Targeted Youth Support Practitioner

Targeted Youth Support Practitioner

Grade 6 £39,276- £42,771pa

Make a Difference for Havering’s Young People

Are you passionate about supporting young people to overcome challenges and build brighter futures? Join our dynamic Starting Well team as a Targeted Youth Support Practitioner and play a vital role in helping young people aged 10–18 (up to 25 with SEND) across Havering to thrive, stay safe, and achieve their potential.

About the role

You’ll provide high-quality diversion, early intervention, and trauma-informed support to young people at risk of exploitation or involvement with the criminal justice system. Your work will focus on:

• Building meaningful, trusting relationships with young people and their families.
• Delivering direct casework and being the lead professional for your caseload.
• Designing and running group programmes in schools, community venues, and on the streets as part of our detached youth offer.
• Working evenings and weekends as needed to reach young people where they are.
• Advocating for young people’s voices and supporting positive change in the services they access. Collaborating with colleagues across Children’s Services, Education, the Voluntary Sector, and Housing to maximise support opportunities.
• Promoting emotional wellbeing, resilience, and positive pathways to adulthood.

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Holds a relevant qualification to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent (e.g. Youth Work, Psychology, Youth Justice).
• Has experience supporting vulnerable children and young people with complex needs, and advocating for them.
• Understands trauma, adolescent development, and the risks young people face outside the home (e.g. exploitation, substance misuse, peer associations).
• Is confident in risk assessment, safeguarding, and developing tailored support plans.
• Communicates effectively, with compassion and commitment to helping young people and families change their lives for the better.
• Is flexible, resilient, and ready to work evenings/weekends and travel across the borough.

Please view Job Profile here

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Palmela.witter@havering.gov.uk

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 31/12/25 however interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

You will be notified if your application has been successful. Interview date to be confirmed.

Should you require any help or advice with your online application, please contact the Recruitment Helpdesk on 01708 432770.

Additional Information

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.