You will be working with a range of children aged 10–17 across Nottinghamshire as part of an exciting youth project, working with children who are at risk of, or vulnerable to, being remanded in custody.
The project aims to:
"Develop and scale credible community-based alternatives to custodial remand for children, where risks can be safely managed in the community. It builds on learning from earlier pilots and pathfinders by strengthening the capacity of local systems to support courts to remand children safely in the community."
This role includes a combination of the following:
· The mentor will require strong restorative and relational skills to motivate and support children and young people, while working alongside professionals, including the allocated Youth Justice lead worker. This will involve attending professional meetings and building positive professional relationships to jointly support the children referred.
· Providing a range of mentoring support, including face-to-face support for children referred to the project. This will involve family support and addressing conflict within the home, encouraging positive and supportive family relationships.
· Each child will complete a needs assessment with their mentor and contribute to a bespoke support plan focused on matters specific to them and their family, in partnership with the allocated Youth Justice worker.
· This will require working with partners within Nottinghamshire Youth Justice Service, the police and other agencies that support children as part of a multi-agency approach, helping to reassure the courts that children can be safely supervised and supported in the community rather than being remanded in custody.
Examples of our mentoring support include both emotional and practical support, with a focus on:
· Identifying underlying issues and needs associated with behaviour, and developing joint support plans alongside the allocated Youth Justice worker.
· Partnership working with a range of professionals, primarily Nottinghamshire Youth Justice Service.
· Resolving accommodation and family relationship issues.
· Supporting and encouraging children and young people to develop and engage in healthy relationships with family members and peers.
· Supporting children and young people to access and engage in Education, Training or Employment (ETE).
· Encouraging and motivating children to engage positively within their communities by linking them with youth centres and other positive activities.
· Attending multi-agency meetings where required.
· Supporting children to repair harm, directly with victims or within the wider community, through restorative justice and/or reparation activities.
This is not an exhaustive list, and we will work with you to develop approaches that identify and respond to each individual child's needs.
You will be working 25 hours per week on a flexible basis to meet the availability and needs of the children and their families. As a result, you should expect some evening and occasional weekend working.
We will provide full training for the role, and we are looking for someone with passion, empathy and motivation rather than specific experience or qualifications.
So, if you want a job that can make a significant difference to the lives of children and young people, this could be the role for you.
The skills and qualities you will need to do the job well are:
COMMUNICATION
Good communication skills with children and their families are essential, as is the ability to communicate clearly and professionally (both verbally and in writing) with partner agencies such as Youth Justice and Police professionals. Forming and maintaining strong relationships with these partners is vital to the success of the work we do. You must be confident in contacting service users and families to offer support and engage them in our services.
FLEXIBILITY
Evening and weekend working may be required to meet the needs and availability of children and their families. This role requires you to be flexible and able to attend face-to-face meetings and support sessions.
Whilst this is primarily a home-based role, you will work closely with your Co-ordinator through regular Microsoft Teams meetings, with an expectation of maintaining accurate records through online timesheets and diary management systems.
MOTIVATION
This role is highly rewarding and can make a significant difference to someone's life. Many of the children we support face multiple challenges and may find it difficult to engage with services. You will need to provide encouragement, practical support and creative approaches to help motivate children and young people to engage positively.
IT CAPABLE
We require you to spend the majority of your time working directly with people. However, there is also a responsibility to record information accurately and promptly on our secure Case Management System.
As a result, it is essential that you are proficient in using:
· Email
· Electronic calendars
· Microsoft Word
· Microsoft Excel
We will encourage and expect you to maximise the use of remote methods of engagement where appropriate. It is therefore essential that you are comfortable using platforms such as Microsoft Teams.
SAFETY
We want you to work safely in all aspects of the role, including health and safety, safeguarding, data protection and risk assessment. Full training will be provided, and we are looking for someone who is committed to maintaining high standards in all of these areas.
The role will be based across Nottinghamshire and applicants should be prepared to work and travel throughout the county as required.
Travel expenses are covered; however, you will need to drive and have access to your own vehicle with business insurance cover.
The start date of the project is to be confirmed. The project is currently funded for two years.
We will provide:
· Full training
· A laptop and mobile phone
· Line management support and guidance
· An enhanced DBS check
· Salary £24,000 (Actual £17,142) rising to £26,000 (Actual £18,571) at the end of Year 2 in role
· 6% employer pension contribution
· 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Pay: From £24,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- The role requires an enhanced DBS check
- You will need to drive and have access to your own vehicle
- Interviews will take place on Tuesday 21 July 2026 (please note we are not able to offer an alternative date)
Work Location: On the road
