Youth Justice Social Worker WCC621778
Youth Justice Social Worker WCC621778

Youth Justice Social Worker WCC621778

London Full-Time 41580 - 55710 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Go Premium
Westminster City Council

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support vulnerable children aged 10-17, helping them build prosocial skills and reduce re-offending.
  • Company: Join Westminster City Council, a diverse community-focused organisation dedicated to making a positive impact.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working patterns, professional development opportunities, and a supportive, inclusive workplace culture.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
  • Qualifications: Must hold a Social Work qualification and have experience with youth justice and engaging challenging clients.
  • Other info: Care Leavers are encouraged to apply and will be fast-tracked for interviews if they meet criteria.

The predicted salary is between 41580 - 55710 £ per year.

Social network you want to login/join with:

Youth Justice Social Worker WCC621778, London

col-narrow-left

Client:

Westminster City Council

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

–

EU work permit required:

Yes

col-narrow-right

Job Reference:

4de88ac5078b

Job Views:

9

Posted:

19.08.2025

Expiry Date:

03.10.2025

col-wide

Job Description:

Salary range: £41,580 – £55,710 per annum. Salary negotiable depending upon experience
Work location:
101 Orchardson Street, London NW8 8EA
Hours per week:
36
Contract type:
Permanent
Vetting requirements:
Enhanced DBS Check
Closing date:
27 August 2025
Interview date:
10 – 11 September 2025

About Us:

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF KAKOLI’S PASSION AND DRIVE

Children’s Services in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Where inspirational people like Kakoli are dedicated to encouraging everyone they work with to be the very best they can be.

Ever since she was a child, Kakoli has believed that children are the ones who’ll change the world for the better. Who’ll create the future we all wish for. And she always knew her calling was to get on the front line and help those who might not be as fortunate as herself.

Driven and passionate about making a difference, she first joined Westminster as a Social Work Assistant, and her managers immediately saw she had huge potential, so they encouraged her to apply to study for a degree in social work. She passed with flying colours, and over the next fourteen years worked as a frontline Social Worker, a Senior Social Worker, a Deputy Service Manager and is now one of our Service Managers.

Kakoli’s vision is as clear now as it was all those years ago – to encourage and support children, and help them grow in safe, vibrant communities. Her achievements are many, but she’s most proud of the fact that these days Westminster doesn’t ‘do things for families’ but ‘does things with families’. And she believes this huge but subtle difference to the way we work has allowed thousands of children in Westminster to fulfil their potential and live their dreams.

The Role:

As a Social Worker with our Youth Justice Service you can make your own powerful contribution to Westminster’s success. Our goal is to improve life for the most vulnerable children in our communities by helping them build their prosocial skills while supporting their families and carers. We also aim to reduce the number of children referred to the youth justice system and social care services, encourage school attendance, and make a positive contribution to the public health priorities of every child we work with.

You’ll have a wide and varied caseload, holding responsibility for a number of children aged 10-17, including some on statutory Court Orders and Out of Court disposals.

Always ready to identify and assess levels of risk and need, and deliver dedicated protective or supportive services, you’ll assess each individual child’s offending and personal circumstances with a view to identifying the most appropriate response, one which minimises the risk of re-offending and promotes building a positive identity for the child. This will involve the writing of reports, reporting any safeguarding, risk or protection concerns, and keeping accurate records of your work.

You’ll have a range of additional tasks – these include joining the Court duty rota, providing cover in Youth, Magistrate and Crown Courts, and supporting the rehabilitation of children returning to the community from custody. We’ll also expect you to help with the development of the service by coming up with creative new ideas and contributing to improvements, participate in staff meetings, practice workshops and training courses, and work with our partners and other agencies to ensure we provide interventions of the highest quality.

Please refer to the Job Description for more information.

About You:

To be a success in this important role you should have well developed experience of the Youth Justice Service client group, the interrelated issues which impact children and young people, and good knowledge of the factors affecting disproportionality in the system. With this in mind you should have worked with children who are on the periphery of or already involved in offending, and have a profound understanding of the diverse range of cultural issues that may impact on children and their families.

