Socio-Educational Knife Crime Deterrence Worker (12 month contract)

Starting salary for this role is £34,434 (pro rata for part-time colleagues) Band 8

This is currently a 12-month contract funded by OPCC. Due to this, there is potential for this role to be extended at the end of the contract.

This role sits within a well defined pay band, offering clear progression as you grow your career at BCP. Without exception all new starters begin at the entry point of the band, ensuring fairness and consistency across the organisation. Be part of a forward thinking workplace where you’re supported to grow and you can truly #BeTheDifference at BCP.

Internal colleagues are also normally appointed at the bottom of the band, unless moving within the same profession and skill level, where the pay band is the same they can be appointed to the existing pay point.

Learn more in our ‘More than just a job’ brochure on our careers site.

Role Purpose

As a Socio-Educational Knife Crime Deterrence Worker, you will provide targeted, relationship-based intervention primarily based within schools to children and young people who are identified as being at increased risk of carrying or using knives, becoming involved in serious violence, or being affected by exploitation and associated criminal activity.

You will use a trauma-informed, strengths-based and restorative approach to engage young people, challenge attitudes and behaviours associated with violence and weapon carrying and support them to make safer and more positive choices.

Your role will combine one-to-one interventions, socio-educational work, outreach, practical activity, group work, working closely with young people, families, schools, youth services, police, youth justice, safeguarding services, health services and voluntary and community organisations.

As a Socio-Educational Knife Crime Deterrence Worker will contribute to a focused deterrence approach by providing timely intervention with children and young people identified through referrals, professional intelligence or other appropriate information as being at risk of involvement in knife crime or serious violence.

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver targeted, relationship-based interventions primarily within schools and community settings to children and young people identified as being at increased risk of carrying or using knives, becoming involved in serious violence, or experiencing exploitation and associated criminal activity.
• Use trauma-informed, strengths-based and restorative approaches to engage young people, challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours, and support safer and more positive life choices.
• Deliver structured socio-educational programmes and group work exploring:
  • knife carrying and weapon-related harm;
  • consequences of serious violence and offending;
  • peer pressure and positive relationships;
  • conflict resolution and emotional regulation;
  • exploitation, criminal exploitation and county lines;
  • online influences and harmful social media content;
  • decision-making, personal responsibility and positive aspirations.
• Adapt interventions to the age, maturity, communication needs and individual circumstances of young people.
• Work within a focused deterrence framework, collaborating with partner agencies to identify children and young people who would benefit from early intervention.
• Contribute to multi-agency plans designed to reduce the risk of violence, exploitation and offending.
• Build positive relationships with schools, youth services, police, youth justice, safeguarding services, health services and voluntary and community organisations.
• Undertake outreach activities in schools, community venues, youth provision settings and other appropriate locations.
• Promote positive activities and pathways including education, training, employment, volunteering, mentoring, sports, arts and community engagement.
• Maintain a strong safeguarding focus by identifying and responding to concerns relating to exploitation, county lines, missing episodes, serious violence, peer-on-peer abuse and other contextual safeguarding risks.
• Attend safeguarding meetings, strategy discussions and multi-agency forums as required.
• Ensure information is shared appropriately and promptly in line with safeguarding requirements, data protection legislation and organisational policies.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of interventions, assessments, plans and outcomes.
• Monitor and evaluate intervention effectiveness, capturing both qualitative and quantitative evidence of impact.
• Identify emerging risks, trends and gaps in provision and communicate these appropriately to managers and partner agencies.
• Work under the direction of the Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager and participate in supervision, reflective practice and performance review processes.
• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of service delivery.