Practice Lead Youth Justice Support Service

Directorate: Children and Family Services

Section: Children’s Social Care – Youth Justice Support Service

Grade: Level 13 (indicative) (£49,817–£53,051 per annum)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job; it is about making, protecting and improving services for local people, reducing inequalities and improving independence for those who live and work in the city. That is where you come in. We are looking for people of the highest calibre, with the skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset. The skills, knowledge and experience of our employees are essential to delivering our ambitions for the organisation and the city. We want to be an employer people are proud to work for, where staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them excel and deliver the high-quality services our residents need.

Further information on why work for us

Join Our Children and Families Service

We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of an ambitious programme of service transformation. We are looking for talented, committed and values-led professionals to join us.

The Role

Bring your social work expertise to our Youth Justice Support Service and help practitioners make a lasting difference to children, young people and their families. We are looking for experienced, qualified social workers to join us as Practice Leads, championing strengths-based, relational practice and keeping children’s needs, safety and family relationships at the centre of support.

Working within the Youth Justice Support Service, you will provide practice leadership, reflective supervision, mentoring and coaching to social work qualified and alternatively qualified colleagues. You will help practitioners understand the needs and experiences behind a child’s circumstances, recognise risk and protective factors, and deliver coordinated, evidence-based support. Through joint work, professional challenge and strong partnerships, you will strengthen safeguarding and the quality of practice within the Families First Partnership model.

About You

• A recognised social work qualification and the ability to meet Social Work England registration and re-registration requirements, alongside a post-qualifying social work or management qualification, or willingness to work towards one.
• Extensive experience of complex children and families social work, including child protection enquiries, court work, care planning and supporting children across a range of needs.
• Sound knowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures, with a strong understanding of child development, parenting capacity, environmental influences and evidence-based interventions.
• Experience of strengths-based and relational practice, reflective supervision, and mentoring colleagues to develop confident, analytical and child-centred practice.
• The ability to engage children, young people and families, chair complex meetings and communicate difficult information with clarity, empathy and professional confidence.
• Strong skills in analysing risk, challenging practice constructively and working across agencies, with the resilience and judgement to support colleagues in complex situations within the Youth Justice Support Service.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide practice leadership, reflective supervision, mentoring and coaching to practitioners within the Youth Justice Support Service, modelling strengths-based and relational approaches.
• Undertake joint visits and pieces of work, support complex assessments and decision-making, and help colleagues identify risk, harm, strengths and protective factors.
• Bring social work expertise to safeguarding decisions, including support for Section 47 enquiries and Public Law Outline processes where required, in consultation with the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team.
• Chair relevant meetings and group supervision, promote professional curiosity and support coordinated planning with children, families and partner agencies.
• Contribute to practice observations, collaborative audits and performance monitoring, using research, learning and constructive challenge to improve practice and escalate unresolved concerns.
• Support the Principal Manager with resources, allocation and service development, deputise when required, and ensure children and families understand their rights to advocacy and to provide feedback.

Why Join Us?

• Use your social work expertise in a youth justice setting, helping practitioners see the whole child and build support around their needs and relationships.
• Develop others through hands-on practice leadership, mentoring and reflective supervision, with real influence on the quality of work with children and families.
• Contribute to the Families First Partnership model and strengthen joined-up working between youth justice, children’s social care and safeguarding partners.

What we offer

• A permanent role with a salary of £49,817–£53,051 per annum.
• 28 days’ annual leave rising to 33 days after five years’ continuous service, plus eight public/bank holidays.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Professional development and learning opportunities, with relocation and commuter support available where scheme criteria are met.

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Want to know more?

If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact:
Beth Gledhill, Head of Service
bethany.gledhill@stoke.gov.uk

Pre-employment checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK.
• Proof of address.
• Satisfactory references.
• Occupational Health clearance.
• Evidence of relevant professional qualifications or registrations.
• A DBS check at the appropriate level.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and we expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Additional information

Your career matters here. At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we are committed to helping our people thrive. From competitive pay and a supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know it isour greatest asset. We are building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they do not meet every listed requirement. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves and can succeed together.

If an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy, their application will receive priority. If this happens, you will be advised accordingly.

To Apply

Please create or log in to your account and click ‘apply’. If you have any queries or need an application form in another format, email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call 01782 238189.

• Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?

Practice... (.pdf) (202kb)