Youth Justice Practitioner

The Youth Justice Service is a multi-agency, multi-professional team with statutory responsibilities for young people who are at risk of, or have offended. The service is part of a broader Children and Family Service delivering assessments and interventions to children, young people and their families across the borough.

The postholder will support the planning and delivery of evidenced based and outcome focussed interventions and programmes and ensure that children, young people, their families and carers are assessed and effective plans are put into place in accordance with statutory requirements and the National Standards for Youth Justice. The service aims to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime, and for those who have already offended, reducing offending behaviours by working in partnership with a range of practitioners across Children and Family Services, police, other local authorities, probation, Youth Courts and mental health practitioners.

Youth Justice Practitioners will provide high quality reporting and services to young people and their families in the delivery of Youth Justice Interventions, court and custody processes. Interventions are delivered in the family home or other community settings. The post holder will ensure the service is delivered in partnership with other youth provision and provides advice and consultation, as appropriate, to partner agencies working with young people who have offended. The post holder will be committed to a reduction in youth crime and improved community safety.

• To ensure Youth Justice work is of a high quality and is undertaken in accordance with national and best practice guidance for youth justice and with particular regard to ensuring effective systems are in place to manage risk and vulnerability.
• To undertake tasks and responsibilities within the team in line with Children and Family Services and national Youth Justice objectives.
• To ensure that outcome focussed plans are in place and take accountability for your work within the Youth Justice Service.
• To work as part of a team and contribute to the development and delivery of comprehensive, offence related programmes in line with current legislation and best practice guidance.
• To participate in professional development activities including appraisals and learning and training opportunities.
• To maintain an up to date working knowledge of Youth Justice programmes and relevant legislation and statutory frameworks to contribute to the service meeting performance targets.
• To support the Youth Justice Team Leader in ensuring that all requirements for bail assessments, reports to the court including pre-sentence reports, referral orders, breach processes and young people remanded to the community or custody are met.
• To work proactively to reduce the demand for custodial remands and ensure that all children with Looked After status have reviews and plans in accordance with statutory guidance.
• To support representation, and when appropriate chair relevant panels including breach compliance and referral order panels.
• To share information about young people with other agencies, when appropriate, to manage risks to others, to safeguard them and promote their welfare.
• To support the service to build services that support integrated working.
• To represent the team in the Youth Court and at the Police Station and liaise with officials of the Court to assist in the youth justice process.
• To support in the collation of information about children, young people and their families using the service in order to support the provision of aggregated information, statistics and other qualitative information as required.
• To ensure that your work is recorded on relevant recording systems and your records are well organised, up to date and provide concise and accurate information about a child's circumstances and plans.
• Work in partnership with the Police, Probation, Health, Courts, Education and other agencies in respect of young offenders.
• Liaise with a range of professionals including other YOTs, our Integrated Gangs Unit, out of borough Courts and solicitors.
• Effectively work with young people subject to pre-court interventions and Court Orders.
• To support the development and planning of a variety of individual and group programmes in order to prevent young people becoming involved in crime and for those who have already offended.
• Work with the Youth Justice Team Leaders to ensure integrated action plans match the diverse needs of the young people through effective recording, monitoring and evaluation.
• To inform senior managers of all relevant issues affecting the safe and effective delivery of the service.
• To communicate effectively with staff colleagues within the Youth Justice Service.
• To support the Youth Justice Team Leaders to identify gaps and deficits and implement strategies to address these.
• At all times to project the attitudes and behaviour expected of a professional, promoting the service within the Council and externally as well as demonstrating the professional and personal standards of conduct that could reasonably be required of a professional practitioner.
• To establish rapport, build respectful relationships with children, young people, families and their support networks and ensure that their views and wishes are heard and recorded accurately.
• To engage and communicate effectively with other agencies and include their professional views in assessments and plans for children and their families, working collaboratively and maintaining regular liaison in the best interests of children.
• To work with families in settings that promote their engagement and use evidenced-based methodologies alongside practical help that supports children, young people and adults to develop their confidence.
• To prepare written reports to agreed standards and within timescales and to present that information concisely in Court and multi-agency meetings including compliance meetings, custodial reviews, Child Protection Conferences and Looked After Children reviews, promoting at all times the best outcomes for children.
• To learn about local resources, facilities and other sources of support available to families as appropriate.
• To work flexible hours based on children, young people and families needs (including early mornings, evenings and occasional weekends).
• To respond in a timely manner to all contacts from children and their families and other agencies.
• To manage own workload as directed and organise and plan work activities taking into account the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities.
• To take responsibility for your own professional development by actively engaging in supervision, appraisals, training and research activities.
• To contribute to learning across the organisation about best practice in Youth Justice interventions that promote the best outcomes for children.
• To remain aware of all relevant legislation and guidance including the London Child Protection Procedures and the concept of significant harm and take immediate steps to ensure the safety of children in situations of risk, and report concerns as soon as possible using agreed procedures.
• To remain aware of and comply with national guidance and standards in relation to the delivery of effective sentences, public protection and reducing re-offending.
• To remain aware of standards and services for victims including, representing their views in court reports, arranging safe indirect and/or direct mediation with perpetrators and where required keeping them informed of offenders progress during custodial sentences.
• To work with volunteers in delivery of pre-court interventions, court orders and Restorative Justice processes.
• To acquire knowledge about different groups, races and cultures which inform service delivery and have regard for the particular needs of children from black and minority ethnic groups ensuring that the impact of racism and discrimination is understood and their particular needs are reflected in the delivery of Youth Justice Services.
• To demonstrate through personal and professional example a commitment to equality of opportunity for all groups of staff and service users and to challenge discrimination, racism, sexism and other forms of unjust behaviour.
• To comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and take responsibility for your own health and safety at work.
• The post holder is expected to be committed to the Councils core values of public service, quality, equality and empowerment.
• To undertake any duty as required, commensurate with the level and grade of the post.

