202507: Youth Justice Worker - HMP Feltham

Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working

24-Jul-2025

Location

Feltham

AO

Job ID

7623

Descriptions & requirements An extraordinary job. Done by someone like you.

Prison officers protect the public and help make an impact on prisoners' lives.

If you have the integrity, skills and strength of character we're looking for, this fast-paced role could be the start of a successful career.

Address

HMP/YOI Feltham, Bedfont Rd, Feltham TW13 4NP

City / Town

City / Town

Feltham

Region

London

Vacancy Type

Merit

Someone like you

The Youth Custody Service is transforming its workforce, and we invite you to be part of this journey. The youth justice worker role is similar to that of a prison officer but specifically focused on supporting children and young people in custody. This role is vital in reshaping how young people are cared for in custodial environments.

We are seeking individuals with a special ability to support and guide young people. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring the security and safety of children while providing day-to-day support in a custodial setting. Comprehensive training and development will equip you with the knowledge to understand the diverse backgrounds and individual circumstances of young people in custody, and how your responses in complex or dynamic situations can help these individuals build better futures.

This role will be dealing with the practical side of life for children in custody which includes, but is not limited to, interventions when required, overseeing, and facilitating safe movement around the site, and providing supervision to ensure safety.

You will be working with children and young people who may have committed serious offenses, come from challenging backgrounds, and/or have mental health needs. These young individuals may test boundaries, but they also have significant potential for positive change. You will play a significant part in providing them with opportunities to better their future.

No formal qualifications are required to become a youth justice worker; personal qualities are what matter most. You should demonstrate:

• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to high standards of care and service
• Empathy and understanding

As a practitioner, you will work with children, young people, and their families or carers to help achieve meaningful and lasting changes in their lives. You will:

• Show a passion for supporting children, young people, and families
• be skilled in identifying and assessing the complex needs of the children and young people you work with
• collaborate with young people, their families, or carers to agree on interventions or referrals that support their needs
• handle interventions when necessary, including de-escalating situations, managing behavioural issues, and applying conflict resolution techniques
• approach your work with respectful curiosity, balancing challenge and support to help young people reach their potential and stay safe
• work closely with other professionals and organisations to collectively improve outcomes

Each case will be unique, and you will need to exercise sound judgment, using evidence-based approaches to inform your practice. You will continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your actions and methods. Regular supervision with an experienced practitioner will help you reflect on and improve your practice. By the end of your apprenticeship, the high standard of your work will be making a genuine difference to the lives of those you support.

be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment

• meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements (see nationality requirements section below)

as this is a physically active job, you will need to pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process

• meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses)
• For safety reasons, everyone training to be a prison officer needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)
• Whilst tattoos are permitted, including those that are visible, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.

Travel to Work

Some prison establishments are situated in rural locations with limited public transport options; therefore, a driving licence and own transport is beneficial but is not an essential requirement of the role (unless specified). Please note that shift start, and finish times are fixed, and it is your responsibility to get to and from your place of work on time for the start of your shift. Please carefully consider the location of this vacancy and your transport options before applying.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

nationals of the Republic of Ireland

nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

From 4 April 2024, the Government increased the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas. The change means that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) cannot guarantee sponsorship for those seeking sponsorship via the Skilled Worker visa route.

If you are applying to be a prison officer and you do not meet the new eligibility criteria for sponsorship, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes.

HMPPS will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.

Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

Pay

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.

• 37 hours a week =£39,525 a year
• 39 hours a week = £41,892 a year
• 41 hours a week = £44,258a year

Someone like you

The Youth Custody Service is transforming its workforce, and we invite you to be part of this journey. The youth justice worker role is similar to that of a prison officer but specifically focused on supporting children and young people in custody. This role is vital in reshaping how young people are cared for in custodial environments.

We are seeking individuals with a special ability to support and guide young people. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring the security and safety of children while providing day-to-day support in a custodial setting. Comprehensive training and development will equip you with the knowledge to understand the diverse backgrounds and individual circumstances of young people in custody, and how your responses in complex or dynamic situations can help these individuals build better futures.

You will need a DBS check.

An extraordinary job

This role will be dealing with the practical side of life for children in custody which includes, but is not limited to, interventions when required, overseeing, and facilitating safe movement around the site, and providing supervision to ensure safety.

You will be working with children and young people who may have committed serious offenses, come from challenging backgrounds, and/or have mental health needs. These young individuals may test boundaries, but they also have significant potential for positive change. You will play a significant part in providing them with opportunities to better their future.

Job details

Essential Skills

No formal qualifications are required to become a youth justice worker; personal qualities are what matter most. You should demonstrate:

• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to high standards of care and service
• Effective decision-making abilities
• Empathy and understanding

As a practitioner, you will work with children, young people, and their families or carers to help achieve meaningful and lasting changes in their lives. You will:

• Show a passion for supporting children, young people, and families
• be skilled in identifying and assessing the complex needs of the children and young people you work with
• collaborate with young people, their families, or carers to agree on interventions or referrals that support their needs
• handle interventions when necessary, including de-escalating situations, managing behavioural issues, and applying conflict resolution techniques
• approach your work with respectful curiosity, balancing challenge and support to help young people reach their potential and stay safe
• work closely with other professionals and organisations to collectively improve outcomes

Each case will be unique . click apply for full job details