Youth offending team officer

Youth offending team officers work to prevent children and young people under 18 from committing crime and reoffending.

Also known as: Youth offending service officer

• Starter salary£26,000 a year
• Experienced£39,000 a year
• Typical hours40 to 42 a week

What you'll do

As a youth offending team officer, you could:

• carry out risk assessments and manage risk of reoffending
• prepare reports for the courts before sentencing
• provide support to young people 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 take up education, work and training opportunities
• 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.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• knowledge of psychology
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to work on your own
• the ability to understand people's reactions
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

How to become a youth offending team officer

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 apply to do a Youth Justice Practitioner Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.

You'll need paid or voluntary experience of working with young people, and sometimes adults, in challenging situations. This could include work 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

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress to team leader or team manager.

With further training you could move into social work or educational welfare.

Guides for this industry

• Prison & Probation Services: pay, interviews and getting started →

Related roles

• Job roleYouth worker
• Job roleSocial worker
• Job roleProbation services officer
• Job roleProbation officer
• Job roleSubstance misuse outreach worker

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