We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed Youth Justice Practitioner to join our Turnaround programme within the Portsmouth Youth Justice Service (PYJS). This is a fantastic opportunity to work directly with children and families to prevent offending and improve life outcomes. The Role The Turnaround project supports children who are on the cusp of entering the youth justice system—those involved in anti-social behaviour, police investigations, or low-level disposals such as Youth Community Resolutions. Your work will focus on building trust, delivering early interventions, and helping children and families make sustainable positive changes. As a Youth Justice Practitioner, you will: Carry out high-quality assessments linked to wellbeing, safety, and risks of future offending. Plan, deliver, coordinate, and review interventions with children using a restorative approach. Work closely with families, carers, and professional networks to support change. Provide direct support around issues such as emotional wellbeing, substance misuse, education, healthy relationships, housing, and income. Deliver or co-deliver group interventions. Liaise with police, schools, social care, health, and other agencies. Keep accurate records and produce high-quality reports. Represent the service at meetings and contribute to YJS performance targets. Work in community settings across Portsmouth, adopting an outreach approach. While the post is based at Portsmouth Civic Offices, you will be expected to adopt an out-reach approach meeting children and families, and engaging with services, in a variety of community settings across the city. You will also be expected to carry out weekday 'Office Duty' cover via rota and build strong relationships with colleagues both within and outside the team. The ideal candidate We are looking for someone who is: Motivated, positive, and child-focused, with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes. Able to work under pressure, manage deadlines, and respond flexibly to changing priorities. Skilled in developing effective relationships with children facing complex challenges. Creative and solution-focused, with confidence to manage difficult or volatile situations. An excellent communicator with strong analytical, assessment, and report-writing skills. Experienced in multi-agency working and confident using IT systems. Essential requirements include: A relevant Level 4 qualification (or equivalent experience). Knowledge of safeguarding and child development. Experience working directly with children, young people, and families. Access to transport for travel across the city. Please ensure that you download and read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement. About Portsmouth City Council Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act. We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours. Hybrid working arrangements: Attendance requirements to the designated workplace will be 2 days required in the office for full time post. Contact Details for an Informal Discussion : If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please email: Kieran Gildea - kieran.gildea@portsmouthcc.gov.uk Interview date: 17th April 2026 in person at the Civic Offices Portsmouth Application process We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. As part of your application, we ask that you complete apersonal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills.This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience. We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Safeguarding Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information. You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.