Explore what it means to be a youth justice worker in the UK. Discover their role in supporting vulnerable young people, preventing reoffending, and creating real change within the youth justice system.
TL;DR
Youth Justice Worker: A Career That Changes Lives
A youth justice worker supports children and teenagers in the UK who have committed or are at risk of committing crime. Working within the youth justice system, their role blends care, structure, and rehabilitation to help young people build safer, more positive futures. From supporting in court and custody to helping reintegrate into school or work, youth justice workers are vital to reducing reoffending and guiding change. This guide covers what the role involves, how to become one, where they work, and why the career is both challenging and deeply rewarding.
What Is the Youth Justice System?
The youth justice system in the UK is a legal and social care framework designed to deal with young people aged 10 to 17 who commit criminal offences.
Rather than focusing solely on punishment, the system aims to:
- Prevent reoffending
- Address the root causes of criminal behaviour
- Provide support and rehabilitation
- Keep the public safe
This system is underpinned by a belief that children who offend are still children – often shaped by trauma, neglect, or disadvantage. While accountability is important, the priority is rehabilitation.
The youth justice system is different from the adult system in several ways:
- Separate courts (Youth Courts)
- Specialised sentencing options like referral orders and youth rehabilitation orders
- A stronger emphasis on education, community ties, and restorative justice
Who Is the Youth Justice Board?
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is a key part of the system in England and Wales. It’s a non-departmental public body that sets the strategic direction for youth justice services.
The YJB works to:
- Monitor youth justice services to ensure they’re effective and fair
- Distribute government funding to local authorities
- Promote evidence-based practice and training
- Champion child-first approaches that reduce criminalisation
It also collects and analyses national data on youth offending, helping identify trends and inequalities – especially around ethnicity and access to support. Youth justice workers often follow guidance and frameworks set by the YJB in their day-to-day practice.
How Do Young People Enter the Youth Justice System?
Most young people enter the youth justice system through the police. This may involve arrest, caution, or being charged with a crime. In many cases, children are offered diversion – early intervention programmes to avoid a formal criminal record.
Here’s a typical pathway:
1. Police Involvement
A child or young person may be stopped, arrested, or interviewed following an incident. Police have the discretion to issue a community resolution or youth caution for minor offences.
2. Youth Caution or Conditional Caution
These are formal warnings that are recorded on the Police National Computer. They may come with conditions like attending a rehabilitation programme or writing a letter of apology.
3. Court Appearance
For more serious offences, or if someone has offended multiple times, they may be referred to the Youth Court. Sentences can include:
- Referral Orders
- Youth Rehabilitation Orders
- Curfews or electronic tags
- Custodial sentences in young offender institutions or secure children’s homes
4. Youth Custody
Custody is a last resort. It’s reserved for serious crimes or persistent offenders. Custodial settings include:
- Young Offender Institutions (YOIs)
- Secure Children’s Homes
- Secure Training Centres
In these cases, youth justice workers are crucial. They help prepare young people for release, offer emotional support, and work on resettlement plans.
5. Resettlement and Support
After custody or court proceedings, the young person often works with a youth offending team (YOT). Youth justice workers are core members of these teams. They build relationships with young people, offer practical help, and keep them engaged in education, work, or therapy.
Why This System Needs Youth Justice Workers
Children in the youth justice system often have:
- Experienced trauma or neglect
- Missed large amounts of education
- Mental health or substance misuse issues
- Low trust in adults or professionals
A youth justice worker becomes a steady presence in their lives. They provide structure, encouragement, boundaries, and hope. These relationships can be life-changing – especially when other support networks have broken down.
What Does a Youth Justice Worker Do?
A youth justice worker supports children and young people who have offended or are at risk of doing so. Their role bridges social work, education, mental health, and justice. It’s about creating change – not just managing behaviour. These professionals offer early intervention, rehabilitation, and advocacy for vulnerable children navigating the legal system.
Let’s explore their responsibilities.
Daily Responsibilities and Core Tasks
A youth justice worker may work in a Youth Offending Team (YOT), a secure children’s home, or within a young offender institution. Regardless of the setting, the focus is on prevention, intervention, and resettlement.
Key responsibilities include:
- Assessing risks and needs using structured tools
- Creating and monitoring support plans tailored to the individual
- Facilitating rehabilitation programmes (anger management, drug awareness, victim empathy)
- Maintaining regular contact with young people and their families
- Liaising with schools, colleges, social services, and police
- Supporting court appearances and bail supervision
- Advocating for children’s rights in a legal setting
- Preparing young people for reintegration into school, work, or the community
Often, youth justice workers are the one consistent adult presence in a child’s life during a period of crisis. That stability is part of what makes the role so powerful.
Essential Skills and Qualities
The best youth justice workers share a mix of professional expertise and emotional intelligence. You’re not just enforcing rules – you’re forming trusting relationships and guiding change.
