Youth Practitioner

Join to apply for the Youth Practitioner - The Harbour role at Dorset Council 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 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 some 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 is located in Weymouth. We are looking for caring, committed and positive individuals to join our supportive team of Youth Practitioners, working within the homes and local community supporting our children and young people to thrive. We will provide you with an extensive induction and training including a level 4 certificate in therapeutic care where required. Dorset has a comprehensive training programme which supports your professional growth and development. Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, we will equip you with the skills, confidence, and qualifications to succeed. Professional Qualifications fully funded Level 3 Diploma in Childcare or the nationally recognised Level 4 Therapeutic Certificate in Childcare support with Maths & English if needed Core Skills & Induction structured onboarding programme to help you settle in safeguarding, trauma‑informed care, and behaviour management first aid and health & safety Ongoing Development monthly reflective supervision and peer learning access to e‑learning, workshops, and specialist courses specialist training in therapeutic care and attachment deep dive into child development and neurodiversity Career Progression clear routes to Senior Youth Practitioner and Team Leader roles leadership programmes, coaching, and mentoring 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 which will be sustained. 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 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. You will be aspirational in outlook and flexible in delivery, promoting growth, learning and responsibility. You will be able to work autonomously and as part of a team responding flexibly to dynamic situations. About You 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 Teamworking skills Inter‑agency collaboration skills Effective IT skills to use the recording systems Willingness to undertake training Excellent role model for children and young people Further Information For an informal conversation, please contact Ashlee Price, Deputy Manager, at [email protected] or 01305 225552. This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport deemed 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 safeguarding children and young people. Equal Employment Opportunity We welcome applications from everyone. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, please let us know on your application. #J-18808-Ljbffr