Young People Practitioner
Employer: Southampton City Council
Contract: Initial 3 months
Hours: 37 per week
Pay Rate: £21.14 per hour (Umbrella) | £19.32 per hour (PAYE exclusive)
Southampton City Council is currently seeking an experienced and passionate Youth Practitioner to join an established and expanding service supporting young people affected by serious youth violence, exploitation, and complex safeguarding needs.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a child-first, trauma-informed and contextual safeguarding approach, working directly with young people who may struggle to engage with statutory services. You will play a vital role in building trusted relationships and delivering intensive, flexible support that responds to risk, need, and lived experience.
Key Responsibilities:
Build and sustain trusting, relationship-based engagement with young people
Co-produce child-centred support plans that reflect voice, identity, and lived experience
Deliver intensive, flexible, and creative outreach-based support
Work in partnership with Police and wider multi-agency teams using a focused deterrence approach
Contribute to contextual safeguarding responses in peer groups, places, and communities
Maintain accurate, high-quality case recording in line with safeguarding and legal requirements
Regularly review and adapt support plans in response to risk and progressAbout You:
We are looking for practitioners who are:
Experienced in working with young people affected by extrafamilial harm, exploitation, or serious youth violence
Skilled in trauma-informed, relationship-based practice
Able to build trust through persistence, empathy, and consistency
Confident working within multi-agency safeguarding environments, including Police
Flexible, reflective, and resilient in high-risk or complex situations
Committed to child-first and anti-oppressive practiceThis is a unique opportunity to join a supportive, reflective team delivering an evidence-informed programme that is making a real impact on safety, harm reduction, and outcomes for young people.
If you are interested in this role, please apply with your CV or get in touch for further information