Trauma Informed Practitioner

Coventry City Council; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority council in the United Kingdom seeks a Positive Directions Practitioner to support complex young people through trauma-informed practices. Applicants should have experience working with vulnerable youth and possess strong skills in advocacy and relationship building. The position involves community engagement, collaboration with multiple agencies, and requires a successful DBS check. Flexible working hours are available for this role.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Comprehensive benefits package

Qualifications

• Experience working with young people who have complex needs.
• Creative and innovative to engage vulnerable youth.
• Knowledge of data protection and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with complex young people in the community.
• Advocate for children and engage with parents/carers.
• Manage complex and demanding situations.

Skills

Experience with complex young people

Creative engagement strategies

Data protection knowledge

Multi-agency collaboration

Understanding of risk management

Strong trauma understanding

De-escalation skills

Ability to lone-work

Job description

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, accepting of all and free from discrimination and bias.

At Coventry City Council, we are embarking on an incredible journey to create a brighter future for Coventry's children. As a 'Good' Local Authority, we believe in pushing boundaries and delivering excellence for children and families. Our vision is clear, and our social workers are unwavering in their commitment to putting children and families at the centre of their practice.

Be part of our inspiring team, making a meaningful difference in the lives of Coventry's children. Together, let's create a nurturing environment where every child's potential can flourish.

Our Values

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

Job Role

Positive Directions Practitioners work with complex young people in the community such as schools, hospital or home, using trauma‑informed practice to change their life for the positive. They will work directly with young people, update adults in the child's life and advocate for the child, using trauma expertise to challenge inappropriate language. They will work with parents/carers to understand life from the child's point of view, act as an advocate in CIC/CIN/CP meetings, manage complex situations, build relationships, understand development and trauma, work with partnerships to ensure policy and procedures are upheld to the utmost confidentiality, participate in regular case formulations, work closely with the Edge of Care team and NHS colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with complex young people in the community.
• Advocate for children and update adults in the child's life.
• Use trauma expertise to challenge inappropriate language.
• Engage with parents/carers to understand the child's perspective.
• Participate in CIC, CIN and CP meetings.
• Manage complex, ever‑changing and highly demanding situations.
• Build meaningful relationships with young people.
• Ensure confidentiality and adherence to policy and procedures.
• Take part in regular case formulation meetings.
• Work closely with the Edge of Care team and NHS colleagues.

Qualifications

• Experience working with young people who have complex needs and exhibit emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Creative and innovative approaches to engage vulnerable and hard‑to‑reach young people.
• Experience with data protection, recording sensitive information, maintaining case files and adhering to confidentiality policies.
• Experience working in a multi‑agency capacity, promoting relational practice.
• Understanding of risk management for children.
• Understanding of Education and Health Care Planning process.
• Experience with de‑escalation skills.
• Strong understanding of trauma and its impact on a person's life.
• Creativity and good engagement with young people.
• Real understanding of the pressures young people face in today's world.
• Ability to lone‑work and manage own diary effectively.

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are not currently offering sponsorship for this role. This is a fixed‑term post until March 2028. The post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; appointment will be conditional upon a satisfactory DBS check.

The role is out in the community; you will travel to various homes and settings throughout the week, including outside normal hours. Flexible working hours apply.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme – We offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people: Members of the Armed Forces and veterans, those in care or formerly in care, and people who are disabled or have a long‑term health condition.

For full details on the application process, please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. AI‑generated applications will be rejected unless a reasonable justification can be provided.

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting‑edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse, committed to excellence in everything we do.

At Coventry we recruit and develop talented people who focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

No longer accepting applications for this role. A fantastic rewards and benefits package will be provided. Visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies for more information.