Practice Development Lead North

We are recruiting for a Practice Development Lead North to embed SHiFT's Practice model and support SHiFT’s alternatives-to-custody work across Tees and Greater Manchester

This is an important role focused on strengthening practice quality, supporting reflective spaces for practitioners, and helping ensure that children’s experiences remain at the centre of high-stakes decisions about courts, bail, remand and custody.

We are looking for someone with a recognised social work qualification, experience in youth justice, children’s social care or a related statutory setting, and a strong commitment to relational, systemic, trauma-informed, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice.

The PDL North works under the direction of the Head of Place-Based Change (North) and is the primary QA/QI resource for both programmes, holding close knowledge of every child's case, driving the learning-practice loop, and supporting Guides and Lead Guides to embed SHiFT's practice model in the remand context. This is a practitioner-facing, practice-quality role: you will spend the majority of your time alongside Guides, in Child and Family Practice Discussions, and in direct engagement with partner agencies.

We especially welcome applicants with experience or knowledge of systemic practice, youth justice, remand, and/or fostering. Knowledge of the North East or Greater Manchester context is desirable. This is a social work qualified role.