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, pension scheme, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working options available; we value diversity and inclusion.
- 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 32070 - 34359 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA
Salary: £32,070 – £34,359 per annum (pro rata for part time) (Pay award pending)
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 20th August 2026
Interview Date(s): There will be two interviews, a Young Person Panel and the Adult Panel interview, provisionally arranged for Wednesday 23rd September 2026
About the Role
Leicestershire Youth and Justice is a vibrant, experienced 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. 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 45p 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 (11 years+) 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: Marie Hancock, Youth Justice Team Manager, Telephone: 07745105224, Email: marie.hancock@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.
If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected.
For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Youth Worker - (Link Project) in Glenfield employer: Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group
Leicestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where Occupational Therapists can make a real difference in the lives of adults and children. With a strong emphasis on collaboration across health, housing, and social care teams, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional growth, making it a rewarding place to advance your career while positively impacting the community.
Contact Details:
Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Youth Worker - (Link Project) in Glenfield
✨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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group.
✨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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group!
✨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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group, 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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group 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 Glenfield
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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group! 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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group
✨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.
