, make better choices, and find a path towards a brighter future.
Your work will directly impact not only the children you support, but also their families and the wider community.
How to apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities.
Please ensure you include a short supporting statement within your application to give us a little more information about how your skills, knowledge, and experiences meet our criteria.
Additional information
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.
Job Reference: HCC28597