Adolescent Practitioner - Youth Homelessness

Overview

The Central Hub Youth Homelessness provision offers support to young people across the county who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. A key part of your role as an Adolescent Practitioner will be to support a child and family with situations which have led to, or have contributed to, increased risk of homelessness or precarious housing circumstances. You will work with and support Social Workers and Adolescent Practitioners in responding quickly, effectively and with the requisite skills and capability to best support children in these circumstances.

You will play an important role in supporting and maintaining excellent relationships with housing colleagues in the districts and boroughs in Surrey and will ensure our responses to youth homelessness are collaborative and inclusive. The Adolescent Service is built on the belief that relationships are the key vehicle for achieving change. The service is underpinned by  Relational Practice  principles, an intentional way of working where establishing, attending to, and maintaining empathetic and honest interpersonal relationships are prioritised.

This approach includes our relationships and how we work with each other. Adopting this approach supports us to create systems that can be trauma-informed and respond appropriately to individuals  different needs and experiences. It supports everyone s ability to work restoratively to resolve conflict, repair harm and support change.

• Provide support to both Surrey County Council and District and Borough colleagues where 16/17 year olds present as homeless / risk of homeless or are precariously housed
• Provide support through short term interventions
• Work with internal and external partners to ensure effective support is in place for young people who present as homeless or with risks of homelessness and to understand any wider contextual concerns
• Ensure policy and procedures are adhered to, are timely and accurate and record accurate case notes describing your work and the impact it has had
• Support Youth Homelessness Lead in ensuring the county wide programme of learning and development around homelessness and housing legislation reaches all parts of the practice system affecting adolescents
• Support whole families through a strengths-based and trauma informed approach, utilising motivational interviewing skills and effective relational approaches
• An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of practitioners working with vulnerable children and young people with experience of working in a social work, youth justice, youth work, teaching, or probation environment
• Appreciation of best practice approaches when supporting children and young people
• Basic awareness of relevant legislation affecting working with children, including the Children Act (1989) and relevant housing legislation
• IT skills, including use of databases, email, Word and Excel
• Ability to prioritise and manage under pressure with minimal supervision
• Willingness to learn and undertake training relevant to the role

• Some experience working in a housing / homelessness capacity would be useful
• Transferable skills and experience from a youth work, youth justice, education, residential children s homes, social work background would align well to this role, where you will have the opportunity to gain further skills and experience in a dynamic and innovative environment

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and you will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel to your contractual base and across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and…