Residential Youth Practitioner – Didcot or Witney with certificate of sponsorship to the UK

Visa Note

This position offers a certificate of sponsorship for skilled workers. However, applicants must verify their eligibility for UK work authorization with Oxfordshire County Council before applying. The employer welcomes applications from international candidates, but final approval will depend on meeting UK immigration requirements.

Job Overview

Oxfordshire County Council is seeking enthusiastic and experienced Residential Youth Practitioners to join our Move On Service. This vital role supports young people aged 16-18 who are in the care of the local authority, helping them transition toward independent living. We have positions available at Maytree House in Didcot (full-time and part-time) and Moorland House in Witney (full-time).

About the Move On Service

The Move On Service provides intensive supported housing accommodation for young people requiring additional support for their transition to independence. As the service is now registered under Ofsted supported housing regulations, you’ll be joining an established team during an exciting period of growth and development. Your work will directly impact the lives of vulnerable young people as they prepare for adulthood.

Key Responsibilities

As a Residential Youth Practitioner, you’ll contribute to the day-to-day running of our homes according to all policies and procedures. You’ll provide the highest standards of emotional, social, and physical care for residents while implementing operational briefs. Your role involves creating individualized support plans that maximize participation toward independence while respecting young people’s rights and wishes.

Health and Safety Requirements

You’ll be responsible for maintaining rigorous Health and Safety standards, including food handling, general cleaning, hygiene, COSHH regulations, fire policies, accident reporting, and first aid protocols. Regular participation in internal quality assurance inspections will ensure our facilities meet all regulatory requirements and provide a safe environment for young people.

Shift Pattern and Working Hours

This role requires flexibility in working hours, including weekends, evenings, and bank holidays. Sleep-in shifts are part of the position as needed. Lone working is also required overnight and at other times when necessary. The ability to work varied shifts demonstrates your commitment to providing consistent care for young people in our service.

Supporting Complex Needs

You’ll work with young people who often have high-risk complex needs and vulnerabilities. Your role involves supporting them to keep themselves safe while developing skills to independently manage their needs through positive risk-taking approaches. This challenging but rewarding work requires patience, understanding, and professional boundaries.

Team Collaboration

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team is essential to providing comprehensive care. You’ll provide detailed debriefs and handovers to colleagues and managers according to home procedures. Collaborating with relatives, professionals, and other agencies ensures an integrated, considerate, and planned response to each young person’s health, well-being, care, and support needs.

Training and Development

Comprehensive Benefits Package

We offer an attractive benefits package including additional pay rates for sleep-in shifts, bank holidays, and unsociable hours. You’ll receive up to 33 days holiday per annum (pro-rata) plus bank holidays, with the option to buy additional days. Our generous local government pension scheme includes an employer contribution of up to 19.9%, ensuring your financial security for the future.

Family-Friendly Policies

Our enhanced family-friendly policies include generous maternity, paternity, and adoption entitlements. You can access childcare vouchers and participate in our cycle-to-work scheme. These benefits support work-life balance and demonstrate our commitment to supporting employees at all stages of their personal and professional lives.

Employee Wellbeing Support

Our Employee Assistance Programme provides 24/7 access to telephone advice and support for a wide range of work-related, personal, and family life issues. This confidential service ensures you have the resources to maintain your wellbeing while providing excellent care to young people in our service.

Local and National Discounts

Enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, insurance, food, health, and leisure activities through our local and national discount schemes. These benefits help stretch your salary further and provide additional value beyond your base compensation.

Access to Resources

As an employee, you’ll have full access to Oxfordshire County Council resources to ensure a child-centred service. This includes psychologists and clinical and medical interventions that support your work with young people with complex needs and vulnerabilities.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council, we’re proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or family status. Our staff network groups provide peer support, education, and safe spaces for all employees.

Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. We also guarantee interviews for care leavers who have completed further education and meet the essential criteria. Additionally, we guarantee interviews for those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life within three years of leaving service.

Safeguarding Commitment

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. All employees, workers, and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. Our recruitment and selection practices reflect these safeguarding priorities.

Flexible Working Opportunities

We’re open to discussions about flexible working arrangements, which can include flexi-time, part-time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights, and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and service. This flexibility supports work-life balance and diverse working needs.

Application Process

To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and search for reference number VP329481C2. When submitting your application, please specify your preference on location (Didcot or Witney) and working pattern (full-time or part-time).

How to Apply

Apply via NHS Jobs website. For questions about the job, contact Sandra Benaite (Recruiter) at [email protected] or 01865816000. International applicants should verify their eligibility for UK work authorization with the employer before applying. Ensure you have all required documentation, including proof of qualifications and eligibility for certificate of sponsorship if needed.

Contact Information

For informal discussions about the role, please contact Olivia Hill, Team Manager, at [email protected]. If you encounter any issues with the application system, please use this contact address for assistance.

Employer Details

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to providing excellent services to our communities. Our address is Didcot, OX11 8AR. For more information about our organization, please visit https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/. We are proud to be an Armed Forces Covenant, Disability Confident, and Stonewall-accredited employer.

Privacy Notice

Please note that Oxfordshire County Council’s privacy notice is available at https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/about-website/privacy-notice#paragraph-5977. We are committed to protecting your personal data throughout the recruitment process.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 14 January 2026. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration for this rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young people transitioning to independence.