Youth Justice Practitioner in Eastbourne

Are you passionate about children's outcomes? Do you have experience of engaging complex, hard to engage children in positive and meaningful professional relationships? Do you have experience of understanding the complexities around trauma informed practice and supporting children who have entered the criminal justice system?

We are looking for a strong and confident advocate to support our children within the Youth Justice Service (YJS) access opportunities that will help to divert them from offending and shape their future. The YJS is part of the specialist adolescent team with a remit to support children involved within the criminal justice system and where possible divert them from becoming criminalised.

As a statutory service responsible for delivering the Youth Justice Boards (YJB) national objectives, we work with complex children with a range of needs. We seek to empower children to make change whilst being safe from criminal exploitation and having their basic needs met. Mainstream adolescents face difficulties and challenges in engaging in Education, Training or Employment opportunities navigating their way into adulthood, and with YJS young people, the barriers they face increase further due to being involved with the criminal justice service.

You will be responsible for ensuring we have an accurate picture of the child and be a key link for partners to ensure we support children to overcome barriers that are impacting on their engagement in society. The YJS has a committed, experienced and dedicated team who seek to engage children using Child First principles and trauma informed practice.

We work to ensure that under 18’s are seen as children within the criminal justice system as part of child first principles, whilst maintaining supervision standards that meet national requirements as set out in accordance with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Children’s Act 1989 and associated legislation. This includes assessment, report writing and direct work with children and young people with complex needs, including those at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation and those who present the highest risk to the community.

This role requires you to work across the county as well as in your locality team to actively support young people within the YJS, both on your caseload and as part of duty responsibilities such as court. You have the opportunity to think creatively to engage hard to reach young people and support them in understanding the impact of their behaviours on themselves, victims and the wider community.

We adopt a strong strengths based practice approach and seek to engage children in a meaningful way to seek diversionary activities and opportunities for them. You will support Young People whilst ensuring key performance indicators for both the YJS and the East Sussex County Council are met. This gives the role holder the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children and their future outcomes.

The role involves working in partnership with police, schools, courts, Mental health Services, Children's social care, colleges, alternative education providers and commissioned services to ensure that YJS children can access the same opportunities as their peers. This requires skill in creating and maintaining robust relationships that allow open conversations and at times challenge to ensure that we are working in a child first way.

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate professional with a relevant qualification in Teaching, Probation, Youth Work, Social Work, a Foundation Degree (or higher), Youth Justice, or an equivalent field. The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, enabling them to carry out high-quality assessments, apply strong analytical thinking, and make well-informed, evidence-based decisions.

You will have a proven ability to build positive, effective relationships with children, young people, and their families, showing genuine empathy and understanding of their needs. A strong awareness of the challenges currently facing young people at local, regional, and national levels is essential, alongside a commitment to the principles of preventing youth offending and supporting positive outcomes.

The role requires someone who can work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies, contributing constructively within multi-agency environments while being confident in offering appropriate professional challenge when needed. A clear understanding of diversity, equality, and inclusion is crucial, as is the ability to apply anti-discriminatory practices in all aspects of your work to ensure fair and equitable support for every young person.

A relevant professional qualification in Teaching, Probation, Youth Work, Social Work, Foundation Degree (or higher), Youth Justice Qualification or equivalent is required. Written and oral communication skills that support good assessment, analysis and sound evidence-based decision-making skills are essential.

Ability to relate effectively to children, young people and their families, and to work constructively with colleagues in other teams/agencies whilst providing appropriate challenge when required is necessary. Understanding of the current local, regional and national issues facing young people, including the principles of preventing offending by children and young people, is important.

With genuine empathy with the needs of young people and their families, awareness of diversity and equality issues and how these impact on young people, with a strong anti-discriminatory ethos is crucial.

For more information, please download the Job Description and Person Specification. To apply for this role, please follow the ‘Apply Now’ button above and upload your CV and a Supporting Statement. We will be using your Supporting Statement to shortlist so please be sure to address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on any relevant work/life experience, education, or personal interests.

For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page and our statement on the use of AI. Interviews will be held in person at the YJS office in Hampden Park, Eastbourne on Wednesday 10 June 2026. Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist.

This is a rare opportunity to support children to make changes whilst delivering frontline work that makes a real difference in the lives of children. We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity contact Jay Hutchinson, Practice Manager at jay.hutchinson@eastsussex.gov.uk to request a MS Teams call or phone call. For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex.