Job Description:

Youth Justice Service – Senior Practitioner / Advanced Practitioner

Location: Birmingham
Service: Birmingham Youth Justice Service
Contract: Locum / Temporary
 

Job Purpose

To support the Team Manager and Deputy Team Manager in delivering an effective Youth Justice Service that meets the individual needs of young people and their families, with a focus on reducing and preventing further offending.

The postholder will contribute to embedding the Birmingham Children’s Trust Connections Count Practice Model, promote evidence-based practice and develop specialist knowledge within the Youth Justice Service.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Team Manager and Deputy Team Manager to embed the Connections Count Practice Model across the team.

• Undertake complex Youth Justice casework, ensuring high-quality assessments, interventions and case recording.

• Work collaboratively with young people and families to reduce offending and improve outcomes.

• Work as part of a multi-agency team, partnering with Social Care, Police, Education, Health and other agencies.

• Lead or contribute to quality assurance, case reviews and practice improvement activity.

• Develop areas of specialist expertise and share knowledge to improve Youth Justice practice.

• Provide professional and technical support to less experienced colleagues.

• Assist with the induction and development of new staff.

• Ensure case records are accurate, comprehensive and maintained in accordance with Youth Justice Service requirements.

• Chair meetings, reviews and planning discussions with young people and families where required.

• Lead or support the management of high-profile and complex cases.

• Represent the Youth Justice Service at strategy meetings, professional meetings and multi-agency forums.

• Work with managers to identify service-user needs and develop appropriate evidence-based individual and group interventions.

• Assist managers in monitoring workloads and improving team performance against relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

• Participate in training and contribute to the ongoing development of the team.

• Deputise for managers when required and support the team with operational issues.

• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the delivery of services in accordance with Birmingham City Council policies.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience working with young people within Youth Justice / Youth Offending Services.

• Experience managing complex or high-risk cases.

• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, risk management and evidence-based interventions.

• Experience working effectively within multi-agency environments.

• Ability to chair meetings, contribute to professional forums and represent a service confidently.

• Experience supporting colleagues through professional advice, mentoring or practice development.

• Strong case recording, assessment and report-writing skills.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively to deadlines.

• Commitment to strengths-based, relationship-focused practice with young people and families.