Youth Diversion Worker in Gloucester

This is a fixed term contract for 12 months. The hours of work are 18.75 per week. Are you passionate about making a real difference for vulnerable young people in the criminal justice system? We are seeking a Youth Diversion Worker to join our specialist youth pathway within the Gloucestershire Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion Service.

About the Role: You will play a vital role in improving early identification of young people (up to age 18) in the youth justice system who may have mental health needs, neurodevelopmental issues, learning difficulties, or other vulnerabilities. Your primary responsibility will be to screen and assess young people following arrest, identify health, emotional and social needs, and signpost or refer them to appropriate interventions. This work may take place in police custody or through follow-up appointments in the community. You will work closely with partner agencies to reduce health inequalities and support positive outcomes for young people. Please note: Successful police vetting is required for this role due to working within custody settings.

Main duties of the job

• Screen and assess young people for mental health, emotional, and social needs.
• Identify vulnerabilities and link to appropriate services and interventions.
• Work collaboratively with Youth Justice Services, CAMHS, Police, and other partners.
• Contribute to service development and early intervention strategies.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with service standards.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience working with young people and multi-agency teams.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage a caseload and work flexibly across custody and community settings.
• Commitment to equality, reducing health inequalities, and improving outcomes for vulnerable young people.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a supportive, multi-disciplinary team making a real impact.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Work in a dynamic role that combines custody and community-based support.

Core Key Responsibilities:

• Offer comprehensive, holistic, youth focused assessments to identify health and social care needs and identify most appropriate care pathway.
• Provide health education, advice and information to children, young people, and their families.
• Establish positive relationships with young people and where necessary their families, encouraging active engagement and participation.
• Maintain a caseload of young people and ensure effective interventions and programmes are in place to meet needs.
• Develop positive professional relationships with partner agencies including the YJS/YOT, CAMHS, Police and other Early Intervention Services.
• To improve interagency preventative working with vulnerable young people.
• To liaise with Police around young people’s mental health problems, neurodevelopmental issues, conduct disorder, learning difficulties or disabilities or other vulnerabilities and how best to support with these needs.
• To reduce the use of custody for vulnerable young people through effective screening and linkage with appropriate early and needs led intervention.
• Deliver interventions through a variety of engagement strategies.
• Participate and contribute to regular reviews of the services identifying progress and gaps or changes required.
• Effectively manage competing priorities and workload including meeting required quality standards and statutory responsibilities.
• Participate in a multi-disciplinary environment and work in a supportive and collaborative manner with colleagues and partner agencies to deliver cohesive services to young people.
• Attend regular supervision, team development days and contribute to the development of plans, practice guidelines and policies as necessary.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of work using appropriate data base systems in order to assess service effectiveness in meeting performance.
• To represent the service in a manner consistent with the highest professional standards and reflective of the service and its commitment to equality of opportunity.
• To remain aware of developments locally and nationally in terms of policy and practice and to demonstrate an on-going commitment to continuous improvement and working to the highest quality standard.
• To work in a flexible and responsive way that ensures the service is capable of meeting key goals and objectives and remains relevant.
• Assist trained staff to ensure junior staff and students are actively engaged in patient activity at all times.
• Participate in the induction of new staff.
• Manage own caseload with supervision from the senior registered practitioner ensuring the implementation of all aspects of care and treatment in line with Gloucestershire Health & Care Trust Policy for Care Management.

Person specification

• Experience of working in community settings with children and young people.
• Experience of working autonomously and managing an individual caseload.
• Ability to work proactively alongside people to help meet identified goals and needs.
• Experience of working with people who have had contact with the Criminal Justice Service.

Skills

• Ability to demonstrate compassion and treat colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with dignity and respect.
• Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
• Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.
• Must have a valid driving licence and have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.

When joining us, as well as becoming part of a team that makes a difference, we also offer:

• Free car parking at many of our sites.
• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service.
• A broad range of training and development opportunities, including apprenticeships up to Level 7 qualification.
• A multi-professional preceptorship programme for all Newly Qualified; Nurses, Nursing Associates, Internationally Educated Practitioners, Allied Health Professionals and Return to Practice Practitioners.
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when if you work unsocial hours.
• Flexible, family friendly and agile working opportunities.
• Recognition and long service awards.
• Fast Track physiotherapy.
• Access to discounts and salary sacrifice schemes; including Cycle to Work, Car scheme and discounts on travel, leisure and retailers.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

If you are aged 16-30, you may be eligible for financial and pastoral support from the King’s Trust, with whom we are in partnership to support your first 6 months in role. We will pass on your details to the King’s Trust who will be in touch with you if you are eligible. If you would rather not be contacted, please let us know.

Good luck with your application.