Youth Justice Practitioner -Young Futures

Portsmouth Youth Justice Service is looking for a motivated, knowledgeable and enthusiastic Youth Justice Practitioner to help establish and deliver our Young Futures prevention interventions. This is an exciting opportunity to join a multidisciplinary and supportive service dedicated to preventing offending and reoffending among children and young people aged 10 to 17., Reporting to a Youth Justice Service Team Leader, you will work restoratively with children, families, professionals and community partners to identify strengths, address risks and develop sustainable plans for change.

You will gather and assess relevant information to support the Young Futures Panel process, seek the views and consent of children and families, and complete high-quality assessments, recommendations and intervention plans. You will manage a caseload of children, coordinating and reviewing direct interventions designed to build on their strengths and reduce identified risks and needs.

Your direct work may address areas including offending behaviour, emotional wellbeing, substance misuse, healthy relationships, education, employment, housing and income. This work will take place in a variety of settings and may occasionally include delivering small-group activities.

You will provide information, advice and signposting, helping children and families access appropriate statutory, voluntary, community and social enterprise services. You will also maintain accurate and high-quality records, contribute to service targets and performance indicators, represent the service at meetings and keep your professional knowledge current with developments in research, legislation, guidance and practice.

The role includes weekday office duty as part of a rota. You may also occasionally be required to work during weekday evenings or at weekends.

You will have a nationally recognised qualification at NVQ Level 4 or above in a relevant field, or equivalent relevant experience. You will also have experience of working with children, young people and families, particularly those who may be isolated or facing multiple and complex challenges.

You will be a highly motivated, flexible and creative practitioner who is committed to improving outcomes for children who have offended or may be at risk of offending. You will bring a restorative and strengths-based approach, working positively with children, parents, carers, victims, colleagues and partner agencies.

You will need current knowledge of safeguarding children and young people, alongside a sound understanding of child development and youth offending. Strong assessment and analytical skills will enable you to assess, plan, review and evaluate interventions while managing a complex caseload.

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills are essential. You will be confident communicating with children, families, managers, colleagues and key stakeholders, and able to provide both support and constructive challenge when managing complex, difficult or potentially volatile situations. The ability to communicate clearly and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential.

You will also need strong organisational, IT and record-keeping skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office applications and specialist databases. You must be able to respond to changing priorities, meet deadlines, reflect on your practice and contribute to continuous service improvement. An understanding of multi-agency and partnership working is also required.

As the role involves working in locations across Portsmouth, you will need access to a suitable form of transport to travel around the city, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS

Funded by the Home Office and Hampshire Violence Reduction Unit, co-ordinated within the Portsmouth Youth Justice Service (PYJS), the Portsmouth Young Futures Prevention Partnership will bring partners together to offer earlier intervention to children who may be at risk of committing anti-social behaviour and youth crime.

PYJS is situated in the Children, Families and Education Directorate of Portsmouth City Council. It is a multi-disciplinary, partnership organisation that works both within the Children and Families Services and the wider Youth Justice System.