Dorset Council
Youth Practitioner (Level 1)
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Dorset Council is committed to creating environments where children and young people can thrive. This is an exciting opportunity to join a developing service as a Youth Practitioner, initially delivering outreach support to children, young people and families in their own homes and local communities across Dorset.
In this role, you will work directly with children and young people with disabilities, supporting them to build independence, develop life skills, and access meaningful opportunities within their communities. You will also work alongside families, social workers and partner agencies to provide consistent, person-centred support tailored to each child.
As the service evolves, the role will expand to include working within a new short break provision on the Isle of Portland, providing structured, nurturing care as part of a small team. This is a unique opportunity to help shape and develop a growing service from the ground up.
At Dorset Council, our priority is that children remain in Dorset, receive the best possible care and support, and are given the opportunities they need to achieve their full potential.
What You Can Expect To Be Doing
- Supporting children and young people in their homes and communities to develop independence, confidence and life skills
- Helping children access activities, social opportunities, and community resources
- Building positive, trusting relationships with children, young people and their families
- Working in partnership with social workers and other professionals as part of a ‘team around the child’
- Delivering personalised support in line with care plans and outcomes
- Promoting inclusion, participation and emotional wellbeing
- As the service develops, providing care and support within a short break setting on the Isle of Portland
About You
You will be:
- A kind, caring and compassionate person with a genuine passion for improving the lives of children and young people
- Ambitious for the children you support, with a creative and flexible approach to meeting individual needs
- Confident working both independently in outreach settings and as part of a team
- Able to build strong relationships with families and professionals
- Committed to inclusion and supporting children with disabilities to thrive
- Experienced in working with children and families (paid or relevant lived experience considered)
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Training and development
We are aspirational for our staff as well as the children we support. Dorset Council offers a comprehensive training and development programme to help you succeed and progress.
Professional Qualifications
- Fully funded Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
- Opportunity to progress to Level 4 Therapeutic qualifications
- Support with Maths and English where required
Core training
- Structured induction programme
- Safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and behaviour management
- First aid and health & safety
Ongoing development
- Reflective supervision and peer learning
- Access to e-learning and specialist training
- Development in areas such as child development and neurodiversity
Career progression
- Clear pathways to Senior Youth Practitioner and Team Leader roles
- Leadership development, coaching and mentoring
Further Information
- This role will initially be community-based, requiring travel to family homes and local settings across Dorset
- As the service develops, part of the role will be based at a short break provision on the Isle of Portland
- You must be able to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays as part of a rolling rota
- You must hold (or be willing to work towards) a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years
- A driving licence and access to a vehicle (or suitable transport) is essential due to the outreach nature of the role
- This role is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Matt Pearson on [email protected] This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed. This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders. See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.
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About Us
At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:
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At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.
We
- provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
- work in partnership to make a real difference
- value every role and the impact it has on our communities
- support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive
You Will
- be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
- have access to a range of benefits and support
- receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.
This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.
If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.
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