Senior Practitioner

Job Introduction

About Us

Oxfordshire Youth Justice Service (YJS) is going through an exciting change as we integrate into a new Adolescence & Prevention Service. The Youth Justice service sits as a distinct team alongside Targeted Youth Work and the SAFER team (harm outside the home). The YJS is led by a Service Manager and a dedicated Team Manager, supported by two Assistant Team Managers and three Senior Practitioners.

This is a very exciting time to be part of a developing offer for adolescents and victims in Oxfordshire in line with evidence and innovation regionally and nationally. Oxfordshire Youth Justice Service is a dynamic and forward-thinking team, committed to continuous learning and holding ourselves to the highest standards for our children, families and victims in line with our Child First principles and the Victim's Code. We are a county-wide service located within Children's Services.

Please note - all OCC job descriptions are currently being reviewed as part of a Council-wide HR process. This means that all roles are being placed into Role Profiles and Career Families. Once this work is complete, this job description and role may be re-evaluated to better reflect the needs of the service, which can be discussed at interview.

About the Role

The Senior Practitioner roles within Oxfordshire’s Youth Justice Service hold a reduced caseload with higher levels of complexity and public protection/safety concerns. This allows capacity for Senior Practitioners to play a crucial function in the learning and development of the team; supporting management with training, workshops, practice development and quality assurance. Senior Practitioners also have lead areas of practice, and this role has lead responsibility for restorative justice and victims within the Youth Justice Service, which includes our Reparation/Unpaid Work offer and the work of our dedicated volunteers. This Senior Practitioner role supervises the Restorative Justice Worker and provides monthly reflective case supervision and effective managerial oversight of victim case-work and restorative justice performance. The role also supervises our Reparation Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinators.

You will be responsible for driving effective practice around restorative justice and victims and providing guidance and support for staff across the service and wider directorate on issues linked to youth justice and victims within the justice system. You will provide performance reporting to the Team Manager and Service Manager and support the preparation of information shared with the Youth Justice Partnership Management Board, which plays a lead role in the strategic governance and oversight of work with victims.

You will be required to maintain excellent knowledge of the current challenges facing our children and victims of crime and be a strong advocate for their rights in line with the YJB Child First principles and Victim’s Code. You will be expected to maintain your knowledge of the youth justice agenda including key issues at a national level and support management to translate practice change/development at a local level in a way that meets the needs of Oxfordshire children and those harmed by their offending.

You will help to ensure that services are planned and delivered in a way that maximises participation with children and victims and is responsive to individual needs and backgrounds.

About you

This is a unique role and we are looking for values-led individual who is passionate about supporting people harmed through youth crime using restorative and relational approaches to practice. Empathy, compassion, respect and excellent communication skills are essential. We are looking for someone with experience of working within the criminal justice system either in Probation or Youth Justice, or in an organisation predicated on restorative justice approaches. You will have a sound understanding of Restorative Justice and be willing to learn and develop in line with research and evidence. This role involves line-management responsibilities so we are looking for a candidate with experience of management and supervision; you will be organised and self-motivated with a focus on achieving the best outcomes for children who offend and victims of crime through robust oversight of victim casework and performance in the service.

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Upto 33 days holiday p.a plus bank holidays
• Option to 'buy' additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer's contribution of upto 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

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, 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 issues with the application system, please contact us at: alison.brookman@oxfordshire.gov.uk