Social Worker | Child & Youth Justice Service | Central & North Lancashire in Preston

Location: 1 x North Lancashire Position - Lancaster Office but travel across North Lancashire required. 1 x Central Lancashire Position - Preston Office but travel across Central Lancashire required.

About us... Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Service (CYJS) works with children aged 8-18 either involved in or at risk of offending or anti-social behaviour. The service provides support to children, their families, victims and communities through enhancing the safety of children and supporting opportunities for them to achieve positive futures. CYJS principles of child first, trauma informed, and restorative approaches provides guidance for all areas of work. CYJS have received a "good" HMIP Inspection judgement. We are committed to delivering a child first approach, focussing on restorative practice and developing new initiatives such as a trauma informed approach. Our staff are our key asset and CYJS social workers will benefit from having a varied workload, a chance to make a real difference to children and families by delivering direct interventions, a supportive management structure and impressive training offer. Lancashire CYJS embrace a strong culture with professional development.

About the role... Social Workers in the Operations Team will deliver interventions within the community, custodial establishments and undertake work in Courts. Social Workers in Prevention and Diversion will deliver community-based services and will ensure children, and their families/carers are supported by delivering effective assessments and interventions to exit the criminal justice system at the earliest opportunity. Our Prevention and Diversion part of the service delivers community-based services and will ensure children, and their families/carers are supported to prevent children entering or divert children from the criminal justice system at the earliest opportunity. People applying for the post will need to meet the essential qualification criteria which include a Social Work degree alongside essential experience, knowledge and skills criteria. The successful applicants will ensure children and their families/carers are supported by delivering effective assessments and interventions to achieve positive outcomes. The Child and Youth Justice Service takes a strengths-based approach when supporting children. A commitment to positive partnership working, including working with parents and carers is essential. When required, there is an expectation that staff will travel countywide to meet service need, if required. There are office base locations across the County. However we have two positions available, one which is predominantly based in the North of the county and a second in the centre of the county.

About you... Although experience in Youth Justice is desirable, it is not essential. We are looking for a dedicated and passionate social worker, who displays the following attributes:

• Collaborative - You will be working in partnership with multiple agencies across the wider children's services and must be able to collaborate effectively to deliver the best outcomes for children and their families.
• Precise - You will be detail-oriented with experience of conducting risk management, assessment & analysis.
• Flexible - Where required, you may need to travel county-wide to meet the needs of the service, therefore flexibility in your approach to work is essential.

For further detail on the key criteria of this role, please refer to the job description and person specification linked below. Please note, you must be registered with Social Work England to be appointed as a Social Worker or have applied to register with the Social Care Council.

How to apply... To submit your application, please click 'Apply Now' below and ensure you have attached the following: CV Supporting Statement. For an informal discussion about the role please contact 01772 532047 and ask to speak to the Operational Team Manager Louise Donaldson or email louise.donaldson@lancashire.gov.uk.

Closing date: 6th February 2026. Shortlisting: w/c Monday 10th February 2026. Provisional Interview: 24th February 2026. We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications. Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence. The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab. You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability.