Job Description
6 months contract with local authority
Job Purpose
As a Youth Justice Service Officer, you will be an integral part of Sefton’s Youth Justice Service, collaborating with various partners to support the well-being and safety of children in Sefton. Your commitment will be focused on preventing children from entering the criminal justice system and providing them with the necessary support to make positive changes and build a promising future. You will prioritise the individual needs of children, ensuring they are seen as children first and foremost, and work towards their success by leveraging the resources of the local partnership.
Main Duties
1. Take the lead in coordinating interventions and support for a diverse caseload of children, including those involved in Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).
2. Assume responsibility for specific thematic areas highlighted by management, including program development, sharing best practices, and evaluation.
3. Collaborate with Council and partnership colleagues to manage high-risk and vulnerable children and young people.
4. Assess the needs of children, evaluate risks, and ensure the delivery of appropriate services and interventions, focusing on outcomes and exit strategies.
5. Make complex decisions regarding caseloads using professional judgment and evidence-based tools.
6. Devise, implement, and review multi-agency intervention plans to reduce risk and prevent further offending.
7. Engage in direct work with children and families, exercising high-level influencing and persuasive skills.
8. Stay informed about current local and national contexts and new evidence-based research.
9. Promote team learning through reflective and critical case reviews and activity-based learning.
10. Prepare detailed reports for Referral Order Panels and Courts.
11. Represent the Youth Justice Service at various Council and Partnership meetings and attend Court when necessary.
12. Provide quality assurance support as agreed by the management team.
13. Chair reviews of children subject to Youth Justice Service intervention.
14. Record all assessments, plans, contact, actions, and decisions in the Case Management System.
15. Report Risk and Vulnerability through the line management chain and wider multi-agency team.
16. Ensure timely submission of high-quality reports.
17. Maintain knowledge of the Youth Justice Service Development Plan, Operational Policy, and Annual Plan.
18. Identify improvements to current practice and contribute to service development.
19. Participate in the office duty rota system.
20. Seek and engage in supervision.
21. Evaluate own performance and identify development opportunities.
22. Maintain compliance with Youth Justice specific and corporate policies.
Requirements
Requirements: Full-time availability for a year Ability to work 36 hours per week Resilient and able to thrive in challenging situations Attention to detail and creative problem-solving skills Comfortable with confrontation and able to deal with difficult situations Availability for out-of-hours meetings and lone working Daily use of a car and a full driving license