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Youth offending team officer
Youth offending service officer
Youth offending team officers work to prevent children and young people under 18 from offending and reoffending.
Average salary (a year)
£21000
Starter
£38000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
40.0 to 42.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
evenings / weekends
flexibly
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through:a university course; an apprenticeship; volunteering; applying directly
University
You could do a foundation degree, degree or postgraduate award in
youth work, youth justice, social work, criminology
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
Apprenticeship
You could do a youth justice practitioner higher apprenticeship.
You'll need paid or voluntary experience of working with young people and sometimes adults in challenging situations. This could include in hostels, special schools, family support teams, residential childcare or youth services.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
    Volunteering
    You can start by volunteering to work with young people. For example, mentoring will give you an understanding of the issues they face.
    You can also support young people in the criminal justice system by volunteering as an appropriate adult. Opportunities and training are organised locally.
    You can get more information on volunteering opportunities in your area from Do-it and at NCVO.
    Direct Application
    You may be able to apply directly for jobs if you have relevant experience and a qualification in
    youth work, probation, social work, policing
    More Information
    Further Information
    You'll find more details about working with young people, training and volunteering through the Youth Justice Board.
    What it takes
    Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
    Skills and knowledge
    You'll need:
      Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
      To be thorough and pay attention to detail
      Knowledge of psychology
      To be flexible and open to change
      The ability to work on your own
      Counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
      The ability to understand people’s reactions
      The ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
    Digital Skills Level
    to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
    Related Restrictions
    What you will do
    Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
    Day to day tasks
    In your day-to-day duties you might
    carry out risk assessments and manage risk of reoffending, prepare reports for the courts before sentencing, provide support to young offenders to prevent reoffending, make referrals to other agencies like housing, or drug and alcohol misuse services, supervise young offenders on court orders, community sentences, and after release from secure institutions, help young offenders into education, work or training, encourage young people to take part in constructive activities, visit young people in secure institutions
    Working environment
    You could work in a court, at a client's home, in a prison, in the community, at a police station or in an office.
    Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
    Career Path & Progression
    Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
    With experience, you could progress to team leader or team manager.
    With further training you could move into social work or educational welfare.
    Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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