Youth Justice Practitioner - Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST)

North East Combined Authority; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/Remote work options

Flexible working hours

Part-time opportunities

Job summary

Together for Children Sunderland is seeking a Youth Justice Practitioner for the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce to support young people with complex needs across Sunderland. You will work with schools, families and partner agencies to prevent offending, improve engagement and resilience through mentoring and restorative approaches.

The role requires experience in youth justice and safeguarding, with a focus on cross-agency collaboration to reduce risk and support positive long-term

Qualifications

• Professional qualification related to youth justice, youth work, criminal justice or related discipline.
• Experience of youth offending casework and direct work with young people and families.
• Strong assessment skills and effective cross-agency collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist expertise in youth justice, contextual safeguarding, exploitation and risk-taking behaviour.
• Work with children and young people attending Alternative Provision and at risk of disengagement or offending to improve education engagement.
• Collaborate with schools, social care, police, health services and community organisations to reduce risk and improve outcomes.

Skills

Youth justice

Contextual safeguarding

Engagement

Risk assessment

Multi-agency collaboration

Education

Professional qualification in youth justice

Job description

Youth Justice Practitioner - Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST)

Grade 7 (SCP 26-30) £37,280 - £40,777 per annum

Fixed term until March 2029

Full time 37 hpw

Alternative Provision Settings and locations across Sunderland

Join our Team

Together for Children Sunderland is on a transformative journey to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people in Sunderland. We are an outstanding Ofsted-rated Children’s service, if you’re committed to helping children, families, and our community thrive and have the skills to support our mission, we would love to hear from you. You can learn more about us here: Together for Children.

About the role

As a Youth Justice Worker within the APST, you will provide specialist expertise in youth justice, contextual safeguarding, exploitation, serious violence and risk-taking behaviour. You will work directly with children, young people, families, schools and partner agencies to prevent offending, reduce vulnerability and improve educational engagement.

You will support children and young people who are attending Alternative Provision, at risk of exclusion, disengaged from education or vulnerable to involvement in crime, exploitation and serious violence. Working as part of a co-located, multi-disciplinary team, you will contribute to coordinated assessments and intervention plans that address the underlying factors affecting a child’s education and wellbeing.

The role involves delivering mentoring, motivational and restorative interventions, helping young people build resilience, make positive choices and develop the skills needed to succeed. You will also work closely with schools, social care, police, health services and community organisations to reduce risk, improve outcomes and strengthen prevention across the city.

You will act as a vital link between the APST and Youth Justice Service, supporting effective information sharing, coordinated intervention and strong multi-agency practice.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. We will also carry out an online internet search for information that is publicly available online that might suggest that you are not fit to work with children or young people.

Due to recent changes in UKVI rules, this role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under the updated eligibility requirements effective 22 July 2025.

We want you to apply if you:

• You will have a professional qualification relevant to youth justice, youth work, criminal justice, probation, social care or a related discipline, alongside experience of youth offending casework and working directly with young people and their families.
• You will understand youth justice legislation, safeguarding, contextual safeguarding and restorative approaches, and have experience of working effectively across multiple agencies. Strong assessment skills, the ability to engage hard-to-reach young people and excellent communication skills are essential.
• Knowledge of attendance, inclusion, Alternative Provision, SEND and neurodiversity would be particularly valuable, alongside experience of supporting young people into education, training, employment or apprenticeships.
• Most importantly, you will be committed to helping children and young people realise their potential and achieve positive, long-term outcomes.

If you are passionate about supporting young people to stay safe, engage in education and build successful futures, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help ensure Sunderland’s children and young people receive the right support, at the right time, to thrive.

This is a fixed-term role funded until March 2029 and offers an opportunity to help shape an innovative service at the forefront of Sunderland’s inclusion and prevention agenda.

Candidates are encouraged to attend one of three informal information sessions to find out more about the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce:

• Thursday 20 August 2026 at 10.00 am — Teams
• Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 4.00 pm — Teams
• Monday 7 September 2026 at 3.00 pm — Teams

Why work with us?

• Make a difference: Our work matters. The work we do is incredibly rewarding. Join us and make a difference in the lives of our children, families, and community.
• Inclusion: Thrive in our diverse and inclusive culture and be part of our employee networks, including Accessibility, LGBTQ+, Racial Equality, Armed Forces and Menopause.
• Work-Life Balance: We offer a hybrid model of working with agile and flexible working arrangements, including part-time opportunities, flexible hours, and the possibility of remote work arrangements.
• Professional Development: Advance your career with our comprehensive induction, supervision, peer support, and supportive environment.
• Be part of a happier, healthier workforce: Benefit from our wide range of wellbeing activities and employee assistance programmes.
• Attractive Salary, Benefits and Rewards: for additional information please follow this link Together for Children Benefits and rewards.
• What our team think:

We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to various ages, disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, beliefs, races, and ethnicities. We aim for our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

We are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. Please reach out to our EDI Lead [e-mail] or [e-mail] so we can discuss any adjustments or support we can provide during the recruitment process or within the workplace.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked-after young person, are care experienced, or are a veteran.

Are you ready to make a difference?