Youth Justice Officer

Job Description

TITLE: Youth Justice Officer
DEPARTMENT: Children, Families and Education
DIVISION: Youth Partnership Service
Location: Luton
RESPONSIBLE TO: Practice Manager
GRADE: L7 – Level 1 (lower)
Salary: £28

PURPOSE OF POST:
Undertake assessments, develop, coordinate, implement, monitor and review intervention plans with children and young people subject to early intervention, prevention and youth justice services and their families (including challenging and complex cases). Undertake office, court and bail duties to represent the Service, prepare reports for the criminal courts and monitor compliance and adherence to all statutory and non-statutory interventions in order to reduce the risk of criminal exploitation, offending, re-offending and/or harm to children and young people or to the public.
Experience
Demonstrable experience, paid or
voluntary working with adolescents
Some experience of work with young offenders in a related setting: e.g.: YOI’s, STC’s, probation, youth justice, social services children’s services.

Skills/Abilities
Able to communicate effectively (English – verbally and written) and to create and maintain positive working relationships with children, young people, parents and a wide range of other professionals and agencies.
Able to use own initiative and to work to targets and prioritise workload to strict deadlines.
Able to assess, support and motivate young people including where levels of vulnerability and risk to themselves and to the public are medium to high.
Able to work with the agency’s IT equipment for the purpose of case recording
Ability to make professional judgements in a multidisciplinary criminal justice setting and to negotiate appropriate resources

Specialist Knowledge
Some knowledge of current legislation and issues relating to children, young people & families including children/young people who offend eg: Children Act, various criminal justice legislation & issues

Education and Training
A relevant professional or degree level qualification (NVQ 4) associated with one of the partner agencies (A minimum of 2/8 posts in the service must have a recognised social work qualification) (NB: registered with the General Council of Social Work or UK equivalent if holding a social work qualification)

Other Requirements
Car driver to enable regular and frequent visits both within and outside the Borough and provide transport for children, young people, parents etc. Able to work outside normal office hours including evenings and occasional Saturday and Bank Holiday court cover