Youth Justice Team Practitioner – South Essex, Rayleigh
Permanent, Full Time
£37,185 to £50,081 per annum
Location: Rayleigh
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 10th March 2026
This is an opportunity for an appropriately qualified worker to join the South Essex Youth Justice team, an effective and vibrant youth justice quadrant team. It’s a unique role that combines support, safeguarding and rehabilitation—helping young people rewrite their stories while building safer, stronger communities
Youth Justice Team Practitioner
Your Mission: As a Youth Justice Team Practitioner your mission is clear: to work in collaboration with families, schools, and key agencies to address the root causes of youth offending. By representing the Youth Justice Service at multiagency forums, you’ll be at the forefront of securing better outcomes for our youth.
Day to Day:Assessments with young people/families for Out of Court Disposal Panels. Completing Reports for Referral Order Panels/Court. Supervising a caseload of young people who are subject to Out of Court Disposals/Court orders. Attending professional meetings for young people. Court duty for Remand or Youth Court. As part of the team to cover office duty.
In-Depth Understanding: Your experience in working with young individuals with complex needs and families demonstrates your profound grasp of the relevant legislation, the Criminal Justice System and criminogenic risk.
Communication Expertise: Your exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, coupled with your IT proficiency, enable you to maintain impeccable records on our YOS case management system.
Resilience and Initiative: You thrive under pressure, managing competing demands with grace. You’re aware of your strengths and areas for development and are committed to continuous professional growth.
Positive Influence: You possess the ability to challenge young people’s attitudes and behaviours in a constructive and uplifting manner. Your dedication to working in partnership with young people, their parents/carers, and other stakeholders is unwavering.
Collaborative Spirit: You excel in multi-disciplinary teamwork, breaking down organisational boundaries to achieve collective success.
If you’re ready to embark on this rewarding journey, apply now and be the change our young people need. Together, we can shape a better future.
What you will need:
You will be a qualified and registered Social Worker or will hold a professionally accredited qualification such as Teaching, Youth and Community work, Probation Studies. Newly Qualified Social Workers can be considered.
To read more about our business area, please visit; Children & Families
Please look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone’s Essex . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025 , Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR ) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
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