Youth Justice Officer

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Evening/weekend rota

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working options

Training opportunities

Job summary

Sheffield City Council is recruiting a Youth Justice Officer within the Children and Families Service to work with young people involved in offending. The role focuses on trauma-informed assessment, planning with families, partnership working, and preparing court reports to support young people through criminal proceedings.

The post is hybrid across office, home and community settings, with an evening and weekend rota Monday to Saturday, and requires a relevant professional qualification such as

Qualifications

• Relevant professional qualification required (social work, youth justice or probation).
• Experience working with children and families in a professional setting.
• Understanding of trauma-informed, strengths-based and restorative practice.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with children and families using trauma-informed and restorative approaches.
• Complete assessments and co-produce plans with children, families and partner agencies, reviewing them regularly.
• Represent the Youth Justice Service in the criminal courts, supporting children and parents or carers through legal processes.
• Write court reports to assist with sentencing, revocation and breach hearings.
• Address disproportionality and support children with SEND, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Work with multi-agency professionals to manage risk, safety and wellbeing.
• Assess factors linked to offending and design interventions that protect victims and communities.
• Take part in supervision, reflective practice and continuous professional development.

Job description

This Youth Justice Officer post sits within the Children and Families Service at Sheffield City Council, working with young people involved in offending. The work centres on trauma-informed assessment and planning with children and families, partnership working with other agencies, and preparing court reports and supporting young people through criminal proceedings. The role is hybrid across office, home and community settings, with an evening and weekend rota from Monday to Saturday. A relevant professional qualification such as social work, youth justice or probation is required.

What the job involves

• Build trusting relationships with children and families using trauma-informed and restorative approaches
• Complete assessments and co-produce plans with children, families and partner agencies, reviewing them regularly
• Represent the Youth Justice Service in the criminal courts, supporting children and parents or carers through legal processes
• Write court reports to assist with sentencing, revocation and breach hearings
• Address disproportionality and support children with SEND, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion
• Work with multi-agency professionals to manage risk, safety and wellbeing
• Assess factors linked to offending and design interventions that protect victims and communities
• Take part in supervision, reflective practice and continuous professional development

Qualifications

• Relevant professional qualification, such as social work, youth justice or probation

Experience

• Working with children and families in a professional setting
• Commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based and restorative practice
• Undertaking assessments, analysing information and developing plans to manage risk and promote safety

Skills & knowledge

• Understanding of the criminal justice system, child development and safeguarding
• Knowledge of victim awareness and effective interventions to reduce offending
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and organisational skills
• Positive, solution-focused attitude and commitment to empowering children

Checks & eligibility

• Relevant safeguarding checks

Other

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as part of a rota

What’s offered

• Ongoing training, development and opportunities to grow your career
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Flexible working options such as reduced hours, part time or job share
• Guaranteed Interview scheme for disabled applicants, care leavers and armed forces veterans who meet the essential criteria
• Starting salary at the bottom of the grade, with a possible higher start on payslip evidence
• Supportive, reflective team culture