Youth Justice Service Officer / Senior Social Worker

Hillingdon Council; Uxbridge; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Uxbridge is seeking a highly skilled Youth Justice Service Officer/Senior Social Worker to manage complex cases and work directly with at-risk young people. Responsibilities include delivering direct interventions, preparing court reports, and collaborating with multi-agency partners. The ideal candidate will be a qualified social worker with a strong understanding of youth justice legislation and excellent communication skills. This role offers professional development and a flexible working environment.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development

Flexible working hours

Mental health support services

Local Government Pension Scheme

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

Discounts at leisure centres

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England.
• Experience in Youth Justice, Safeguarding, or Adolescent Services.
• Strong understanding of youth justice legislation and risk assessment.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload with high levels of autonomy.
• Deliver direct work with young people and families.
• Prepare and present high-quality court reports and plans.
• Support multi-agency collaboration.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Strong professional curiosity

Ability to work with vulnerable young people

Excellent communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Qualified social worker

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Youth Justice Service Officer / Senior Social Worker to join our Youth and Adolescent Service. This pivotal role is designed for a practitioner capable of delivering a 50/50 split between Youth Justice and Adolescent Safeguarding work.

You will work directly with young people at risk of contextual harm, including criminal and sexual exploitation, radicalisation, serious youth violence, and family breakdown. Using a dynamic, relational, and restorative approach, you will empower young people to co‑produce their own plans and take an active role in their development and safeguarding.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact, supporting some of Hillingdon’s most vulnerable young people while contributing to practice excellence, service innovation, and professional leadership within the wider team.

Key responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload with high levels of autonomy, ensuring timely and effective interventions.
• Deliver direct work with young people and families, using evidence-based frameworks to reduce risk and promote resilience.
• Undertake holistic assessments of criminogenic needs, re‑offending risk, and safeguarding vulnerabilities.
• Prepare and present high-quality court reports, intervention plans, and case reviews.
• Lead and co‑produce plans with young people to support engagement, accountability, and positive change.
• Work collaboratively with multi‑agency partners, including the Police, Health, Probation, and the voluntary sector.
• Act as a Youth Justice Service representative in court, providing professional advice and information.
• Support implementation of restorative and relational practice models across the service.
• Contribute to service planning, performance monitoring, and quality assurance activities.

About you

You are an experienced qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England, who brings strong professional curiosity, emotional intelligence, and resilience to complex cases. You can balance safeguarding and risk management with a restorative and strengths-based approach.

You will also have:

• Proven experience working within Youth Justice, Safeguarding, or Adolescent Services.
• Strong understanding of criminal and youth justice legislation, risk assessment, and safeguarding frameworks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing detailed assessments and court reports.
• The ability to work effectively with young people and families facing complex social issues.
• A commitment to continuous professional development, reflective practice, and teamwork.

Why join us?

At Hillingdon, we are committed to “Putting our residents first” by supporting young people to stay safe, thrive, and reach their potential. You will join a passionate and experienced team that values innovation, professional growth, and evidence-based practice.

We offer:

• Ongoing professional development and reflective supervision
• A supportive leadership team focused on wellbeing and growth
• The opportunity to influence service development and practice improvement
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements

Ready to make a difference?
Apply today and help shape a safer, fairer future for Hillingdon’s young people.

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work‑life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36‑hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non‑casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco‑friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Vivup Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24‑hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre‑employment screening:

• Enhanced DBS Check
• Qualifications Check
• Professional Registration Check
• 5 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.