Directorate: Children and Young People’s Services
Temporary 3 years fixed term, Full time, 37 hours per week
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Youth Justice Prevention Worker to join our multi-disciplinary team.
Working within Rotherham's Youth Justice Service and embedded within the Family Help Service, this role focuses on delivering non-statutory prevention and diversionary interventions designed to prevent children and young people from entering the criminal justice system.
This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of vulnerable children, young people, and their families by providing timely, needs-led support at the earliest opportunity, helping to reduce risk, build resilience, and promote positive long-term outcomes.
About the Role
The Youth Justice Prevention Worker will play a pivotal role in identifying children who are at risk of offending or entering the youth justice system and ensuring they receive appropriate support before difficulties escalate.
The successful candidate will undertake assessments, develop intervention plans, and deliver evidence-based one-to-one and group interventions that are tailored, accessible, and impactful. They will work closely with children, families, schools, and partner agencies to promote positive change through trauma-informed, child-centred, and restorative approaches.
A key aspect of the role will involve managing prevention and diversionary interventions, including pre-court disposals and out-of-court outcomes, ensuring that children and families have the opportunity to engage in meaningful support which addresses underlying needs and improves outcomes.
The post holder will also contribute to raising awareness of emerging youth justice issues, including knife crime, exploitation, anti-social behaviour, and the sharing of harmful or inappropriate images, working collaboratively with schools and partner agencies to enhance prevention and early intervention activity across the borough.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will:
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Manage a caseload of children and young people, undertaking assessments of need and developing evidence-based intervention plans.
- Deliver preventative and diversionary interventions designed to reduce offending behaviour and build resilience.
- Undertake assessments for children entering, or at risk of entering, the youth justice system, identifying welfare, safeguarding, and wellbeing concerns.
- Manage prevention cases, pre-court disposals, and out-of-court interventions.
- Act as a key worker, providing practical, emotional, and developmental support to children and young people.
- Develop, implement, and review support plans, intervention plans, and risk assessments.
- Work effectively with families, carers, schools, and partner agencies to ensure coordinated support and positive outcomes.
- Support children and young people to make informed choices and encourage participation, self-advocacy, and personal responsibility.
- Respond appropriately to vulnerability, behavioural difficulties, safeguarding concerns, exploitation risks, and emerging needs.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and high-quality records in line with legislation, policy, and professional standards.
- Deliver interventions across a variety of settings, including community, outreach, educational, and residential environments.
- Build and maintain effective multi-agency relationships, contributing to strong partnership working and challenging barriers to service delivery where appropriate.
- Promote awareness of youth justice issues and contribute to preventative work with schools and community partners.
What We Are Looking For:
We are seeking an enthusiastic, skilled, and motivated practitioner who has:
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Experience of working with vulnerable children, young people, and families.
- Knowledge of youth justice, early intervention, prevention, safeguarding, and child development.
- Experience of undertaking assessments and delivering targeted interventions.
- A strong understanding of trauma-informed, restorative, and child-first approaches.
- Excellent communication, engagement, and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- A commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children, young people, and their families.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting time to join Rotherham Youth Justice Service as we continue to strengthen our prevention and early intervention offer. You will be part of a dedicated and supportive team committed to improving outcomes for children and young people and preventing unnecessary entry into the criminal justice system.
Further Information
Please refer to the attached Job Profile and Person Specification for full details of the role and requirements.
If you are interested in this opportunity and would like an informal discussion or further information, please contact Joseph Nwokobia or Amanda Needham –
We look forward to hearing from you.
** Please note we do not accept AI generated applications**
This post involves working with children and therefore if successful you will be required to apply for a disclosure of criminal records check at an enhanced level. Further information about the Disclosure Scheme can be found at www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. For further information, please visit our website.
