Job at a glance
Job Title: Adolescent Practitioners Starting Salary: £35,570 progressing to £38,510 Hours: 37 hours per week Location: Apsley, Hemel Hempstead or Farnham House, Stevenage Contract Type: Permanent and Fixed Term or Secondment opportunities available Directorate: Children's Services About the team Family Safeguarding – Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead Salary: £35,570 Stevenage – Maternity Cover until 31 August 2027 Stevenage – Maternity Cover until 7 June 2027 Apsley – Maternity Cover until 30 June 2027 Family is at the heart of everything we do.
The Family Safeguarding Children in Care (FSCIC) Team provides intensive, trauma-informed support to children and young people aged 10-18 who are at risk of entering care, returning home after family breakdown, or facing exploitation and complex challenges. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you'll help families make positive changes and improve outcomes for children and young people across Hertfordshire.
SASH - Stevenage Salary: £35,570 progressing to £38,510 Permanent Contract The Specialist Adolescent Service Hertfordshire (SASH) works with vulnerable young people aged 11+ who are experiencing complex challenges, including exploitation, mental health difficulties, family breakdown, substance misuse, and other safeguarding concerns. Through a trauma-informed and relationship-based approach, we work alongside young people, families and partner agencies to reduce risk, build resilience and help young people achieve positive outcomes as they move towards adulthood.
About the role You will work directly with parents/carers and children who are at the edge of care, to achieve agreed goals through coaching, parenting intervention and applying relationship-based practice. Provide intensive, relationship-based support to children and young people aged 10+ and their families, helping them to remain safely at home where possible. Work with young people experiencing complex challenges, including family breakdown, exploitation, and other safeguarding risks.
Build positive and trusting relationships with children, young people and families, tailoring your approach to meet their individual needs. Use evidence-based interventions and work alongside specialist professionals to help families achieve lasting positive change. Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to develop and deliver effective support plans. Maintain accurate case records and ensure all work is recorded appropriately.
Work flexibly to meet the needs of children and families, including occasional evening and weekend working. We offer flexibility to ensure families get the support they need. This role includes some evening and weekend work within extended service hours (weekdays 9am–10pm, weekends 2pm–10pm), which will involve working approximately 1 evening a week and 1 weekend day a month. About you No formal qualifications are required for the role, you will receive Motivational Interviewing training, NVR training and ARC training.
Essential: Experience and understanding of case management including assessment, action planning and reviews Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating support activities for and with young people and their carers Knowledge of the issues affecting young people at risk of Child Exploitation Knowledge and understanding of Equality and Diversity Issues Knowledge of child development and adolescents, social, emotional and mental health needs.
Knowledge of safeguarding where children are at risk of intrafamilial harm, including substance misuse, domestic abuse and mental health. Ability to engage effectively with vulnerable and challenging young people in a variety of settings and to achieve positive outcomes with them, including children at risk of admission due to mental health concerns. Diving License and access to a vehicle. Desirable Knowledge of relevant legislation and policies relating to this service user group.
Relevant professional qualification in Youth/Community