Job info	Job info details
Job title	Youth Justice Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Youth Justice Service
Business unit	Youth Justice
Responsible to (day to day issues)	YJS Team Manager
Accountable to (line manager)	YJS Team Manager
Salary grade	I
JE ref	EI50

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.
• Maintain effective working relationships with other Children's Services Departments and partner agencies in accordance with the Youth Management Board Deliver improved outcomes for children through the development of integrated systems, processes and practices across Children’s Social Care in relation to pre-proceedings and public law.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Improved outcomes for children and young people who offend or at risk of re-offending in conjunction with the Director, Head of Service and Service Managers, manage and continuously develop the performance management systems across the service. Ensure that they respond to national, regional, local and HMIP / Ofsted reporting and inspection requirements with specific reference to legal proceedings and provide accurate and timely information for managers to understand their business needs.

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.
• Carry out assessments of young people using ASSETPlus and other tools as appropriate. 
• Manage a caseload to ensure children 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 other youth panels. 
• To undertake professional training updates as required.
• To prepare Pre-Sentence Reports and Referral Order Reports.
• To supervise and manage Youth Detention Orders, 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, Careers 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 Youth Justice, 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 other IT equipment. 
• General office equipment. 
• Mobile phone. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

• External - Partner Agencies, Court Personnel, Legal Advisors, Community Safety,  schools, IYSS, Health/Police/Social Care staff. 
• Internal - Careers, specialist members of the Youth Justice Service, and Childrens Care staff.

10. Other duties

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

Other Information

• All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• 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.
• This post is 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

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	Youth Justice Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Youth Justice Service
Business unit	Youth Justice

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Enthusiasm and commitment for working with young people. 
• Commitment to the value of early intervention to prevent offending. 
• Exceptional communication skills. 
• Effective motivation 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. 

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

• In depth knowledge of the legislative framework and legal proceedings that govern Youth Justice.
• 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.
• Understanding of CSE/CCSE/contextual safeguarding agenda and practice. 
• Enhanced understanding of risk assessments, risk management and a clear focus on safeguarding young people and victims. 

Desirable knowledge

• Effective Practice Principles. 
• YJB Case Management Guidance. 
• Knowledge and understanding of wider issues, problems, difficulties etc. affecting young people.
• Understanding of the impact on trauma on the developed on the adolescent brain. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Previous experience or working within youth justice, children’s social care or probation experience.
• Recent experience of working with young people at risk and their families. 
• Experience of assessing need and risk. 
• Experience of multi-agency and commitment to inter-agency working. 
• Commitment to own learning and development. 
• Knowledge and experience of working with the impact of complex Trauma and ACES. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Child Protection. 
• Managing High risk case work. 
• Experience of working in a multi-agency team. 
• Previous court work experience. 
• Experience of using ASSET Plus, ChildView or relevant other youth offending data base. 
• Experience of using social care systems. 
• Experience of working with harmful sexual behaviour. 
• Training in Trauma Recovery Model. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Diploma in Social Work/CQSW or equivalent in Social Care, Health, Education, Probation or Criminal Justice. 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Full driving license. 
• 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 carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling). 
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/Southwest/UK in order to carry out duties. 
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours. 
• Ability to accommodate occasional homeworking.