Job Description
Job Title: Youth Justice Officer\n Department: Young People’s Service\n Grade: Indicative Grade 8\n Location: Southampton City Council (Hybrid/On-Site)\n Reports to: Youth Justice Service Lead\n Pay Rate: £18.72 PAYE / £23.70 LTD (Paid via an umbrella company)\n\n About Southampton City Council At Southampton City Council, our vision is to create a city of opportunity where everyone thrives. We are committed to building a healthy, safe, and prosperous city for all. As part of Team Southampton, we work in close partnership with public, private, and voluntary organisations under the Southampton Connect framework to deliver services that support the wellbeing and development of our communities.\n\n Role Purpose The Youth Justice Officer plays a critical role in delivering services defined under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, aiming to prevent reoffending among children and young people.
Working as part of a multi-agency Youth Justice Service, you will assess risk, design and implement intervention plans, and provide support to young people and their families to promote positive life choices and reduce engagement with the criminal justice system.\n\n Key Responsibilities\nDeliver pre-court and post-court youth justice services, including restorative justice and reparation programmes.\n\nComplete assessments using ASSET+, identifying the risk of reoffending, serious harm, and vulnerability.\n\nAct as Supervising Officer and Responsible Officer for young people subject to court orders.\n\nDesign and supervise intervention programmes and sentence plans, including custodial and post-release support.\n\nWrite high-quality court reports and represent the service in Youth, Magistrates, and Crown Courts.\n\nProvide parenting support for families of young people involved in or at risk of offending.\n\nPromote engagement in positive community-based activities and reparation opportunities for young people.\n\nLiaise with Children’s Services, Police, Probation, Education providers, and other partners.\n\nEnsure all work complies with National Standards and frameworks for Effective Practice.\n\nProvide weekend court cover on a rota basis.\n\nMaintain accurate and timely case records and support quality assurance activities.\n\nParticipate in service audits, development plans, and continuous improvement initiatives.\n\nKey Relationships\nYouth Justice Service Lead (Line Manager)\n\nYouth Offending Team colleagues\n\nLocal schools and education providers\n\nFamilies Matter, Early Help, and Prevention Services\n\nPolice, Probation, Legal Services, and Courts\n\nChildren’s Social Care and external support agencies\n\nCore Responsibilities Financial Management\n\nDeliver Youth Justice services within budget constraints.\n\nIdentify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and income generation.\n\nCustomer Relationships\n\nDeliver high-quality services to children, families, and partner organisations.\n\nUse feedback to improve outcomes and satisfaction levels.\n\nOperational Effectiveness\n\nAdhere to all HR, Health & Safety, and Information Governance policies.\n\nMaintain accurate case records and reports.\n\nEscalate service risks appropriately and manage personal caseload effectively.\n\nOrganisational Capability\n\nEngage in personal development and CPD activities.\n\nContribute to team improvement initiatives and organisational change readiness.\n\nPerson Specification Essential:\n\nExperience working with children and young people in youth justice, social care, or similar setting.\n\nStrong knowledge of criminal justice processes and legislation related to youth offending.\n\nSkilled in risk assessment, care planning, and report writing.\n\nExcellent communication and interpersonal skills.\n\nAbility to work with families, multi-agency teams, and vulnerable groups.\n\nFlexible to provide occasional weekend or out-of-hours cover.\n\nDesirable:\n\nRelevant qualification in Youth Justice, Social Work, Criminology, or related discipline.\n\nTrained in ASSET+ or similar assessment frameworks.\n\nExperience delivering restorative justice or trauma-informed practice.\n \n To apply or learn more, please contact (url removed)