Youth Justice Case Manager

Responsible to:
Operational Youth Justice Manager(s)
Responsible for:
This post could include the supervision of student placements

JOB PURPOSE

To form part of Sefton's Youth Justice Service which works in partnership with other services. You will be committed to working together with partners to help children in Sefton thrive and to keep them safe. You will support the service to prevent children from entering the criminal justice system, but when they do you will strive to help them learn, make positive changes and build a more promising future. You will ensure children are seen as children above anything else, listen to them and understand their individual needs and provide them with the best opportunity to succeed by drawing upon the full resources of our local partnership.

You will be responsible for safeguarding, promoting the welfare of child and young person, managing risk and vulnerability whilst ensuring that the public are protected and the sentence is served, ensuring the reputation of the Department and Council is preserved., 1. Hold and take the lead responsibility for children's cases, coordinating a package of interventions and support, for a complex and varied caseload including those cases involving Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)
2. Take responsibility for a thematic lead relative to specific aspects highlighted by management including programme development, sharing learning and best practice and evaluation.
3. Work collaboratively with Council and partnership colleagues Co work with officers as required in relation to the management of high risk, vulnerable children and young people.
4. To assess the needs of children: the risk of reoffending, risk of harm posed to others and risk to safety and wellbeing. Ensure the delivery of protective, supportive and needs led services/interventions for children and young people who are offending, or at risk of offending, operate within an agreed plan which is reviewed/evaluated appropriately with a focus on outcomes and exit strategy.
5. Be accountable for complex decision making in relation to caseloads/plans using professional judgement, evidence based tools, critical reflection and analysis to inform decisions made.
6. To devise, coordinate, implement and review multi-agency interventions plans to reduce risk, improve safety and wellbeing and prevent further offending
7. Undertake direct work with children and families in line with agreed intervention plans. Exercise high level influencing and persuasive skills to ensure planned strategies are effectively managed co-working with colleagues where appropriate.
8. To utilise theoretical knowledge and maintain critical awareness of current local and national contexts and new evidence-based research
9. To promote own and team learning through reflective and critical case reviews, thematic lead and activity-based learning
10. To prepare detailed reports for Referral Order Panels and Courts
11. To represent the Youth Justice Service at a range of Council and Partnership meetings and attend Court where necessary
12. To provide quality assurance support as agreed by the management team (i.e peer QA for reports)
13. To chair reviews of children subject to Youth Justice Service intervention
14. Utilise the Case Management System to record all assessments, plans (incl changes), contact, actions and decision, ensuring that the records are up to date and are of quality
15. Take responsibility for the reporting of Risk and Vulnerability through the line management chain and wider multi agency team e.g. Risk and Welfare Management Meetings (RWMM), MAPPA.
16. Ensure that reports are up to date, of a high quality and submitted according to appropriate timescales.
17. Maintain knowledge of the Youth Justice Service Development Plan, Operational Policy and Annual Plan, National Standards, Board Vision and Priorities
18. To identify improvements to current practice and contribute to service development through supporting learning for the Board and partners through the Operational Partnership Group
19. Participate in office duty rota system.
20. Seek and engage in supervision
21. Evaluate own performance and take responsibility for identifying development opportunities
22. Maintain compliance with Youth Justice specific and corporate policies, keeping up to date with mandatory training
23. Carry out all work within an equal opportunities framework.
24. To ensure that client information data is lawfully gathered, accurate, up to date and only divulged in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the local government common law duty of confidentiality. Failure to apply these duties can lead to the individual or the Department facing court proceedings.
25. To undertake any other duties as directed from time-to-time to meet the exigencies of the service.
NOTE - These duties are not exhaustive and may be varied from time to time to meet the changing needs and exigencies of the service. This will include some evening and weekend working relative to servicing of the youth court, home visits and some telephone contacts out of normal office hours as appropriate.

GENERAL

Officers who have a social worker qualification can be required to oversee the management, teaching and assesment of Social worker students carrying out learning placements for which is a separate allowance payable.

This Job Description is a representative document. Other reasonably similar duties may be allocated from time to time commensurate with the general character of the post and its grading.

Since confidential information is involved with the duties of this post, the post holder will be required to exercise discretion at all times and observe relevant codes of practice, professional conduct and legislation in relation to data protection and personal information.

All staff are responsible for the implementation of the health and safety policy as far as it affects them, colleagues and others who may be affected by their work. Staff are also expected to monitor the effectiveness of the health and safety arrangements and systems to ensure appropriate improvements are made were necessary.

The Authority has approved a policy on equal opportunity and copies are freely available to all employees and volunteers., To form part of Sefton's Youth Justice Service which works in partnership with other services. You will be committed to working together with partners to help children in Sefton thrive and to keep them safe. You will support the service to prevent children from entering the criminal justice system, but when they do you will strive to help them learn, make positive changes and build a more promising future. You will ensure children are seen as children above anything else, listen to them and understand their individual needs and provide them with the best opportunity to succeed by drawing upon the full resources of our local partnership. You will be responsible for safeguarding, promoting the welfare of child and young person, managing risk and vulnerability whilst ensuring that the public are protected and the sentence is served, ensuring the reputation of the Department and Council is preserved. Hybrid working however expectation office based 3 days per week

Recognised professional qualification as follows:
· Social Work
· Diploma in Probation Studies
· Dip HE Youth & Community
· Relevant youth / criminal justice degree qualification with associated experience

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Experience
Significant relevant post qualification experience in assessing and analysing the needs of children and their families including the ability to devise intervention plans and packages of support to preventing offending behaviour, reduce risk of serious harm to others, risk to the child and promote safety and wellbeing.

Significant knowledge of legislation, practice and experience in relation to youth justice work and safeguarding children

Experience of working collaboratively with other agencies, to share knowledge and deliver successful outcomes

Experience of engaging with hard to reach children and families, Demonstrable skills, knowledge and aptitudes

Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and associated legislation including the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, The Children Act 1989, Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, Working Together 2018 and other relevant criminal justice and childcare legislation and practice guidance.

Significant experience of delivering direct work with children at risk of offending and exploitation, with knowledge & skills to work in a way which protects children and young people and reduces their vulnerability whilst enhancing their safeguarding factors.

Knowledge of and skills to promote positive change in the behaviour of children, in particular in diverting them from criminal activity.

Ability to develop positive relationship with young people and deliver interventions programmes to support positive outcomes

Verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present reports for courts, youth offender panels, conferences, reviews and other meetings specified by the Youth Justice Operational Managers

Ability to complete assessments and critically analyse the assessment to produce a tailored plan for a child

Good planning and organisational skills.

Ability to work collaboratively with Partners and coordinate plans and partnership contributions

An ability to work under pressure, prioritise a workload and meet deadlines in accordance with both Sefton Standards & National Standards as well as Youth Justice Board reporting requirements.

Ability to use ICT systems including Child View or other Youth Justice case management systems

Ability to evaluate own practice and identify areas for development

A demonstrable commitment to ongoing professional development including staff supervision and appraisal and a willingness to undertake further training.

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Special requirements

This post is registered as exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and in accordance with the Police Act.

The successful candidate must be able to obtain satisfactory Enhanced DBS in order to be appointed to the post. In this respect a criminal record check will be undertaken prior to confirmation of appointment.

This post is designated casual car user. The successful candidate must have a driving license and access to a vehicle that is insured for business use.