Job title: Youth Justice Worker

Salary: C1 - C3 £28,598 - £33,699 Scale points 12 to 22 bar point (or up to scp 24 with youth justice apprenticeship). Pro-rata part-time.

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Youth Justice Service

About the role

We are seeking passionate and skilled Youth Justice Worker to join our team and help improve outcomes for children. This is a challenging yet rewarding role within a service committed to Leeds’ ambition to be a Child Friendly and Restorative City. You will work directly with children and their families to reduce offending, underpinned by trauma-informed, child-first, and restorative approaches. You will support children to achieve positive change, keeping children, victims and communities safe.

Key Responsibilities:

Manage prevention and diversion cases, and support statutory youth justice work.
Undertake assessments and deliver interventions tailored to individual needs and strengths.
Work directly with children and families using child‑first, trauma‑informed practice.
Deliver purposeful one‑to‑one and group work to support positive outcomes.
Promote restorative, anti‑oppressive and child‑first principles in all interactions.

What We’re Looking For

Ability to engage and build constructive relationships with children and their families to support positive and sustained change.
Ability to work restoratively with children and families, offering high support alongside appropriate challenge to improve outcomes.
Ability to contribute to high‑quality assessments, plans and reports, meeting required standards and timescales.
Self‑motivated, enthusiastic and organised, with the ability to use initiative, creativity and work effectively to deadlines.

Working Pattern

This role will be primarily based at the Youth Justice Centre, Hunslet. However, you will be required to work citywide in response to service need. Flexibility is essential, including occasional evenings and weekends.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Sarah Ross, Operational Manager. Call 0113 3788228 or email Sarah.Ross@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose To work with children and their families to reduce their risk of offending or re-offending, in accordance with relevant legislation, National Standards for Youth Justice, YJS values and the Youth Justice Plan for Leeds.

Responsibilities

To provide services to a wide range of children who offend or who are at risk of offending.
To plan, develop, co-ordinate and deliver programmes of focused work to children on a group and individual basis, including those subject to intensive supervision.
To work with the families of children who offend to improve outcomes for the family
To work in a restorative manner with children and their families, with high challenge and high support
To work in an anti-oppressive manner, promoting equality and ensuring that diversity issues are addressed
To take account of the views and interests of victims and the wider community
To act as the Youth Justice Service’s representative at Youth Offender Panels and to provide information and reports for these meetings.
To hold cases as appropriate, including planning, reviewing and delivering all aspects of the contract or plan.
To undertake thorough and effective assessments of children, with particular regard to the risk of offending and level of harm posed to the public in accordance with YJS risk, vulnerability management and safeguarding procedures. This will include completion of the appropriate specialist risk assessment tool.
To ensure effective liaison with specialist workers, other YJS staff and partner agencies.
To maintain effective, accurate and timely administrative systems including the keeping of records, writing of reports and provide information necessary for statistical and monitoring purposes.
To enable children’s participation in all aspects of service delivery.
To undertake court duties as required, including the presentation of information about children appearing in court.
To devise and co-ordinate appropriate timetables for children.
To facilitate access to a range of accommodation providers and provide support with independent living.
To work co-operatively and restoratively as part of a team and participate positively in team meetings and YJS briefings.
To work flexibly, including evenings and weekend work as required, to meet the needs of children.
To participate in training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Departmental policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety policy and procedures.
To undertake other duties as appropriate as required by the Service.

Qualifications No specific qualifications are needed for this post.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Ability to engage children, establish relationships and maintain effective dialogue with children with a view to changing their behaviour positively.
Ability to work restoratively with children and their families with high challenge and high support in order to improve their outcomes
Ability to engage and work constructively with the wider family unit
Ability to challenge discrimination, prejudice and oppressive behaviour.
Ability to relate to children and communicate creatively using a variety of different methods.
Ability to work in ways which promote equality of opportunity, participation and responsibility.
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to undertake appropriate safeguarding, risk of harm and risk of re-offending assessments
Self motivation, enthusiasm and an ability to work to deadlines in accordance with National Standards.
Flexibility, adaptability and the willingness to work positively and creatively within a multi-agency team.
Competence in the use of computers and information technology
Basic knowledge of criminal justice system.
Understanding of issues affecting young people and why some children offend.
Understanding of children’s rights and the principles of the child friendly city.
Understanding of victim’s perspective, restorative approaches and issues of public confidence.
Knowledge of a range of effective interventions with children who have offended.
Understanding of health and safety issues.
Direct experience of working with children to effect positive change.
Experience of working constructively within a team.
Experience of involving young people in decision-making

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters