Youth Justice Practitioner

Essex County Council; Ivy Chimneys; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex County Council is recruiting a Youth Justice Practitioner in Epping to join the Youth Justice Team. The role focuses on reducing offending by working with young people, families and schools, and representing the service at multi-agency forums.

The ideal candidate will have experience with young people with complex needs, a relevant professional qualification in social work or probation studies, and strong IT and communication skills to ensure high-quality case recording.

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified and registered Social Worker with Social Work England or hold a professionally accredited qualification in Probation Studies.
• Experience with children/young people or young adults with complex needs in a criminal justice setting.
• Excellent communication and IT skills with accurate recording on YJS case management system.

Responsibilities

• Reduce offending by working with young people and families, schools and agencies.
• Represent the Youth Justice Service at multi-agency forums to secure better outcomes.
• Work in partnership with young people, their parents/carers and others involved.

Skills

Excellent communication

IT literate

Teamwork

Initiative

Managing multiple demands

Education

Social Work England registered Social Worker

Probation Studies qualification

Tools

YJS case management system

Job description

Youth Justice Practitioner

Permanent, Full Time £38,487 to £51,834 Per Annum Location: Epping Working Style: Community-based worker Closing Date: 28th September 2026 Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. Our Youth Justice Team have been named Outstanding by HMIP so it's an exciting time to join.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families

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The Opportunity

Youth Justice Practitioners work to reduce offending by young people, working closely with family, schools and other relevant key agencies to address the factors leading to offending and representing the Youth Justice Service at relevant multiagency forums to secure better outcomes for young people.

With experience of working with young people with complex needs and their families demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of all relevant legislation and a background in youth justice, social work or probation.

The Experience You Will Bring

Either a qualified and registered Social Work England Social Worker or hold a professionally accredited qualification in Probation Studies.

Experience of working with children / young people or young adults with complex needs in a criminal justice setting and an understanding of the issues that affect young people and children.

Excellent communication skills and IT literate and ensure high-quality recording on YJS case management system.

An ability to work on your own initiative and manage competing demands when under pressure and awareness of own strengths and area for development and a commitment to continuous professional development.

Ability to challenge young people, their attitudes and behaviours, in an appropriate and positive manner and a, commitment to working in partnership with young people, their parents/carers and others involved in the young person's life.

Adept at working effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team and across organisational boundaries.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.

For further information on the DBS update service please go to Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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