Youth Justice Practitioner

Service Care Solutions; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading youth services provider in Leeds seeks a Youth Justice Service professional to support children in preventing offending and managing complex needs. You will conduct assessments, create intervention plans, and maintain relationships with children and stakeholders. Candidates should have experience working with youth, relevant educational qualifications, and the willingness to pursue further training. This role requires flexible hours and commitment to safeguarding children.

Qualifications

• 2 years experience working with children age 10+ with challenging behaviors.
• Demonstrate ability to manage a caseload and meet deadlines.
• Experience of undertaking assessments of risk and wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct holistic assessments for children subject to various legal orders.
• Develop plans to prevent offending and support children’s wellbeing.
• Attend multi-agency meetings including court and care reviews.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work with challenging behavior

Relationship-building

Education

Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) in Maths and English

Level 3 qualification in Criminal Justice, Psychology or Youth and Community

Willingness to work towards Level 5 qualification in Youth Justice

Job description

Job Overview

We work with children up to age of 18 and young adults 18 and above, for the purpose of this both are referred to as children. To provide a Youth Justice Service to children and parents/ carers by exercising complex decision making. Ensure that interventions are appropriately planned, critically evaluated and reviewed with appropriate guidance and supervision, in line with National Standards established by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales and within current or future Government legislation. To prevent children from offending/ re-offending and anti-social behaviour. To protect the public and safeguard children working with the YJS. To hold and manage a caseload of children with complex needs who have been assessed up to and including very high risk of causing serious harm, vulnerability and re‑offending.

Main Duties

• To undertake high quality, research and evidence based holistic assessments that accurately assess levels of risk, safety and well-being, re‑offending and complex needs of children subject to Out of Court Disposals, Court Orders, Bail, Custody, Remands and Probation Service Transition reports as required within National Standards, also including assessments related to public protection and victim safety.
• To create, where needed, high quality plans and deliver interventions and build positive relationships with children to prevent them becoming involved in offending and anti‑social behaviour.
• To adhere to Case Manager National Standards as set by the Youth Justice Board and local standards as set out by Bradford YJS.
• Divert children from the Criminal Justice System by using Out of Court Disposals (Youth Cautions, Youth Conditional Cautions).
• To work with children who have been made subject to Court Orders and prevent re‑offending.
• To write complex, high‑quality reports and attend meetings, including breach reports for Youth and Crown Court, Enhanced Case Management and Formulation meetings, Child Protection/Child in Need meetings, Child Criminal Exploitation strategy/mapping meetings, Children in Care reviews, custody/remand reviews and any other multi‑agency meetings to support the child and reduce risks.
• To maintain up to date, accurate, concise and purposeful case records on all children in line with the departmental policy on case recording and National Standards. This includes contact recording, case management system updates, progress reviews, reports and other related documentation.
• To take adequate precautions to safeguard and protect children, their families and the public from the consequences of any action which could have been reasonably foreseen by carrying out risk assessments, reviews and making appropriate referrals.
• To work varied and unsocial hours as and when required by children and families to deliver interventions. This may include weekend work and/or residentials as and when required.
• To manage your own challenging and demanding workload, seek support where necessary from team manager or duty staff.

Education

• Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) in Maths and English
• Level 3 qualification, preferably in a relevant field such as Criminal Justice, Psychology or Youth and Community.
• The willingness to work towards and complete a Level 5 qualification in Youth Justice.

Experience

• 2-year experience of working with children age 10 and above who present with challenging attitudes, behaviour and supporting their families OR the ability to demonstrate this through transferrable skills in other roles OR have experience working within a Youth Justice Service.
• Experience of working with children and families to bring about positive change.
• Be able to create and maintain good working relationships with all partners and stakeholders.
• Experience of/ability to undertake assessments of a child’s risk of harm to others and their own safety and well-being.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage own caseload, meet deadlines and timescales.
• Demonstrate the ability to travel across the district and beyond, potentially using public transport.

Location: Bradford
Hours: 37 hours
Pay rate: £22.22 ltd per hour (Umbrella rate) equivalent of £17.85 PAYE per hour

If you are interested, please contact Andy at Service Care Solutions.