At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and engage young people to reduce crime and improve lives in the community.
- Company: St Helens Borough Council, a modernising council passionate about children and families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, with opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a dedicated team making a positive impact on youth and communities.
- Qualifications: Experience with children, strong organisational skills, and a passion for helping others.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About St Helens Borough Council
We are St Helens Borough Council. Located in the heart of the Northwest close to Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire, St Helens is a modernising Council which is passionate and ambitious for the children and families we support, our communities and our workforce. As part of our transformation journey, we continue to build on our progress and put children firmly at the centre of our care. We can only do this because of our highly valued, skilled, and supported workforce.
Making A Difference as a Youth Justice Officer in St Helens Youth Justice Service
The YJS is a small team of multi‑agency professionals who share a passion for helping and supporting children and their families and victims of youth crime, to improve their lives and make communities safer. To do this, we work hard to prevent and reduce youth crime by pro‑active engagement, providing creative and effective interventions and programmes which are restorative, trauma informed, and which take a whole family approach.
As a Youth Justice Officer, you will manage a case load of children from diverse backgrounds and work innovatively with them, engaging them and their families and other professionals in order to assess, develop and deliver interventions to reduce the impact of crime on individuals, families and the wider community. This post will involve advocating for the service and young people within the Criminal Court setting. Directly contributing to achieving positive Youth Justice Service outcomes linked to our KPI’s, including reducing reoffending, reducing FTE’s, reducing the use of custody and reducing the unnecessary criminalisation of Children We Look After.
You must be able to engage with young people with complex and challenging needs, build trusting relationships and rapport, and deliver interventions to encourage behaviour change and prevent further involvement with the Criminal Justice System. You will have good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and working with young people across the different levels of need, and must be passionate about helping people to make change and be able to challenge/support as required.
This post involves working with a number of professionals and services and the ability to adapt to situations as well as building good relationships is key to this post. The successful candidate will need to have good organisational skills, be able to prioritise workload and be able to use a range of systems for case and data recording. Experience of working directly with children and their families, proven experience in assessing needs, writing reports, planning interventions and reviewing the effectiveness of the supervision process. Preferably have experience of working within a Criminal Justice and within a multi‑agency setting. Provide evidence of a professional qualification relevant to working with children.
The duties of the post may require you to work occasional evenings and weekends. The desire to help young people, along with enthusiasm, flexibility, adaptability, creativity and a genuine commitment to improve life chances are important qualities for this role. This post is subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure.
Equality & Diversity
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, who share our values, our commitment to inclusion, and who will help us on our journey to transform our organisation. The Council guarantees an interview to disabled applicants who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria for the job, as detailed on the Person Specification, and will, for qualifying disabled candidates, make reasonable adjustments within selection. All Council employees are required to abide by the ethical standards embodied by the 7 Nolan Principles.
Youth Justice Officer in St Helens employer: St Helens Council
St Helens Borough Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families in the community. With a strong focus on employee support and development, we foster a collaborative work culture that values diversity and inclusion, providing opportunities for professional growth within a passionate team. Located in the vibrant Northwest, our Youth Justice Service offers a unique chance to engage with young people and contribute to meaningful change in their lives while enjoying the benefits of working in a modernising council committed to transformation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Youth Justice Officer in St Helens
✨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 St Helens Council.
✨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 St Helens Council!
✨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 St Helens Council, 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 St Helens Council 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 Justice Officer in St Helens
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 St Helens Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to St Helens Council! 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 St Helens Council
✨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.