Here’s what’s essential:
- Empathy without judgement: Understand behaviour without excusing harm
- Emotional resilience: Some stories will be difficult. Burnout is a risk
- Problem-solving skills: Each young person’s situation is unique
- Strong communication: Be clear, calm, and approachable
- Cultural awareness: Youth justice disproportionately affects Black and ethnic minority communities
- Conflict de-escalation: Know how to keep everyone safe
- Adaptability: Be ready to work in schools, homes, police stations, courts – sometimes all in one week
Above all, a youth justice worker needs to believe in young people’s potential, even when others don’t.
Where Do Youth Justice Workers Operate?
Youth justice workers are needed in a range of settings across England and Wales. These include:
1. Youth Offending Teams (YOTs)
The most common setting. YOTs are based in local councils and made up of social workers, police officers, health professionals, and education staff. Here, youth justice workers support children subject to court orders or community sentences.
2. Secure Children’s Homes or STCs
In these settings, youth justice workers help young people detained under custodial orders or welfare grounds. They provide therapy, education support, and release planning.
3. Young Offender Institutions (YOIs)
These are larger, prison-like institutions for young people aged 15–21. Youth justice workers here focus on preparing young people for release and helping them engage in purposeful activity like training or education.
4. Schools and Community Programmes
Some roles involve delivering preventative interventions in schools or working with children who’ve received out-of-court disposals. Early intervention can prevent entry into the youth justice system altogether.
How to Become a Youth Justice Worker
There’s no single path – but a combination of the right qualifications, values, and experience is key.
Qualifications and Training Required
Most youth justice worker roles require:
- A degree in criminology, social work, youth justice, psychology, or a related field
- Enhanced DBS clearance (criminal record check)
- Some roles may accept Level 4/5 diplomas in youth work or social care
In some local authorities, you can start as a Youth Support Worker and access internal training to develop into a full youth justice role.
The Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate (YJEPC), run by the YJB and accredited by Unitas, is a valuable qualification that many employers look for.
Career Progression and Specialisations
Being a youth justice worker can open doors into other careers in child protection, education, safeguarding, and policy work.
Common next steps include:
- Senior practitioner or team manager in a YOT
- Social work training
- Specialist roles in trauma-informed care, speech and language, or youth mental health
- Positions at the Youth Justice Board, leading reform or research
- Moving into third-sector work with charities like Barnardo’s, Catch22, or Nacro
The role is varied and deeply fulfilling for those who value long-term impact over short-term wins.
What Is a Young Offender Institution?
A young offender institution (YOI) is a custodial facility for young people, usually aged between 15 and 21, who have been sentenced or are on remand. While they share similarities with adult prisons, YOIs are designed to meet the needs of younger people – although they have faced criticism for failing to deliver truly rehabilitative care.
Youth justice workers play a critical support role in YOIs, helping young people cope with the environment, manage their emotions, and plan for life beyond custody.
Definition and Purpose
YOIs are run by HM Prison & Probation Service and are separate from secure children’s homes (SCHs) and secure training centres (STCs). Young people may be placed in a YOI if:
- They commit a serious or violent offence
- They have a history of persistent offending
- A court determines custody is the only option
The average stay in a YOI is 4–12 months, but it varies depending on the offence and sentence.
The purpose of a YOI is not just containment. It’s supposed to:
- Offer education and vocational training
- Deliver behavioural programmes
- Reduce the risk of reoffending
- Protect the public
Life Inside a Young Offender Institution
Conditions inside a YOI vary widely. While some provide structured support and safe environments, others have been criticised for:
- Overcrowding
- Poor access to mental health services
- Staff shortages
- Violence and bullying
Most young people spend large parts of the day locked in their cells. Opportunities for meaningful contact with staff and peers are often limited. This can be especially damaging for teenagers who may already feel abandoned or fearful.
Within this environment, the role of the youth justice worker becomes even more crucial.
What a Youth Justice Worker Does in a YOI
In a young offender institution, a youth justice worker typically supports young people through:
- Sentence planning and setting goals
- Helping them prepare for release
- Ensuring they continue their education or training
- Advocating for access to mental health or additional services
- Encouraging family contact where appropriate
- Building a relationship based on trust, accountability, and safety
Some youth justice workers are based in the community but maintain contact with the young person throughout their sentence. Others work directly inside the institution as part of a multidisciplinary team.
The focus is always on rehabilitation – not just punishment.
Challenges Facing Youth Justice Workers
Working in this sector isn’t easy. Youth justice workers must navigate complex, often emotionally intense environments, balancing safety, legal responsibility, and compassion.
The Impact of Trauma and ACEs
A high proportion of young people in custody have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as:
- Physical or emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Domestic violence
- Parental addiction or mental illness
- Homelessness
These experiences shape behaviour, often leading to mistrust, aggression, or withdrawal. Youth justice workers must use trauma-informed approaches – recognising that challenging behaviour often signals pain, not defiance.
They’re trained to support emotional regulation, build healthy relationships, and respond without escalating conflict.
