Young Persons Practitioner

Salary: £25,000 per annum

Location: South Lanarkshire (and sometimes other central belt locations – e.g. Glasgow)

Contract/Hours: Fixed term contract until March 2026 / Full Time – 37 hours per week

Closing date for applications is midnight of 16th October

Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you\’ll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It\’s the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children\’s lives.

A bit about the role

Did you know that approximately 1 in every 10 children in the average classroom is living with a diagnosable mental health condition? Early intervention is key to ensuring these young people receive the support they need before challenges escalate.

At Action for Children, we’re proud to be part of the solution. We deliver The Blues Programme—an evidence-based, CBT-informed group intervention designed to help reduce symptoms of low mood and anxiety among adolescents. Built on an early intervention model, this research-backed initiative equips young people with practical tools to build resilience, challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, and boost emotional wellbeing.

In addition, we also offer Bouncing Back—a complementary programme available for both primary and secondary school pupils, aimed at nurturing emotional literacy, self-esteem, and confidence. Currently, these programmes are delivered primarily in schools throughout South Lanarkshire.

We’re now seeking passionate and dedicated Young Person’s Practitioner’s to join our team. In this role, you’ll be delivering up to three Blues Programme sessions per day within secondary school settings. You’ll play a critical part in supporting students’ mental health and fostering a more supportive school environment.

We anticipate that you’ll be based in schools for two to three days per week. The remainder of your working hours will involve essential administrative tasks, which can be carried out flexibly—from home or from our office, depending on what works best for you.

How you\’ll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities of a Young Persons Practitioner role are:

• Delivering group work in up to 4 schools per week.
• Breaking down barriers surrounding adolescent mental health issues.
• Giving young people tools in order to manage their own emotional wellbeing.
• Working in partnership with schools and school management.
• Working towards giving Young People tools to build a positive future.

Let\’s talk about you

• Experience and understanding of working within a school or education environment or mental health support background.
• Enthusiasm for working with Young People.
• Experience of delivering evidence-based programmes.
• Commitment to supporting Young People\’s mental health.
• Driving licence and access to a car. The job requires the ability to travel according to the needs of the job, with reasonable adjustments, if required, according to the Equality Act.

Good to know

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Contact: Laura McCarthy at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 12030

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we\’re dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children. Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.

Want to know more about Action for Children?

Visit our website to learn more about our mission and values.