Senior Youth Practitioner

About the role The priorities for our Dorset children are that they stay in Dorset, which is the best place for them to live, that they are given the best start in life through good care provision and the best education and training opportunities, which enable them to thrive and be the best they can be. The role of Senior Youth Practitioner is to ensure a safe and nurturing environment in which children and young people can thrive and develop self-reliance in reaching their potential. The work will include evening, weekend work including sleep-ins for which there is an allowance and bank holidays. We are a flexible employer and would welcome a discussion around a variety of hours to be mutually agreeable. The Harbour/College House residential home and outreach service for children and young people who have experienced significant trauma and neglect. College House is a residential home in Weymouth. We are looking for caring, committed and positive individuals to join our supportive team of Senior Youth Practitioners, working within the homes and local community supporting our children and young people to thrive. A Senior Youth Practitioner will take advanced responsibilities, managing complex behaviours and supervising youth practitioners. Supervising youth practitioners is mandatory and is a monthly commitment; you will be expected to have good time management and a good knowledge of HR processes including managing sickness and probation. You will need to be able to challenge and escalate safeguarding situations following the correct procedures and be confident in having difficult conversations. A Senior will have a portfolio lead, which is part of our regulations to be an expert in the children’s home regulation categories. Part of this role will be supporting the youth practitioners in this knowledge to provide better support for our young people within College House and the community. While working in the residential home, this role focuses on taking leadership on shift, and you will analyse risk management. This will include completing risk assessments, working towards a behaviour support plan, and managing emotional dysregulation from our young people who have experienced trauma. You will also be required to audit daily checks that comply with the OFSTED regulations, be a positive role model to the young people and staff, and be confident in decision-making and boundary setting. You will also be part of an on-call rota where you will provide phone cover and support to our other residential homes in Dorset, which is at an enhanced pay. We will provide you with an extensive induction and training including a level 4 certificate in therapeutic care where required. You will also be given regular supervision and access to some great employee benefits and LGPS pension scheme working for Dorset Council. We encourage applicants to visit us to allow you to get a better sense of who we are, what the job involves and to ask any questions you may have. About the Harbour At the Harbour, we never give up. No matter what, we stick with the child. Our service is designed to wrap around a child’s needs, rather than trying to make them fit around ours. We have an evidence-informed approach to risk and are heavily invested in a supportive working environment, including a whole team development plan above and beyond mandatory requirements. We have a multi-agency integrated through co-location, sharing of learning and tasks. Our children are helped by people who make things happen. What you will be doing You will be passionate and aspirational in supporting young people through a variety of activities which will help you build a strong and resilient relationship. Activities will include introducing children and young people to new environments, sports, arts and leisure, as well as supporting them in education training and employment and promoting a clean, safe, and nurturing home environment in which they can develop skills for independence. You will form positive relationships with our children, young people, and families and together, work productively with families, partner agencies, and allocated social workers to identify and achieve the best outcomes for our children. You will work to mend relationships and reunify families when appropriate to do so. You will be aspirational in outlook and flexible in delivery, to promote growth, learning, and responsibility. You will be able to work autonomously and as part of a team responding flexibly to dynamic situations. We are aspirational for our staff as well as our children. You will be joining a supportive and inclusive Council who will provide nurture and invest in you to enable you to thrive in your job. A comprehensive training programme is available in addition to the mandatory training, to enable your professional growth and development. About you You will be a kind and caring person with a passion for improving lives, be aspirational in attitude, and resilient and flexible in approach. Ability to achieve QCF level 4 Health and Social Care or equivalent. Numeracy and literacy skills. Recording and report writing skills. Experience and resilience working with children and young people. Ability to work flexibly across a range of settings. Experience of direct work with families. Problem-solving skills. Skilled in forming and maintaining relationships with young people. Good communication, interpersonal, and advocacy skills. Understanding of key childcare legislation. Team working skills. Skills in inter-agency collaboration. Effective IT skills to use the recording systems. Willingness to undertake training. Excellent role model for children and young people. Contact details: Ashlee Price - Deputy Manager College House Ashlee.price@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk Further Information This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed. This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders. See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

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