Job Introduction
Youth Justice Education Coordinator
Directorate: People (Childrens, Adults, Public Health, Education and SEND)
Department: Children’s Services
Salary: Range MPR5A £39,053 per annum
Job Status: Permanent Full Time
Hours: 37 per week
Location: Broadside, Leviathan Way, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4LL
Working Style: Hybrid – Works part from Broadside and part from home.
Closing Date: 19th July 2026
The role
We are seeking an Education Coordinator for our Youth Justice service. You will play a vital part in ensuring every child known to the Youth Justice Service receives their full educational entitlement. Many of the young people we support face challenges such as SEND, speech and language needs, exclusion, or trauma. Your role is to advocate for them, secure suitable education provision, and help them re‑engage with learning in a way that builds confidence, stability, and ambition.
Working closely with schools, colleges, the Virtual School, SEN services, and partner agencies, you will provide specialist advice, coordinate support, and offer interim education input where needed. You will also help young people transition into post‑16 education, training, or employment, ensuring they have the best possible start to adulthood.
What we’re looking for
We’re seeking someone who is:
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A strong communicator able to build trust with children, families, and professionals.
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Skilled at motivating young people who face barriers to education.
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Confident advocating within multi‑agency environments.
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Knowledgeable about education pathways, SEND, exclusion, and re‑engagement.
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Organised, resilient, reflective, and committed to child‑centred practice.
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Experienced in supporting vulnerable or disengaged young people.
What you’ll do
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Lead best practice across the service to improve educational outcomes for children.
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Engage young people in learning and positive behaviour, both in and out of school.
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Advocate for children who are excluded, truanting, or struggling to achieve.
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Work with partners to secure appropriate education provision for every statutory‑school‑age child.
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Provide interim education support for young people not currently in education.
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Support children with SEND, including acting as a SPOC for EHCP processes.
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Offer expert advice on education legislation, policy, and practice.
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Contribute to Youth Rehabilitation Orders with education requirements.
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Review and evaluate the impact of education interventions.
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Promote inclusive, culturally sensitive practice and uphold safeguarding responsibilities.
About You
Educated to degree level in a relevant subject e.g. Youth Justice, Social work, child mental health or Probation and you will have substantial experience and a proven track record of successfully improving outcomes for children and young people. You will also be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of working with children in a statutory setting and ideally have experience of working with ‘Signs of Safety’ or a similar strength and relationships based practice framework.
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Generous annual leave entitlement
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Generous local government pension scheme package
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Access to wider training and development qualifications
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Flexible working scheme
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Travel plan discounts
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Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
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Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
The successful post holder will be subject to a Enhanced Children's DBS check.
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For an informal discussion, please don't hesitate to contact the recruiting manager below. Alternatively, please email the recruitment team on [email protected].
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Mark Powell, Service Manager (Youth Justice Team) - 01634 336236
Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.
When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.
The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:
Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.
Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.
Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.
Level A
The Youth Justice Team are seeking a Education Coordinator to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.
Important Information
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Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.
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Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.
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For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
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Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
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Please note, we prioritise applications from current Medway Council redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.
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We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.
