Youth justice

Youth justice teams support children to reduce the risk of offending and promote positive development in their lives.

Specialist areas of practice

Other names 

Youth offending 

What you’ll do 

Your responsibilities will vary depending on your role and position in the team. Social workers in youth justice teams are expected to: 

  • provide direct support to children involved in or at risk of offending 
  • engage with children’s strengths and encourage them to make positive changes in their lives 
  • develop interventions and provide access to education and employment support 
  • assess and prioritise the safety and well-being of children and others 
  • work with families to develop plans and interventions that promote positive outcomes 
  • advocate for children and empower them to participate in decision-making 
  • work with external partners to coordinate effective interventions and support 
  • evaluate the progress and effectiveness of interventions 
  • prepare reports and assess risk for courts, children’s panels and out-of-court disposals 

Skills and knowledge

The skills and knowledge you need will vary depending on your role and position in the team. Social workers in youth justice teams are expected to have: 

  • interpersonal skills to communicate with children clearly and compassionately 
  • an understanding of child development theories and frameworks 
  • an understanding of the youth justice system and relevant legislation and policies 
  • skills in carrying out safety and well-being assessments specific to youth offending 
  • knowledge of interventions that promote resilience and reduce the risk of offending 
  • the ability to motivate children and promote active participation in interventions 
  • experience of working with multi-agency partners such as the police and courts 
  • knowledge of writing clear and evidence-based reports for courts 
  • the ability to work effectively with children from diverse backgrounds and communities 

It could also be useful to have a qualification from a specialised training programme in: 

  • restorative justice 
  • trauma-informed practice 
  • risk management 
  • intervention strategies 

Who you’ll work with 

You could work with external partners and services including: 

  • police and emergency services 
  • probation services 
  • mental health services 
  • schools 
  • substance misuse workers 
  • employment specialists 
  • legal professionals 
  • community organisations 

Current opportunities

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available. 

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These resources have been developed by Department for Education.
Published: 13 December 2023
Last updated: 21 November 2025
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