Senior Youth Practitioner

Dorset Council UK; Wimborne Minster; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority based in Wimborne seeks a Senior Youth Practitioner to provide care and support to children and young people with disabilities. The role includes day-to-day care, leadership, and maintaining relationships with families and colleagues. Applicants should have experience in a residential setting and hold or be pursuing a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare. This role offers opportunities for professional growth within a nurturing environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive training and development programme

Reflective supervision

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Experience in a residential or short breaks setting.
• Ability to lead and support others effectively.
• Kind, caring, and ambitious for children and their families.

Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day care of young people with disabilities.
• Lead by example and provide supervision to colleagues.
• Form positive relationships with children and families.

Skills

Experience with young people with disabilities

Leadership skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Creative problem solving

Education

Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare or equivalent

Job description

Dorset is committed to creating environments where our children and young people can thrive. This is an exciting acting opportunity for internal colleagues to step into a Senior Youth Practitioner role, based in the Wimborne area, providing care and support to children and young people with a learning disability. The service currently delivers short breaks within a small, supportive staff team and, as it develops, will also provide much needed outreach support to children and families in their own homes.

The Senior Youth Practitioner role sits within the management structure of the short breaks setting. You will work on a rota basis, supporting the day to day care of young people, while also taking on additional leadership and management responsibilities. You will play a key role in the running of the home, helping to ensure we provide an exceptional short break service in a safe, nurturing environment where children and young people are supported to reach their full potential.

Our priorities for Dorset’s children are that they are supported to stay in Dorset, the best place for them to live, and that they are given the best start in life through high quality care, education and training, enabling them to thrive and be the best they can be.

What You Can Expect To Be Doing

• you will be an experienced practitioner who is passionate and aspirational in supporting young people, sharing our values and celebrating difference
• you will support children and young people with disabilities in their day to day lives, activities and community participation, helping them to build life skills and confidence
• you will form and maintain positive relationships with children, families, colleagues, partner agencies and social workers as part of the team around the child
• you will lead by example, providing supervision to colleagues, supporting good practice, and taking a creative, solution focused approach so that each child receives individually planned and meaningful short breaks.

About You

You will be kind, caring and ambitious for children and their families, with experience of working with young people with disabilities in a residential or short breaks setting. You will have experience of leading or supporting others, be confident in offering guidance and supervision, and be flexible and creative in your approach. You will be motivated to step into an acting senior role and contribute to the continued development of the service.

Training and support

We are aspirational for our staff as well as for our children. You will be joining a supportive and inclusive council that will nurture and invest in you to help you thrive. Dorset offers a comprehensive training and development programme, reflective supervision and access to learning that supports both your current practice and future progression.

Additional Information

This is an internal acting opportunity. Applications will be considered from colleagues already working within Dorset Council children’s services who are registered and actively working towards the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare, or who already hold this qualification or an equivalent. Applicants not already on the qualification pathway will not be considered.