You’ll have worked directly with children, young people and families who find it difficult to engage with services, and be capable of undertaking appropriate assessments and completing plans with children. Collaborative, empathetic and diplomatic, there’ll be times when you face challenging situations, so you’ll also possess superb engagement, negotiation and influencing skills, and a well grounded understanding of both ‘strengths based’ and ‘outcomes focused’ work.

It goes without saying that you’ll hold a Social Work qualification or relevant professional qualification within Youth Justice, and in addition to an enhanced DBS check and good IT database skills, you should be passionate about your own continuing professional development. We’ll also look for up-to-date knowledge of the local public health priorities for children, an understanding of the research base around desistance factors, the ability to apply research to practice, and a willingness to share your specialist expertise with colleagues.

Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role.

What We Offer:

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster.

Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is the Westminster Way. To find out more about how we do this visit https://www.westminster.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health-strategy-policies-and-reports/equality-duties

As a forward thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.

The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application , we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Youth Justice Social Worker WCC621778 employer: Westminster City Council

Westminster City Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where every employee feels valued and empowered. With a strong commitment to professional development, staff enjoy flexible working patterns and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children within the vibrant community of London. Join us in our mission to create a Fairer Westminster, where your contributions will help shape a brighter future for all.
Westminster City Council

Contact Detail:

Westminster City Council Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Youth Justice Social Worker WCC621778

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the Youth Justice Service and its current challenges. Understanding the specific issues faced by children in the justice system will help you demonstrate your knowledge during the interview.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals already working in youth justice or social work. Attend relevant workshops or seminars to connect with others in the field, as personal recommendations can often give you an edge.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for the interview by practising responses to common questions related to youth justice and social work. Think about your past experiences and how they relate to the role, especially in terms of collaboration and engagement with families.

✨Tip Number 4

Showcase your commitment to professional development. Be ready to discuss any additional training or courses you've undertaken that relate to youth justice, as this demonstrates your dedication to improving your skills and knowledge.

We think you need these skills to ace Youth Justice Social Worker WCC621778

Social Work Qualification
Experience with Youth Justice Service
Understanding of Cultural Issues
Risk Assessment Skills
Report Writing Skills
Safeguarding Knowledge
Engagement and Negotiation Skills
Collaborative Working
Empathy and Diplomacy
Knowledge of Public Health Priorities
Ability to Apply Research to Practice
Creative Problem-Solving
IT Database Skills
Commitment to Professional Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and expectations of a Youth Justice Social Worker. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences that align with these requirements.

Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasise your experience working with children and young people, particularly those involved in the youth justice system. Use specific examples to demonstrate your understanding of the challenges they face and how you've successfully engaged with them.

Showcase Your Skills: Focus on your skills in assessment, engagement, and collaboration. Mention any training or qualifications you have that are relevant to the role, such as your Social Work qualification or experience in Youth Justice.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Share your motivation for applying to Westminster City Council and how your values align with their mission to create a Fairer Westminster.

How to prepare for a job interview at Westminster City Council

✨Understand the Role

Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Youth Justice Social Worker. Familiarise yourself with the key objectives, such as improving life for vulnerable children and reducing re-offending rates. This knowledge will help you articulate how your experience aligns with the role.

✨Showcase Your Experience

Prepare to discuss your previous work with children and young people, especially those involved in the youth justice system. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully engaged with challenging cases or implemented effective interventions.

✨Demonstrate Empathy and Collaboration

The role requires strong engagement and negotiation skills. Be ready to share instances where you've worked collaboratively with families or other agencies to achieve positive outcomes. Emphasise your ability to empathise with children and their circumstances.

✨Stay Informed on Current Issues

Keep up-to-date with the latest research and public health priorities affecting children and young people. Being knowledgeable about current trends and challenges in youth justice will show your commitment to professional development and your readiness to contribute to the service.

Youth Justice Social Worker WCC621778
Westminster City Council
Location: London
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

>