At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young people aged 11-18 at risk of harm through relationship-based interventions.
- Company: Southampton City Council, dedicated to safeguarding children and young people.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, flexible working, training opportunities, and health support.
- Other info: Join an expanding project focused on reducing harm and improving outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while working with a supportive team.
- Qualifications: Experience in trauma-informed practice and supporting vulnerable youth.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
At Southampton City Council, we are committed to keeping children and young people safe from serious harm and violence. Over the past 12 months, our Future Directions pilot has demonstrated a positive impact for young people at the highest risk of extrafamilial harm, particularly violence and exploitation. As a result, we are extending the project and expanding the team with an additional Young Person Practitioner role.
Future Directions is an intensive, relationship‐based intervention aligned with a Focused Deterrence and Contextual Safeguarding approach. The project works alongside police colleagues to provide young people with a credible, safeguarding‐led alternative pathway away from violence – prioritising protection, trust and proportionate responses over criminalisation. We are now seeking a fiercely child‐centred, trauma‐informed and culturally competent practitioner to join our growing team.
As a Young Person Practitioner, you will work directly with young people aged 11–18 who are at the highest risk of serious harm and violence. You will build trusted relationships over time, recognising that engagement may be gradual and that trust is earned through consistency, honesty and reliability. You will co-develop personalised support plans with young people, shaped by their experiences, strengths, identity and aspirations. Your practice will be flexible, creative and responsive – meeting young people at their times of greatest need, including outside of traditional office hours where appropriate.
The role sits within our Youth Justice Service and involves close day‐to‐day working with dedicated police colleagues, who are co‐located with the team. Together, you will contribute to safeguarding‐led decision making that balances clear messages about harm and risk with support, advocacy and protection.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and sustain trusting, relationship‐based engagement with young people who may find it difficult to trust professionals.
- Codevelop child‐centred support plans, ensuring young people's voice, culture and lived experience shape all interventions.
- Provide intensive, flexible and creative support, adapting your approach to engage young people when and where they feel safest.
- Work alongside police colleagues within a focused deterrence approach, ensuring safeguarding, proportionality and fairness remain central.
- Contribute to our contextual safeguarding approach to enhance safety in peer groups, places and community settings.
- Maintain clear, compassionate communication and high‐quality recording in line with safeguarding and legal requirements.
- Regularly review support plans and impact with young people, adapting approaches in response to risk, progress and feedback.
About You
We are particularly keen to hear from practitioners who:
- Are deeply committed to child‐first, trauma‐informed and anti‐oppressive practice.
- Have experience supporting young people affected by extrafamilial harm, including violence and exploitation.
- Understand that trust takes time and can work with persistence, empathy and emotional resilience.
- Are culturally competent, reflective and adaptable in their practice.
- Can work flexibly to respond to periods of heightened risk.
- Are confident working with internal and external colleagues, including Police, to ensure an integrated and multi‐agency approach to safeguarding.
This is an opportunity to join an expanding, evidence‐informed project building on strong foundations from its pilot year. You will be part of a reflective, supportive team working closely with police and partners to reduce harm, increase safety and improve outcomes for young people.
What We Can Offer You
Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.
- Excellent death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution).
- Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service.
- Flexible working options (role‐dependent).
- Family‐friendly policies – Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents.
- Training and development, including coaching and mentoring.
- Health and wellbeing support – Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks.
- Veteran‐friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant.
- Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform.
- Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres.
- Sustainable travel benefits – low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans.
- Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer.
For further information on our benefits package please visit:
Contact Details For Informal Discussion
For further information and details regarding the position, please contact Laura Tanner (Team Manager).
Recruitment Contact Details
Email: recruitment@southampton.gov.uk
Tel: 023 8083 4033
For More Information About SCC Please Visit
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Young Person\'s Practitioner in Southampton employer: Southampton City Council
Southampton City Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to safeguarding children and young people, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment. As a Young Person's Practitioner, you will benefit from generous holiday allowances, flexible working options, and comprehensive training and development opportunities, all while making a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable youth. Our commitment to employee wellbeing, family-friendly policies, and a culture of reflection and support makes us a standout choice for those seeking a rewarding career in social care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Young Person\'s Practitioner in Southampton
✨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 Southampton City Council.
✨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 Southampton City Council!
✨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 Southampton City Council, 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 Southampton City Council 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 Young Person\'s Practitioner in Southampton
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 Southampton City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southampton City Council! 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 Southampton City Council
✨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.
