Youth Justice Practice Lead — Social Work Leadership

Wollborg Michelson Personnel Service Inc; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Professional development

Relocation and commuter support

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking experienced social work professionals to lead and mentor within the Youth Justice Support Service. You will champion strengths-based practice, provide reflective supervision, and guide colleagues in complex assessments, safeguarding decisions and inter-agency collaboration.

The role focuses on children’s needs, safety and family relationships, offering professional development and strong partnership work within the Families First framework.

Qualifications

• A recognised social work qualification and the ability to meet Social Work England registration and re-registration requirements.
• Post-qualifying social work or management qualification, or willingness to work towards one.
• Extensive experience of complex children and families social work, including child protection enquiries, court work, care planning and supporting children across a range of needs.
• Sound knowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures, with a strong understanding of child development, parenting capacity, environmental influences and evidence-based interventions.
• Experience of strengths-based and relational practice, reflective supervision, and mentoring colleagues to develop confident, analytical and child-centred practice.
• The ability to engage children, young people and families, chair complex meetings and communicate difficult information with clarity, empathy and professional confidence.

Responsibilities

• Provide practice leadership, reflective supervision, mentoring and coaching to practitioners within the Youth Justice Support Service, modelling strengths-based and relational approaches.
• Undertake joint visits and pieces of work, support complex assessments and decision-making, and help colleagues identify risk, harm, strengths and protective factors.
• Bring social work expertise to safeguarding decisions, including support for Section 47 enquiries and Public Law Outline processes where required, in consultation with the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team.
• Chair relevant meetings and group supervision, promote professional curiosity and support coordinated planning with children, families and partner agencies.
• Contribute to practice observations, collaborative audits and performance monitoring, using research, learning and constructive challenge to improve practice and lift unresolved concerns.
• Support the Principal Manager with resources, allocation and service development, deputise when required, and ensure children and families understand their rights to advocacy and to provide feedback.

Skills

Social work qualification

SW England registration

Post-qualifying qualification

Experience in child protection

Relational practice

Communication skills

Education

Post-qualifying qualification

Management qualification

Job description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking experienced social work professionals to lead and mentor within the Youth Justice Support Service. You will champion strengths-based practice, provide reflective supervision, and guide colleagues in complex assessments, safeguarding decisions and inter-agency collaboration.

The role focuses on children’s needs, safety and family relationships, offering professional development and strong partnership work within the Families First framework.