At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and empower young people through advocacy and tailored interventions.
- Company: Join Leicestershire County Council's vibrant Youth and Justice team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, wellbeing support, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to suit your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 or above with experience in youth work.
The predicted salary is between 33129 - 35493 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA
Salary: £33,129 - £35,493 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 15th November 2026
Interview Date(s): There will be two interviews, a Young Person Panel and the Adult Panel interview, provisionally arranged for Friday 27th November 2026.
Leicestershire Youth and Justice is a vibrant, experienced, multi-cultural team from a range of professional backgrounds on a journey towards excellence, that helps to promote a range of innovative approaches to working with children. We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, forward thinking practitioner to work within our Youth and Justice Service.
About the Role
We are a Service of around 100 workers, committed to achieving the best outcomes for our children and young people through advocacy and empowerment. We deliver services with the young person at the centre and ensure that their voices are integral to all that we do. We develop our services with our young people, and we are part of the Children and Families Department at Leicestershire County Council, rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted.
We are looking for people who are passionate and committed to working with children. As a Youth Worker within the Link Project, you will:
- work flexibly to meet the needs of children, families and victims
- undertake complex assessments of the needs of children and families
- be responsible for developing their practice and undertake and implement learning
- listen to and act upon children’s voice to strive for the best outcomes
If you are making a transition into Youth Justice, we will provide you with the full training required to make this move successfully. We support and empower our staff to be the best that they can be.
What we offer:
- Mileage paid at 55p per mile.
- Opportunities to progress within a large public sector organisation.
- DBS check paid for by us.
- Excellent Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Access to staff wellbeing and counselling service.
- Access to an employee discount scheme, providing a whole host of retail discounts, including your supermarket weekly shop and gym membership!
- Work for an organisation which 95% of our staff say is a good employer.
A DBS enhanced check for a regulated activity is required for this post. For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.
About You
To apply for this post, you must:
- Qualification level required – NVQ Level 3 or above, AND significant experience of working with children and families.
- Conduct timely and dynamic assessments that identify immediate risks, needs, and priorities.
- Provide shorter interventions to stabilise situations, support young people and ensure they are signposted or referred to the most appropriate services.
- Demonstrate strong understanding of the complex needs of children and families in youth justice, including development, trauma, and ACEs.
- Skilled and experienced in capturing the voice of the child and family, ensuring their views are meaningfully captured in assessments, decision-making, and high quality case records.
- Draw on a strong understanding of local services to guide children and families toward the most appropriate support, empowering them to complete referrals independently and providing assistance with referrals when needed.
- Experience with using targeted and purposeful interventions to stabilise situations, strengthen family functioning, and support children to engage positively.
- Demonstrable significant experience of forming positive working relationships with a variety of professional partners and working collaboratively to meet the identified needs of children and their families.
- We are a safeguarding organisation – Please evidence your knowledge to contribute to the protection of children from abuse in accordance with local and national safeguarding policies, procedures, and practice – to include comprehensive understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Andrea Wissett, Youth Justice Senior Practitioner Telephone: 07889 484891 Email andrea.wissett@leics.gov.uk
Youth Worker - (Link Project) in Leicester employer: Golearnleicestershire
Leicestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment for Senior Kinship Assessment Social Workers. With flexible working options, employees can achieve a healthy work-life balance while contributing to the welfare of children within their family networks. The council prioritises professional development, providing ample opportunities for growth and advancement in a meaningful career dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Youth Worker - (Link Project) in Leicester
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Golearnleicestershire.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Golearnleicestershire!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Golearnleicestershire, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Golearnleicestershire or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Youth Worker - (Link Project) in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Golearnleicestershire:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Golearnleicestershire! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Golearnleicestershire
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
