The role requires you to work one weekend in 4 (both Saturday and Sunday) and the practitioner will then get a day off during the week before and after. Due to weekend working, there will be a 6% allowance on the offered salary.

This role is based in Chelmsford but the ISS Team is a Countywide Team

Job Purpose

Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

Youth Offending Practitioners work to reduce offending by young people, working closely with family, schools and key agencies to address factors leading to offending, representing the Youth Offending Service at multiagency forums to secure better outcomes for young people.

Experienced in working with complex young people and their families, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of legislation and a background in youth offending, social work, teaching, education welfare, health or policing.

Service/Functional Accountabilities

Responsible for managing a case load of young people in the community/custody, presenting varied risk/vulnerability issues, demonstrating the highest standards of professional practice.

Undertake comprehensive and high quality assessments of young people using Asset Plus and other approved YOS risk / other tools.

Preparing and submitting high quality PSR, breach or other reports as required.

Develop, implement and evaluate programmes of intervention with young people and their families which directly address and are proportionate to the risk they present and their vulnerability

Undertake regular case reviews of risk and vulnerability as part of the YOS agreed framework, including maintenance of up to date and accurate case records.

Participate in external meetings/presentations as required e.g. magistrate's events, quadrant activity etc, to represent YOS.

Contribute to quality assurance processes assisting review of key aspects of team performance, lead on contributing to developing good practice within the team in line with Youth Offending Service policies, practice, service delivery agreements and nationally agreed targets.

Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience



Either a qualified and registered (HCPC) Social Worker or hold a professionally accredited qualification such as Teaching, Youth and Community Work, Probation Studies.

Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.

Experience of working with complex children/young people or young adults in a criminal justice/care setting and an understanding of the issues that affect young people and children.

Excellent communication skills and IT literate to ensure high quality recording on YOS case management system.

An ability to work on own initiative; manage competing demands when under pressure.

Ability to challenge young people, their attitudes and behaviours, in an appropriate and positive manner and a commitment to working in partnership with young people, their parents/carers and others involved in the young person's life.

Adept at working effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team and across organisational boundaries.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0333 013 5888.