Youth Justice Officer

Job Description Job Title: Youth Justice Officer
Service Area: Children’s Services – Youth Justice Service
Reports To: Youth Justice Service Team Manager
Location: Walsall Council House (with borough-wide duties and Court work in Wolverhampton) - Expected in the office on Mondays and Tuesdays
Pay: £25.75 PAYE per hour / £31.30 LTD per hour (paid weekly via an umbrella company)

Special Conditions

• Enhanced DBS disclosure required.
  
  
• Ability/willingness to travel across locations within the borough.
  
  
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends on a rota basis.
  
  
• Covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty.
  
  

Main Purpose of the Role

• To work as part of a multi-agency team delivering integrated services with the principal aim of preventing and reducing offending by children and young people.
  
  
• To deliver robust services to children and young people who offend, ensuring effective assessment, planning, and intervention in line with legislative requirements (Crime and Disorder Act 1998, Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2009, and other relevant legislation).
  
  
• To carry out allocated tasks in accordance with service policies, procedures, and protocols.
  
  

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload in line with YJS policies, protocols, national standards, and relevant legislation.
  
  
• Complete holistic assessments (ASSET+, PDAT, risk, vulnerability, safeguarding).
  
  
• Develop, implement, and review intervention plans, involving young people, parents/carers, victims, and partner agencies.
  
  
• Produce high-quality reports including: Pre-Sentence Reports, Referral Order Reports, Progress and Breach Reports, Victim Reports, and reports for multi-agency forums (child protection conferences, school exclusions, care proceedings).
  
  
• Deliver interventions in both community and custodial settings.
  
  
• Represent the service in court (Youth, Magistrates, Crown, and in exceptional cases the Court of Appeal), providing verbal and written evidence to assist judicial decisions.
  
  
• Participate fully in duty officer and panel advisor rotas.
  
  
• Coordinate, facilitate, and deliver group work programmes.
  
  
• Undertake the role of Appropriate Adult where required.
  
  
• Participate in reflective practice reviews, peer reviews, and service quality assurance activities.
  
  
• Maintain accurate client information and records in line with statutory and local requirements.
  
  
• Work proactively with colleagues and partner agencies to ensure joined-up, solution-focused services.
  
  

Person Specification Essential Qualifications / Experience

• Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline (Social Work, Probation, Youth Work, Criminology, Psychology, or related field).
  
  
• Substantial experience in Youth Justice practice including:
  
  
  • Case management
    
    
  • Court work
    
    
  • Assessments (ASSET+, PDAT)
    
    
  • Pre-Sentence and Referral Order report writing
    
    
  • Interventions with children and young people at risk of offending or re-offending
    
    

Desirable Qualifications / Experience

• Qualified Social Worker, Probation Officer, or Youth Worker (JNC-qualified).
  
  
• Experience of multi-agency partnership work.
  
  
• Knowledge of safeguarding and risk management processes (MAPPA, MARAC, ACCT, risk of harm frameworks).
  
  

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to work effectively with young people, families, and victims of crime.
  
  
• Strong assessment, planning, and intervention skills.
  
  
• Excellent report writing and court presentation skills.
  
  
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, and case management guidance.
  
  
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
  
  
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage in pro-social, solution-focused interactions.
  
  

Apply Now Service Care Solutions is proud to assist in this recruitment campaign. If you meet the above criteria and would like to be considered, please apply now or reach out directly to discuss the role in more detail.
 
Harry Greenhalgh
Specialist Recruiter – Youth Justice
Service Care Solutions
harry.greenhalgh@servicecare.org.uk
01772 208962