Tara Stuart

Experienced qualified Probation Officer with a proven track record of delivering high-quality practice in risk assessment, safeguarding, and evidence-informed interventions across Youth Justice, the Probation Service, and Children’s Services in England and Wales. Strong focus on improving outcomes for children, reducing reoffending, and addressing harmful behaviour through effective multi-agency safeguarding and intervention. Brings direct experience as a case-holding Probation Officer, Youth Justice Officer and Senior Court Officer, with a strong understanding of court processes, risk assessment, and sentencing frameworks. Skilled in the preparation and presentation of high-quality court reports and oral submissions, influencing decision-making in judicial and multi-agency settings, and supporting practitioners to develop confidence and consistency in their practice. Demonstrating strong leadership through developing practitioner capability, improving performance, and embedding best practice within complex and high-risk environments. Experienced in managing complex assessments, overseeing risk management, ensuring quality assurance, and producing analytical reporting to support defensible decision-making and effective service delivery. Skilled in direct work with children, young people, and adults, with experience of engaging diverse communities and applying cultural competence to support inclusive practice and address disproportionality, including awareness of immigration-related safeguarding considerations. Proven ability to build and sustain effective multi-agency partnerships, supporting information sharing and coordinated safeguarding responses. Experienced in using data, audit, and performance insight to drive continuous improvement, alongside contributing to the development of policy, risk frameworks, and service improvement initiatives. Now seeking a Team Manager role to provide operational leadership and hold responsibility for practice quality, performance, and safeguarding outcomes, leading high-performing teams and ensuring consistently high standards of child-centred, evidence-informed practice.