Practice Managers - Youth Justice

Job Title: Practice Managers - Youth Justice
Starting Salary: £48,226 + £7,146 market enhancement pay, progressing to £53,460 + £6,984 market enhancement pay per annum
Hours: 37.0
Location: Hertfordshire - based in either Hemel Hempstead or Stevenage (Hybrid)
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

Due to successful internal progression, we are recruiting to two Practice Manager positions. If you are passionate about shaping the future of youth justice and driving positive change, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. The 2 posts cover:

• South - including Watford, Three Rivers & Hertsmere (contractual base Apsley, Hemel Hempstead)
• North - including Stevenage and North Herts (contractual based Farnham House, Stevenage)

These roles are a combination of hybrid and office working.

About the team

Hertfordshire Youth Justice Service is undergoing an exciting transition, evolving from its integration within children's social care to becoming a centralised youth justice service.

In this pivotal role, you will contribute to day-to-day operational management of youth justice including services to Courts, liaison with statutory partners and the secure estate, the implementation of national and local Youth Justice priorities. Your leadership will be crucial in overseeing the operational aspects of youth justice service delivery, ensuring that our team meets the highest standards of practice.

About the role

I this role you will:

• Provide effective leadership, case management, supervision, and performance management to Youth Justice staff, including Social Workers, Adolescent Practitioners, and specialist and seconded staff from partner agencies.
• Represent, and on occasions Chair the Youth Diversion Panel, ensuring robust interventions are in place to facilitate positive change and maintain safety for children and communities.
• Liaise with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies to exchange, provide, gather, collate, and evaluate information and data, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
• Develop partnerships and liaise with wider Children’s Services and partner agencies to promote the ‘child first’ agenda positive outcomes for children in the Youth Justice system.
• Lead on a designated portfolio area such as in-house Appropriate Adult Scheme, equity & diversity or participation.
• Conduct regular quality assurance activities, including case file audits, AssetPlus assessments, Pre-Sentence and Breach reports, ensuring adherence to timelines and preparation for HMIP inspections of Youth Justice services.

About you

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified Social Worker and current registration with Social Work England.
• Current, working knowledge of legislation relevant to the role.
• Understanding and experience of management oversight of Youth Justice assessment (AssetPlus) and risk management processes.
• Experience of quality assurance processes including routine auditing, gatekeeping of reports, National Standards for Youth Justice and HMIP inspection frameworks.
• Experience of using Youth Justice case management e.g. ChildView.
• Strong IT, organisation and communication skills are essential in managing competing demands, maintaining accurate recording on systems, working alongside statutory agencies and wider partners, meeting deadlines and statutory standards and requirements.
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with Police, Courts, Health, Probation, Children Services, Secure estate, Youth Justice Board, other Youth Offending services.
• Able to identify key priorities, work effectively under pressure and meet identified deadlines.
• Able to work flexibly, including evenings where required and undertake Saturday / bank holiday Manager duty as part of a rota.
• You will be required to travel so a driving licence and access to a vehicle for work is essential.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience of the Court work including liaising with magistrates and Court User groups and report quality assurance.
• Management experience of supervising staff working with children subject to Out of Court and statutory Court Orders, enabling practitioners to function effectively through clear decision making and use of appropriate processes.
• Experience of undertaking research and producing complex reports or documents.
• Experience of interpreting and analysing the impact of legislation and policy on service delivery.

This is a crucial role which provides an opportunity to demonstrate real impact and drive practice improvement, supporting children in achieving positive change whilst also keeping them and local communities safe.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC12 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Health and social care

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Robert Samuel, Youth Justice Service Manager on Robert.Samuel@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 17th September.

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.