• A sound working knowledge of relevant Youth Justice legislation, policy and guidance including National Standards for Youth Justice, Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, Crime and Disorder Act 1988, Children Act 1989 & 2004, Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, and the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
• Experience in using a range of assessment tools including ASSET, ASSET PLUS or CAF.
• Ability to assess risks posed to, and by, children and young people in highly complex situations and propose appropriate arrangements for safeguarding and protection of the public.
• Knowledge and understanding of a range of effective evidence based interventions and commitment to practice within an evaluation standards framework.
• Ability to formulate, implement and evidence effective support and interventions.
• Can represent the local authority in a professional manner in court settings and with other stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritise tasks, manage own workload and be accountable for your work with young people and families.
• Ability to contribute to the evaluation and monitoring of work done and outcomes achieved, including analysing and reporting on complex data, presenting findings and making recommendations to senior management.
• Commitment to individual and organisational learning and willingness to undertake training and staff development activities as required.
• Knowledge of relevant information sharing legislation, ability to make informed decisions about relevance and proportionality and to give guidance to others.
• A good understanding of the context of child and adolescent development in relation to parenting capacity, family, peer and environmental factors.
• A good capacity to assess and balance risk, vulnerability and protective factors in families and communities.
• Ability to create a rapport and build professional relationships with children, young people and families.
• Demonstrable ability to work effectively with children and families using a range of intervention tools and approaches.
• Ability to work creatively utilising good problem solving skills.
• Capacity to reflect on changing circumstances, new evidence and be open to the views of others.
• Capacity to share information verbally and by writing concise reports about children with other agencies in order to safeguard them and promote their welfare in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• To be computer literate and in possession of the skills necessary to work with information management and recording systems.
• The post holder is expected to be committed to the Councils core values of public service, quality, equality and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way they carry out their duties.
• To demonstrate through personal and professional example a commitment to equality of opportunity for all groups of staff and service users and to challenge discrimination, racism, sexism and other forms of unjust behaviour.
• Ability to actively support and promote Equal Opportunities.
• To be able to thrive in a complex environment and demonstrate resilience.