Shift Guide

Job description

Growing up is risky business. Current responses to children who are caught in, or at risk of, the destructive cycle of crime, often don’t give children and families the support they need to move to a place of safety and strength, Middlesbrough Council in partnership with SHiFT, is determined to change this, for the better.

SHiFT Middlesbrough are looking for exceptional practitioners from all backgrounds - creative, tenacious and flexible changemakers - to work intensively alongside the most vulnerable children in the Middlesbrough to break destructive cycles of crime and influence system change. If this sounds like you, and you’d thrive in a fast-paced, outcomes focused culture, then we want to hear from you

SHiFT Middlesbrough will work consistently, using the Breaking Cycles ingredients, with a small number of children and young people and their families. Unconstrained by age, geographic or professional boundaries, Guides start with aspiration and belief in all young people. Guides work alongside and across the statutory system, ensuring duplication is avoided and scarce resources are directed and purposeful. Guides will be singularly focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for the children and young people it works with - doing whatever it takes to get results.

SHiFT practitioners are highly skilled professionals who come from a wide range of backgrounds - experienced social workers, teachers, youth workers, youth offending practitioners or other professionals with strong leadership experience who want to invest in meaningful, skilled and direct work with children. We are more interested in your values and experience than your qualifications, so if in doubt, please ask.

SHiFT Middlesbrough will be located within the Education service area of Middlesbrough Council and have the support of Youth Justice, Education, and the wider Children’s Services, in addition to the national SHIFT team.
- Working directly for the Middlesbrough Council and benefitting additional from high support and high challenge from SHiFT, a national charity_
- A wide range of employment benefits_
- Knowledge or experience of systemic approaches is a bonus, or enthusiasm to learn_
- Passion for breaking cycles of crime and working with children and families to achieve best possible outcomes and track record of delivering exceptional outcomes for and with them_
- Excited and equipped for the challenge of being part of innovation programme that seeks to influence system change_.

SHiFT Guides work intensively with 5-6 children or young people who are caught in the destructive cycle of crime, doing whatever it takes to break those cycles of crime for good. Guides provide flexible expert support tailored to each child and family’s individual circumstance and lived experience. Guides are a consistent, high support and high challenge presence in children’s lives, working with them, their families and professional network to develop strengths and reduce risks and, through skilful influencing and advocacy, challenge narratives. Guides work around what children and families need, not the other way round. This means highly flexible working and you can expect to work during weekends and evenings.
- Possess relevant qualification or equivalent relevant experience of working with children caught in the destructive cycle of crime - DipSW, Degree in Social Work, Qualified Probation Officer PCEP (Professional Certificate in Effective Practice), NVQ Level 4 in Community Justice_