At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and guide young people in a secure academy, fostering their growth and development.
- Company: Join Oasis Restore, the UK's first secure school transforming youth justice.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and comprehensive training opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team dedicated to creating positive futures.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and help them thrive.
- Qualifications: Experience with children or personal insight into youth challenges is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 38939 - 42729 £ per year.
Closing Date: 15th July 2026
Interview Date: Week commencing 20th July 2026
Start Date: 31st August 2026
Salary: £38,939 to £42,729 – inclusive of an unsocial hour's allowance payment worth up to £6,792 per annum, plus Local Government Pension Scheme.
Location: Oasis Restore in Rochester, Medway, Kent.
Working Pattern: Full-time shift work including days, evenings, nights, and weekends.
Disclosure Level: Enhanced
Do you want to be part of a revolution in Youth Justice? Are you passionate about working with children who are on remand or sentenced? Do you have a gift for balancing kindness with structure? If you said yes to any of the above, then we have an opportunity for you like no other!
As a Restore Practitioner, you will join our key frontline residential department as well as being part of the wider Oasis Restore team dedicated to nurturing children from challenging backgrounds. You will be guiding them toward positive futures in the UK's first Secure Academy Trust to educate children in custody.
The role and what we are looking for:
- This isn't just any role—it's an ever-evolving, hands-on position where you'll create a safe, home-like environment in a custodial setting.
- You'll be responsible for fostering self-esteem, teaching life skills, and introducing children to new interests and experiences.
- A therapeutic approach is essential, as you'll help our youth navigate their journeys with compassion, structure, and resilience.
- You will work within a team which includes experienced social care managers and therapists as well as working with teaching staff to support the children's engagement in education and wider school activities.
- You will play an active role in the school's enrichment programme, delivering sessions which promote the development of the whole child.
- In addition to delivering and supporting enrichment programs, you'll ensure our safeguarding standards are rigorously upheld and keep our systems updated.
At Oasis Restore we provide extensive training, but we also welcome your unique perspective and flair. You will be passionate about making a difference to the children's lives, empathetic in your approach to them and to your colleagues, patient, hopeful, forgiving, and able to behave with a curious mindset in your approach. You will have integrity, respect for others and their different life experiences and backgrounds and will understand and be able to maintain professional relationships and boundaries and have an unwavering commitment to child safeguarding.
Your experience, combined with our guidance, will empower you to make a genuine impact. If you're ready for a challenging yet deeply fulfilling role, we'd love to hear from you. Join us as a Restore Practitioner and be part of something truly transformative.
Our offer to you:
- A mixture of one to one and group reflective practice, coaching & regular line management/supervision sessions.
- Experience an Appraisal policy that decouples pay and performance.
- An elected staff forum to listen to, and act on staff feedback.
- Access to the Local Government Pensions Scheme (a competitive, defined benefit pension scheme).
- Access to a funded cash plan health scheme.
- Access to an EAP service.
- 33 days annual leave including bank holidays, rising to 35 days after two years.
- Subject to meeting basic eligibility criteria, be entitled to up to 8 weeks full-pay and 18 weeks half-pay paid maternity/adoption/shared parental leave.
- Subject to meeting basic eligibility criteria be entitled to up to 3 weeks fully paid paternity leave.
- Paid time off to attend antenatal appointments.
- Have a structured and bespoke induction training plan plus a training offer bespoke to our context leading to a level 4 qualification in the therapeutic care of adolescents.
- Comprehensive MMPR restraint training.
- Supportive sick leave pay from Day 1 of employment.
- Up to 5 days discretionary paid compassionate/emergency/general leave plus further discretionary unpaid leave.
- Up to 4 weeks paid parental bereavement leave plus up to 5 days paid bereavement leave for the death of other specified close relatives.
- Blue Light Card (subject to meeting their eligibility criteria).
- Expenses and travel costs incurred as part of the working day.
- Access to free car parking, season Ticket Loans, Specsavers eye care vouchers and a cycle to work scheme.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant and rigorous employment checks including references and right to work checks.
Oasis Restore aim is to attract and retain the very best diverse talent and role models to help create an innovative, caring and extraordinary working environment for our staff, that enables us to deliver exceptional, caring and psychologically informed learning experience for our students.
If you can demonstrate some of the criteria and believe you have what it takes, then we'd love to hear from you.
Locations
Children & Young People’s Practitioner (Community in Kent, Maidstone employer: OASIS RESTORE
Oasis Restore is an exceptional employer dedicated to transforming the lives of children in the criminal justice system through a supportive and innovative work environment. Located in Rochester, Medway, Kent, we offer extensive training, a competitive benefits package including generous leave and pension schemes, and a culture that values diversity and personal growth. Join us as a Restore Practitioner and be part of a revolutionary team that fosters positive futures for young people while enjoying a fulfilling career with meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children & Young People’s Practitioner (Community in Kent, Maidstone
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at OASIS RESTORE.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from OASIS RESTORE!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like OASIS RESTORE, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at OASIS RESTORE or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Children & Young People’s Practitioner (Community in Kent, Maidstone
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to OASIS RESTORE:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to OASIS RESTORE! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at OASIS RESTORE
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
