Senior Practitioner (Restorative Justice)

node leader

12 September 2025

About the post

About the Role

The Senior Practitioner roles within Oxfordshire’s Youth Justice Service hold a reduced caseload with higher levels of complexity and public protection/safety concerns. This allows capacity for Senior Practitioners to play a crucial function in the learning and development of the team; supporting management with training, workshops, practice development and quality assurance. Senior Practitioners also have lead areas of practice, and this role has lead responsibility for restorative justice and victims within the Youth Justice Service, which includes our Reparation/Unpaid Work offer and the work of our dedicated volunteers. This Senior Practitioner role supervises the Restorative Justice Worker and provides monthly reflective case supervision and effective managerial oversight of victim case-work and restorative justice performance. The role also supervises our Reparation Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinators.

You will be responsible for driving effective practice around restorative justice and victims and providing guidance and support for staff across the service and wider directorate on issues linked to youth justice and victims within the justice system. You will provide performance reporting to the Team Manager and Service Manager and support the preparation of information shared with the Youth Justice Partnership Management Board, which plays a lead role in the strategic governance and oversight of work with victims.

You will be required to maintain excellent knowledge of the current challenges facing our children and victims of crime and be a strong advocate for their rights in line with the YJB Child First principles and Victim’s Code. You will be expected to maintain your knowledge of the youth justice agenda including key issues at a national level and support management to translate practice change/development at a local level in a way that meets the needs of Oxfordshire children and those harmed by their offending.

You will help to ensure that services are planned and delivered in a way that maximises participation with children and victims and is responsive to individual needs and backgrounds.

About you

This is a unique role and we are looking for values-led individual who is passionate about supporting people harmed through youth crime using restorative and relational approaches to practice. Empathy, compassion, respect and excellent communication skills are essential. We are looking for someone with experience of working within the criminal justice system either in Probation or Youth Justice, or in an organisation predicated on restorative justice approaches. You will have a sound understanding of Restorative Justice and be willing to learn and develop in line with research and evidence. This role involves line-management responsibilities so we are looking for a candidate with experience of management and supervision; you will be organised and self-motivated with a focus on achieving the best outcomes for children who offend and victims of crime through robust oversight of victim casework and performance in the service.

Additional Benefits

Culture of flexible working
Technology to support agile working where role permits
Upto 33 days holiday p.a plus bank holidays
Option to 'buy' additional holiday
Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer's contribution of upto 19.9%
Enhanced family friendly policies
Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

Location

Oxfordshire

Hours

Salary

£46,142 - £49,282