Youth Justice Practitioner Adolescent and Youth Justice in London

Barking and Dagenham Youth Justice Service (YJS) are looking to recruit a Youth Justice Practitioner. Barking & Dagenham is a thriving Borough that punches above its weight in the ambitions for the children and families we work with. Our YJS have a skilled and committed team and following our recent HMIP inspection where we were rated overall ‘Good’ with outstanding features, our aspirations for our children and young people was recognised.

The Adolescent and Youth Justice Service is an established team that focuses on contextual issues that exist for young people. We have brought together a range of provisions including the preventative arm of the service that delivers high quality and engaging sessions with young people, identified as being at risk of being exploited or potentially entering the criminal justice system. The Youth Justice Service takes a holistic approach in working with young people and their families, to eliminate areas of their lives that may be putting them at risk of committing crime, and we strongly consider the journey of the child and the traumas they may have experienced through their younger years by creating effective tailored interventions.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a new way, focusing on engaging young people and thinking creatively. You will develop strong links with education providers, parent and victim officers, police, social care, mental health, and drug prevention services, to help meet the needs of the young person. This is a challenging yet rewarding role where you will need to work under pressure and develop great relationships. You will be part of a dynamic, enthusiastic multi-agency team that includes YJS workers, adolescent social workers as well as a range of partner agencies that are leading the way in safeguarding our vulnerable and exploited adolescents. Some evening and weekend working will be expected as part of this role on a scheduled rota basis.

We are putting the heart back into our work with children, young people, and their families, by ensuring the child’s lived experience takes centre stage, taking the ‘Child First, Offence Second’ approach. We need committed individuals to support us in the delivery of these aims and to become part of our team to make a difference to our children and families. In return we offer a competitive pay package, generous pension package, and annual leave up to 30 days. The authority is presently operating a dispersed way of working; you will be working from home as well as visiting the office and the several working hubs we have across Barking and Dagenham. You will receive frequent staff supervision and guidance and you will receive both internal and external training to enhance your skills and personal development.

We welcome applications from qualified and experienced candidates. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and a comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on successful applicants including an Enhanced Children’s Department of Barring Services check.

You must have a passion for working with adolescents and be able to think creatively and respond to their needs, engaging them in a way that is helpful for them whilst also maintaining professional boundaries. You will be skilled in delivering one-to-one and group work sessions. You will also be skilled at completing assessments, creating plans, identifying risks, and able to evidence your work on our systems (a thorough induction and training will be available to the suitable candidates). In addition, motivate, encourage, and engage young people and their families. You should be able to work collaboratively in a multi-agency team and to share information appropriately, both within the Adolescent and Youth Justice Service and with partner agencies. To be considered for these positions you should have previous experience in Social Work, Probation or any relevant higher or further education qualification in social care or criminal justice. You should also have experience of working with children and young people in front line practice, ideally in a youth justice or adolescent setting.

Barking & Dagenham is changing. It Starts Here. While this small corner of east London might have a reputation for needing development, scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find active communities and a place that consistently punches above its weight. The borough is changing – and changing for the better. Yes, the borough has its challenges. But it’s on the cusp of something exciting. With one of the youngest populations in the country, ambitions are high and rightly so. 98% of our schools are rated Good or Outstanding and every year more of our talented teenagers get into Russell Group Universities and hotly sought after apprenticeship schemes. We have award-winning parks, centuries-old manor houses full of relics and artifacts you can go and see, and the ruins of one of Anglo-Saxon England's most powerful and wealthiest religious sites. We’re even bringing beavers and white storks to the borough to help rewild the local landscape and boost biodiversity. Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to improve how we deliver services and support our community. From tackling inequality to making sure our services are the best they can be, we’re focused on what matters most to local people. We’re creating the conditions for people to thrive - so everyone can enjoy a good quality of life, feel proud to call this place home, and be part of something bigger.

As an Investors in People Gold Award employer, we’re serious about supporting our staff. From flexible working, professional training and career development to wellbeing initiatives, we want our people to feel valued and supported in everything they do.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or support at any stage, please contact the Hiring Manager to discuss your needs.