Job info	Job info details
Job title	Social Worker (Youth Justice Service)
Strategic team/Directorate	Childrens Services
Service	Youth Justice Service
Business unit	Youth Justice Service
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Team Manager Youth Justice Service
Accountable to (line manager)	Team Manager Youth Justice Service
Salary grade	J

1. Key purpose of job

• Effectively manage a caseload of young people who have offended with the aim of reducing their risk of reoffending. This will involve completing comprehensive assessments, writing court reports, devising intervention plans and supervising in accordance with the level of risk of reoffending, National Standards and legislation.
• Take a key role in maintaining effective working relationships with other Children Services   Departments and have specific responsibility for Children Looked After who have offended and working with the Youth Offending Service.

 

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Improved outcomes for children and young people who offend or at risk of re-offending. 

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• Responsible for safeguarding and always promoting the welfare of children.
• Carry out assessments of young people using ASSET Plus and other tools as appropriate.
• Manage a caseload to ensure young people receive effective interventions to reduce the risk factors associated with their offending behaviour.
• Undertake regular and/or statutory reviews in accordance with Policy and Legislation to ensure interventions are meeting need and are on track in terms of cost, quality and timing.
• Participate in a day duty rota system and other shared team responsibilities according to Team requirements.
• To act as appropriate adult at P.A.C.E. interviews.
• To undertake Out of Court Resolution assessments and programmes when required.
• To share in Court Duty rota and provide an appropriately informative service to Courts and Youth Justice Referral Order Panels.
• To take lead responsibility for the management of young people remanded to care including acting as Link Worker to LAC teams and remand carers.
• To undertake professional social work training updates and deliver guidance with the team as required and to ensure that YJS practice is aligned with Torbay safeguarding practices.
• To prepare Pre-Sentence Reports and Referral Order Reports.
• To supervise and manage Youth Rehabilitation Orders and Referral Order contracts in accordance with legislation and National standards, taking necessary enforcement action as necessary.
• Ensure that individual needs are met by timely referrals to specialist interventions including Education, Parenting, Substance Misuse, Accommodation, Mental Health, Carers South West and Restorative Justice.
• To deliver specific structured programmes, subject to appropriate training.
• To manage Through care and Post-Custody Supervision of young people on custodial sentences.
• To participate in staff meetings and agreed relevant working parties.
• To provide information and advice to colleagues on individual casework and the Youth Justice process, both within the Youth Justice Service and other Children’s Service departments as appropriate.
• To develop and support resources as identified in line with policy requirements.
• Because of the nature of YJS and Youth Justice Panel work, it will be necessary for the post holder to work flexible hours, including evening work and/or occasional weekend work.
• To use electronic systems for routine communication, recording, information gathering and assessment and to assist in detailed communication with partner agencies. 

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Work independently within the Community undertaking home visits and lone working. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demands. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Computer and IT equipment.
• General Office equipment.
• Mobile phone. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• Partner Agencies / Court Personnel / Legal Advisors / Community Safety /  schools / Health/ Police. 

Internal

• Carers South West, specialist members of the Youth Offending Service, Care leavers and LAC team/Independent reviewing officer/ Safe guarding team.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council. 
• This post is office based at Electric House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Social Worker (Youth Justice Service)
Strategic team/Directorate	Childrens Services
Service	Youth Justice Service
Business unit	Youth Justice Service

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Enthusiasm and commitment for working with young people.
• Commitment to the objectives of the Youth Justice system under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
• Commitment to the value of early intervention to prevent offending.
• Effective motivation and communication skills.
• Possess a problem-solving approach to conflict.
• Ability to manage difficult and aggressive behaviour.
• Commitment to monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of intervention.
• Ability to effectively represent the agency in court and other formal settings.
• Ability to manage time effectively.
• Working to tight deadlines.
• Effective report preparation and recording skills.
• Ability and enthusiasm to work jointly with team colleagues across a range of disciplines.
• Ability to work within corporate policies and an awareness of equal opportunities.
• Reliability, commitment and flexibility.
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice.
• Ability to prepare and present reports is a variety of settings e.g. court, child protection meetings.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Advocacy skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of wider issues, problems, difficulties etc. affecting young people.
• Youth counselling.
• Experience of using structured, evidenced based assessment tools.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Knowledge of Youth Justice system.
• Knowledge of Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and Laspo 2012.
• Knowledge of Children Acts other childcare legislation.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Knowledge of framework for Mash and Early Help.
• Good understanding of the particular needs of young people within the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of The YJB Principles of Child First Practice.

Desirable knowledge

• Effective Practice Principles.
• Trauma Informed Practice.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Recent experience of working with young people and their families.
• Experience of assessing need and risk.
• Experience of and commitment to inter-agency working.
• Commitment to own learning and development.
• Experience of working in a criminal justice or social care setting.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Child Protection.
• Experience of working in a multi-agency team.
• Previous court work experience.
• Experience of using ASSET Plus.
• Experience of using Liquid Logic.
• Experience of using ChildView.
• SEND.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Social Work qualification e.g DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
• Current Registration Certification from General Social Care Council (or evidence of applied for).

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to A Level standard or equivalent.
• Full Driving Licence/Access to transport.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
• Ability to accommodate on-call working.
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.