Learning, Evaluation and Influence:

• Coordinate programme data collection and case recording, ensuring Guides are recording accurately and consistently in Salesforce.
• Contribute to MoJ quarterly data packs and national evaluation returns, working with SHiFT's Learning and Impact team.
• Produce Impact Snapshots and contribute to Annual Partnership Reviews for governance bodies, under the direction of the Head of Place-Based Change.
• Capture practice learning and case studies and share through SHiFT's knowledge management systems.
• Support the delivery of System Learning Workshops, multi-agency practice development events, and other programme learning activities.
• Work with SHiFT's Head of Impact to produce analysis and learning from practice.

Stakeholder and Partnership Work:

• Build and sustain trusted working relationships with YJS Managers, courts, police, placement providers, education, health, and community partners across Tees and GM.
• Represent SHiFT at the Programme Steering Group and relevant YJ Management Boards where directed by the Head of Place-Based Change.
• Build up relationships and learning with national areas leading on remand fostering, custody transitions, and court-based practice.
• Support judicial engagement activities alongside the Head of Place-Based Change and the SHiFT Tees Team Manager.

Qualifications

Criteria

Essential:

• Assessment Degree level or significant relevant experience in social work, youth work, health, psychology, criminal justice, or equivalent.
• Professional Social Work qualification.

Desirable:

• Systemic practice training or qualification (e.g. Family Therapy, Systemic Practitioner).
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Knowledge

Essential:

• Knowledge of SHiFT's practice model, Breaking Cycles, and systemic/relational approaches.
• Knowledge of youth justice legislation, remand processes, and court practice.
• Knowledge of adolescent development, trauma, and anti-oppressive practice.
• Knowledge of QA/QI frameworks in a practice context.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of fostering and/or remand fostering models
• Knowledge of the Manchester and/or North East context : YJS landscape, local systems, regional partnerships
• Knowledge of Salesforce or equivalent case management and data systems

Skills And Experience

Essential:

• Experience of supervising, coaching, or developing practitioners in complex casework.
• Experience of facilitating or co-facilitating systemic practice discussions or reflective spaces.
• Experience of delivering or supporting intensive, relational work with children in the youth justice system
• Experience of working across multi-agency systems and influencing professional practice
• Ability to hold detailed knowledge of multiple cases simultaneously and provide accurate, specific challenge.
• Ability to produce high-quality written reports, case summaries, and learning outputs.
• Ability to build trusted relationships quickly across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Confident communicator at frontline and strategic level.
• Experience of data management, case recording, and contributing to programme reporting.
• Experience of setting up or scoping new services or programmes.

Desirable:

• Experience of working across multiple local authority areas or in a geographically dispersed role.

Personal Attributes

• Belief that every child can change and that a skilled, consistent relationship is the driver of that change
• Persistence, tenacity, and a 'can do' approach when systems make practice difficult.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and complexity; able to hold multiple competing priorities without losing grip on the detail.
• Commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice as a non-negotiable foundation of the work.

How To Apply

Send a covering letter (maximum 2 sides of A4) addressed to Hilary Dixon, Director of Practice and Learning, and a CV with details of two referees by an email via the button below.

Please mark your application 'PDL North'. The deadline for applications is 11.59 on 30 July 2026.

SHiFT is an anti-racist and anti-oppressive systems change organisation. This includes monitoring how equitable our recruitment processes are at each stage for people with marginalised identities. We will use this data to take measurable anti-racist and anti-oppressive action, remove structural barriers for racially marginalised and other oppressed groups, and build a workforce culture rooted in equity, belonging, accountability and shared power. We need your help and co-operation to enable it to do this, but filling in this form is voluntary. All responses will be anonymous. See form here.

Review our job application process here.

We will not take up references without your permission. Please include your current notice period.

There will be two rounds of interviews: a virtual staff panel, followed by a face-to-face interview with SHiFT and Tees partners. Dates to be confirmed.

If you have any questions about the role before applying, please contact Sam Fern, Head of Practices (sam.fern@shiftuk.org) or Hilary Dixon (hilary.dixon@shiftuk.org).