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, don’t always give children and families the support they need to move to a place of safety where harm to self and others is reduced. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in partnership with SHiFT, are determined to change this, for the better.

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

SHiFT Redcar and Cleveland will work consistently, using the Breaking Cycles Model, with a small number of children, young people and their families. The focus will be to work with children and young people from the age of 10 up to 18 years within our local demographic.

All SHiFT 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 they work with, doing whatever it takes to get results.

SHiFT Guides are highly skilled professionals who may come from a wide range of backgrounds; this could be 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 and work as part of a dedicated team.

We are interested in your values and experience, so if in doubt about the role, please ask

SHiFT Redcar and Cleveland will be located within the Vulnerable Adolescents and Independent Review Service Area of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councils Children and Families Directorate. SHiFT will work in parallel with and have the support of our SAFE (Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitation) and NWD (No Wrong Door) teams and will work with Youth Justice, Education, and the wider Children’s Services, in addition to SHiFT National.

Working directly for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and benefitting from high support and high challenge from SHiFT, a national charity
A wide range of employment benefits

The Role: SHiFT Guide

SHiFT Guides work intensively with a caseload of 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, through skilful influencing and advocacy, challenging narratives.

Possess relevant qualification (DipSW, Degree in Social Work, Qualified Probation Officer PCEP (Professional Certificate in Effective Practice), NVQ Level 4 in Community Justice).
Have relevant experience of working with children caught in the destructive cycle of crime and delivering exceptional outcomes.
Knowledge or experience of systemic approaches, or an enthusiasm to learn.
Passion for breaking cycles of crime and working with children and families to achieve best possible outcomes and a 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.