Youth Justice Service Officer / Senior Social Worker - Youth and Adolescent Service

Posted 11th Nov, 2025
Location
Hillingdon
Salary/rate
£48,003 – £52,194
Working pattern
Full-time – 36 hours per week
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
24th Nov, 2025
About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Youth Justice Service Officer / Senior Social Worker to join our Youth and Adolescent Service. This pivotal role is designed for a practitioner capable of delivering a 50/50 split between Youth Justice and Adolescent Safeguarding work.

You will work directly with young people at risk of contextual harm, including criminal and sexual exploitation, radicalisation, serious youth violence, and family breakdown. Using a dynamic, relational, and restorative approach, you will empower young people to co-produce their own plans and take an active role in their development and safeguarding. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact, supporting some of Hillingdon's most vulnerable young people while contributing to practice excellence, service innovation, and professional leadership within the wider team.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Manage a complex caseload with high levels of autonomy, ensuring timely and effective interventions
  • Deliver direct work with young people and families, using evidence-based frameworks to reduce risk and promote resilience
  • Undertake holistic assessments of criminogenic needs, re-offending risk, and safeguarding vulnerabilities
  • Prepare and present high-quality court reports, intervention plans, and case reviews
  • Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners, including the Police, Health, Probation, and the voluntary sector

To apply, please submit your application through the Hillingdon Council jobs portal. We recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, as this role may close early due to a high volume of applications.

About you

You are an experienced qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England, who brings strong professional curiosity, emotional intelligence, and resilience to complex cases. You can balance safeguarding and risk management with a restorative and strengths-based approach. The ideal candidate will:

  • Have proven experience working within Youth Justice, Safeguarding, or Adolescent Services
  • Demonstrate strong understanding of criminal and youth justice legislation, risk assessment, and safeguarding frameworks
  • Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing detailed assessments and court reports
  • Show ability to work effectively with young people and families facing complex social issues
  • Display commitment to continuous professional development, reflective practice, and team collaboration

This role requires an Enhanced DBS check, qualifications check, professional registration check, and 5 years of referencing. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

About Hillingdon

On joining our Children’s Social Care team, you’ll be welcomed and made to feel ‘at home’, benefitting from the right tools, skills, and resources. From day one you’ll meet with colleagues across the council who will provide expert guidance and support to succeed and develop your career at Hillingdon - giving you that ‘Hillingdon feeling’.

Our commitment to continuous improvement is also reflected in our dedication to lead, coach, and invest into our people. Whether you’re just about to embark on a career within social care, or aspire to progress into senior roles, we offer clear development pathways to help you achieve your career ambitions.

With access to a wide range of training and learning opportunities (PAMs, AIMs, CGP2, etc.), every day is a ‘learning day’. Partnering with local Universities to offer the ‘Practice Educators programme’ we’re keen to not only enhance the quality of our social care provision, but also supercharge your career! 

In addition to a comprehensive career development plan, we offer a range of benefits which include:

  • Local government average salary pension scheme

  • From 26 to 34 days annual leave (rising to 37, dependant on length of service)

  • Free on-site parking when working at our civic centre offices

  • Career breaks

  • Hybrid working and flexible working hours

  • Season ticket loan

  • Access to a credit union

  • Access to a wide range of trainings, courses, and other types of professional development

  • Discount on a variety of adult education courses run by the council

  • Payment of professional fees where these are required

  • Discounts at council-owned leisure centres and swimming pools at Hillingdon (Uxbridge), Queensmead (South Ruislip), Highgrove (Ruislip) and Botwell Green (Hayes)

  • Cycle purchase scheme

  • Car sharing scheme

  • 30% discount on green fees at council-owned golf courses

If you'd like to arrange an informal chat about this role, please send us an email to recruitment@hillingdon.gov.uk, highlighting your name, contact details, and the name of this role.