Suffolk County Council
* Address: West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU - Hybrid
* Salary: £34,434 - £40,777 per annum (pro rata if part time)
* Hours: 37 hours per week, Flexible working options available
* Contract: Permanent
We're focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people, learning from what they say and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things. As Youth Justice Service Practitioner you’ll be as keen to collaborate and build a bright future as we are. So, to make a positive impact, connect with us and connect with a fantastic career.
Your role and responsibilities
We're looking for passionate professionals to join our team and make a real difference through youth rehabilitation. In this role, you will:
* deliver innovative rehabilitation and intervention programs
* support young people and their families to prevent youth offending and promote positive change
* engage with victims of youth offences
* provide court support services, including weekends and bank holidays (once trained and as required)
* contribute to community safety initiatives
* work as part of a close-knit, motivated, and supportive team
* collaborate with specialist services and multi‑agency networks
* build strong connections with challenging young people
* demonstrate resilience, flexibility, and a belief in the power of rehabilitation
* apply strong assessment skills
* commit to youth justice reform
What you will need
* Excellent information‑gathering and analytical skills.
* A commitment to your own professional development.
* If you do not already hold the Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate (YJEPC) or the Professional Certificate in Effective Practice (including YJEPC Desistance Top‑Up), you will be expected to work towards the YJEPC qualification as part of your employment. This qualification will be fully funded by Suffolk County Council.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile. If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
The Suffolk Youth Justice Service (SYJS) works with children and young people who are in, or at risk of entering, the Youth Justice System. We also support parents, carers, and victims of youth crime, operating as a multi‑agency partnership hosted by Suffolk County Council.
Our core aim is to:
* Prevent offending by children and young people.
* Protect the public from harm caused by youth offending.
* Promote the safety, wellbeing, and future aspirations of the young people we work with.
SYJS operates 7 days a week, including evenings until 9 pm, and conducts home visits to meet national standards and legislative requirements.
As part of the role, you will be expected to:
* occasionally work evenings and weekends, for which you will be entitled to flexi time or Time Off in Lieu (TOIL).
* participate in a Saturday court rota, for which you will receive additional payment or TOIL, depending on your preference.
Job details
* Closing date: 11.30pm, 26 May 2026
Interview process
1. Assessment centre: Week commencing 8 June 2026
2. Panel Interview: Monday 15 June 2026
3. Young Person Panel: Week commencing 22 June 2026
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
Benefits
In return, you’ll enjoy:
* up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
* membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
* travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
* performance‑related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost‑of‑living pay increase
* training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
* diverse and active staff networks
* flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Reasonable adjustments
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
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