Education, Training, and Employment Support Practitioner

The Service

Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, every local authority has to ensure youth justice services operate within their area.Portsmouth Youth Justice Services (PYJS) are situated in the Children, Families and Education Directorate of Portsmouth City Council.We are a multi-disciplinary, partnership organisation that works within Children and Families Services and the wider Youth Justice System to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people (10 – 18 years of age).

We take pride in our work by valuing others; focusing on what's important so that we make a real and positive difference.

The Role

Reporting to a YJS Team Leader for line management and case work oversight, you will work closely with YJS colleagues to identify children known to our service who require support to access education, training and/or employment. You will work directly with those children to agree support plans with them and their parents or carers which may include delivering brief interventions yourself (such as CV writing, attending open days, skills development) and/or liaising with providers.You will also track progress against those plans with the aim of achieving successful and sustainable outcomes as part of the child's overall intervention plan.

You will liaise with a range of departments, organisations and personnel to ensure each child is able to receive appropriate education, training or employment opportunities and supported to reach their full potential.This will include children who are receiving education via the secure estate, and other out of area provision, as well as those accessing local schools and services.

As part of our wider PYJS team, you will also contribute to effective delivery of youth justice services in Portsmouth as a whole through your own work and support of work done by other statutory agencies (e.g. Health, Police, Social Care, Education etc).There will also be scope to develop your skills with more generic elements of the role such as undertaking Office Duty and supporting other colleagues

The ideal candidate

You will need to have/be

• A Level 4 qualification in Education, Social Care, Advice and Guidance or equivalent and/or be able to demonstrate significant experience of working with children, young people and families in a youth justice or education setting.
• Demonstrable experience of working with children and their parents/carers or wider support networks to identify the opportunities and barriers presented to them; seeking their views, developing a mutually agreed plan to support and increase access or participation, delivering direct work, co-ordinating and reviewing progress as required.
• Demonstrable experience of working closely with schools, colleges and other providers to establish positive working relationships, understand what they can offer and ensure children are afforded appropriate access and support with regards to education, training and employment.
• Demonstrable experience of working closely with a range of other personnel and departments, at all levels, to advocate for children, secure appropriate provision, remove or reduce barriers and celebrate success when it occurs.
• Knowledge and understanding of the youth justice system, and in particular the education, training and employment related needs of children who are known to that system and the opportunities and barriers they may face.Knowledge and understanding of education, training and employment services (including wider related support services) available to children of this age group, particularly (but not limited to) those within the local area. Knowledge and understanding of the range of agencies who may support and/or protect children aged 10-18 years old, and their role (both broadly, and in respect of education, training and employment more specifically).
• Knowledge and understanding of current legislation, frameworks, guidance, policies and procedures which are applicable to this role e.g. safeguarding, education/training/employment, youth justice, SEND etc.
• Communication and interpersonal skills enabling you to perform a lead role within our service and effectively engage with all key stakeholders, including representing us at a range of meetings including contacts with families, professional planning meetings, management level reviews and strategic/senior forums, particularly with regards to education, training and employment.

Please ensure that you read the job profile for full details on the post. We offer hybrid working with the expectation to attend the office 2 days a week.

Application process

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.

As part of your application we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. 

About Portsmouth City Council

What we can offer you:

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616800