Balancing Authority and Advocacy
Youth justice workers walk a fine line. They must:
- Hold young people accountable for their actions
- Follow safeguarding procedures and public protection protocols
- Challenge harmful behaviour
- While also…
- Being a consistent source of support
- Promoting hope and self-belief
- Helping young people see a different future
This dual role can be emotionally exhausting, especially when progress is slow or setbacks occur. However, for many youth justice workers, the small wins – a returned phone call, a completed course, a moment of reflection – are what matter.
Systemic Issues: Funding, Staffing, and Burnout
Like many parts of the social care system, the youth justice sector has been hit hard by funding cuts. Many local Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) report:
- High caseloads
- Staff shortages
- Pressure to meet targets
- Limited access to specialist services (e.g. CAMHS)
This environment increases the risk of burnout. That’s why supervision, peer support, and professional development are essential.
Despite the challenges, most youth justice workers find their work deeply meaningful. They build life-changing relationships and help young people reclaim their futures – often against the odds.
Support and Resources for Youth Justice Workers
Being a youth justice worker means constantly navigating complex situations. To sustain this important work, support structures and training opportunities are crucial. Fortunately, there are several organisations and networks that provide guidance, advocacy, and professional development.
Training, Supervision, and Mentorship
Youth justice workers are encouraged to pursue:
- Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate (YJEPC)
- Restorative justice training
- Safeguarding and child protection qualifications
- Mental health and neurodiversity CPD
Many local authorities fund accredited training as part of a youth justice worker’s development plan.
Regular supervision helps staff process difficult experiences, receive feedback, and avoid burnout. Peer mentoring is also growing in popularity, particularly for early-career workers.
Why Choose a Career as a Youth Justice Worker?
Making a Difference That Lasts
For many youth justice workers, this is more than a job. It’s a mission.
By showing up consistently, building trust, and creating safe spaces, youth justice workers help young people:
- Avoid further involvement with the justice system
- Reconnect with education or training
- Address substance misuse or mental health concerns
- Rebuild relationships with family or carers
- Develop emotional regulation and self-belief
The impact can echo through generations. Supporting one child out of the justice system can reduce crime, improve community safety, and spark long-term change.
Personal Fulfilment and Career Benefits
Beyond the emotional rewards, this career offers:
- Opportunities for progression: into management, policy, or specialist services
- Strong job security: demand for youth justice professionals remains high
- Diverse daily work: no two days are ever the same
- Transferable skills: useful across social work, education, probation, and mental health
Many youth justice workers describe the role as challenging but life-affirming – a career where you learn as much as you give.
Explore More
- Explore Careers at Welcare – Join Our Team
- Read Our Stories – Children and Young People in Our Homes
- Learn About Our Therapeutic Care and Support Services
- Youth Justice Board for England and Wales – official site with guidance, data, and strategies.
- Youth Justice in England and Wales (Wikipedia) – comprehensive overview of the youth justice system and its legal framework.
- Youth Justice Resource Hub – toolkits, guidance, and training resources aimed at youth justice professionals.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a youth justice worker is not about ticking boxes. It’s about standing beside young people who’ve been let down and offering a better path forward. Whether you’re starting out or switching careers, this role lets you change lives with compassion, commitment, and care.
If you’re ready to take the next step, explore opportunities at Welcare or speak to your local authority. The children and communities you’ll support are worth it.
Got a question?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a youth justice worker?
A youth justice worker is a specialist who supports children and teenagers involved in the criminal justice system. Working within Youth Offending Teams, secure homes, or young offender institutions, they focus on rehabilitation over punishment. Their goal is to build trust, offer guidance, and help young people make positive choices through personalised support plans and structured interventions.
What does a youth justice worker do?
A youth justice worker helps young people understand the impact of their actions, supports them through legal processes, and works to reduce reoffending. Their day-to-day work includes risk assessments, delivering behaviour programmes, liaising with families, and ensuring each child receives the emotional and educational support they need to reintegrate into society successfully.
Is a youth justice worker the same as a youth worker?
No. While both work with young people, a youth justice worker focuses specifically on children in contact with the criminal justice system. A youth worker may support young people more broadly, through community or educational settings.
What qualifications do I need to become a youth justice worker?
Most roles require a degree or diploma in a relevant field such as youth work, criminology, psychology, or social work. Some positions accept experience and Level 4/5 NVQs or apprenticeships. The Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate (YJEPC) is highly recommended.
What is a young offender institution?
A young offender institution is a secure facility for young people aged 15–21 who have been convicted of crimes or are awaiting trial. These institutions aim to balance safety with education and rehabilitation, though conditions vary widely.
Why be a youth justice worker?
Becoming a youth justice worker offers a rare opportunity to make a lasting difference in young people’s lives. You’ll support children who have faced adversity, helping them break cycles of crime and discover their potential. It’s a deeply rewarding career where you combine compassion, structure, and advocacy to guide vulnerable young people towards safer, brighter futures.
