Job Details

Youth Justice Practitioner

Location: Hackney
Directorate: Children and Family Services
Service: Youth Justice Service
Grade: PO2
Reporting to: Youth Justice Team Leader

About the Role

Hackney’s Youth Justice Service is seeking an experienced Youth Justice Practitioner to work with children and young people who are at risk of offending or have already entered the youth justice system.

You will be responsible for delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing offending and reducing reoffending. Working closely with children, young people, their families and a range of partner agencies, you will assess risk, vulnerability and safeguarding needs and develop effective plans to achieve positive outcomes.

This is a multi-agency role involving close partnership working with Children’s Services, Police, Probation, Courts, Education, Health and Mental Health services.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of children and young people involved in the Youth Justice system.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments of offending behaviour, risk, vulnerability and safeguarding needs.
• Use assessment tools such as ASSET, ASSET Plus and/or CAF.
• Develop and deliver outcome-focused intervention and support plans.
• Work directly with children, young people and their families to reduce offending and prevent reoffending.
• Deliver individual and group-based interventions and offence-related programmes.
• Work with young people subject to pre-court interventions, court orders, referral orders, bail supervision, remand and custody.
• Complete bail assessments and prepare high-quality reports for the Court, including pre-sentence reports.
• Represent the Youth Justice Service at the Youth Court and Police Stations where required.
• Assess and manage risks posed by and to young people, ensuring appropriate safeguarding and public protection arrangements are in place.
• Contribute to processes relating to Risk of Serious Harm, MAPPA and safeguarding.
• Work proactively to reduce the use of custodial remands.
• Support young people who are Looked After and ensure appropriate plans and reviews are in place.
• Participate in referral order, breach and compliance processes and panels.
• Support and deliver Restorative Justice interventions, including work involving victims where appropriate.
• Build strong relationships with children, young people, families and their support networks.
• Work in partnership with Police, Probation, Courts, Education, Health, Mental Health professionals, Social Care and other agencies.
• Liaise with other Youth Offending Teams, solicitors, courts and specialist services.
• Share information appropriately to safeguard children and manage risks.
• Maintain accurate, concise and up-to-date case records on relevant recording systems.
• Prepare and present reports at Court and multi-agency meetings, including safeguarding meetings, custodial reviews and Looked After Children reviews.
• Monitor and evaluate interventions and contribute to service performance and improvement.
• Ensure practice is in line with current Youth Justice legislation, National Standards and best practice guidance.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion and ensure the needs of children from diverse backgrounds are considered within service delivery.
• Manage and prioritise your own workload effectively.
• Participate in supervision, training and ongoing professional development.

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Qualifications

• A relevant professional qualification at degree level in Social Work, Probation, Youth Work or a related discipline.
• A minimum of two years’ experience of direct work with children, young people and families within a Youth Justice context.
• Experience managing complex cases involving offending behaviour, safeguarding, risk and vulnerability.
• Experience using assessment tools such as ASSET, ASSET Plus or CAF.
• Experience developing and delivering effective interventions for children and young people.
• Experience preparing professional reports and presenting information clearly and concisely.
• Experience working within a multi-agency environment.
• Experience working with young people subject to pre-court interventions and Court Orders.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong knowledge of Youth Justice legislation, policy and National Standards.
• Understanding of youth offending, child and adolescent development and the factors that influence offending behaviour.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection and public protection.
• Ability to assess and balance risk, vulnerability and protective factors.
• Knowledge of Risk of Serious Harm and MAPPA processes.
• Ability to build rapport and establish effective professional relationships with children, young people and families.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a range of professionals and partner agencies.
• Ability to manage a complex workload and prioritise competing demands.
• Strong report-writing, analytical and assessment skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a team.
• A commitment to evidence-based practice and achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Good IT and case recording skills.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of children, young people and families.
• This may include early mornings, evenings, weekends and occasional Bank Holidays.
• Flexibility may be required for Court duty, Intensive Supervision and Surveillance, reparation activities, unpaid work requirements and bail supervision.
• An Enhanced DBS check is required.

About the Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have strong experience working within a Youth Justice Service or Youth Offending Team (YOT) and will be confident managing complex cases involving young people who have offended or are at risk of offending.

You will have excellent assessment, safeguarding, risk management and report-writing skills, alongside experience working with Courts and a range of multi-agency partners. Most importantly, you will be passionate about supporting children and young people to make positive changes, reduce offending and achieve better outcomes.