Senior Practitioner (Youth Justice)

Job Introduction

About Us

Oxfordshire Youth Justice Service is a dynamic and forward-thinking multi-agency partnership committed to preventing and reducing youth crime in the County of Oxfordshire. We are passionate about improving outcomes for justice-involved children, families and victims of crime and are driven in our practice by the Child First framework and our values. You would be joining a team of professionals who come to work each day to make things better for our children and those harmed by their behaviour. We are proud of the service we provide in partnership for our children, and are fiercely motivated to address barriers and challenges in our systems including equity of access to services for vulnerable and minoritised communities and victims, disproportionate over-representation of Black and Mixed Heritage children in our justice system, and improving education outcomes for children with SEND along with other core priorities as outlined in our Youth Justice Annual Plan.

Oxfordshire Youth Justice Service is currently being re-located under an umbrella of teams as part of the development of a new 'adolescent offer' for Oxfordshire's children. This is an exciting time to join the service as we align with colleagues in Targeted Youth Work and Exploitation to enhance our responses across prevention, diversion and around harm outside the home. 

About the Role

The role of Senior Practitioner within the Youth Justice Service is dynamic and multi-faceted, with a 70/30 split of case-management alongside practice/team development work. Senior Practitioners hold the most complex and high-need children in our service, and will tend to work with children on higher-level community orders and those on remand/sentence in custody, including those subject to MAPPA. This role involves additional responsibilities and opportunities such as delivering training/workshops internally and to partners, leading on projects and assisting the management team with audits and quality assurance activity. Senior Practitioners are also required to represent the management team and service in some multi-agency panels and forums. The role has supervisory responsibility for some non case-holding members of the team. Senior Practitioners form part of the YJS Duty Management rota so the role does involve some occasional evening and weekend work. 

About you

Candidates applying for this Senior Practitioner role will need to have strong experience of youth justice practice and be highly conversant in youth justice knowledge, practice frameworks, legislation and guidance. We are looking for a practitioner able to pick up a complex and varied case-load, attend Magistrates and Crown Courts, write both community and custody-level Pre-Sentence Reports and work with children on remand or sentenced in the secure estate. We are looking for a practitioner who has experience of leading on specific practice areas or projects and who is able to demonstrate positive role-modelling and leadership skills for the wider team. Experience of supervising/mentoring other members of staff is desirable. Our Senior Practitioners will often be the 'first port of call' for the team and for partners and so we are looking for candidates who embody our Child First values, have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, competence in dynamic problem-solving, confidence in making defensible decisions, and self-awareness in knowing what and when to escalate for further support.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk