Birmingham Youth Justice Service is in the middle of an exciting and extensive modernisation programme with a clear goal to become the sector leading youth justice service. We are creating a progressive, creative, energetic and inspiring service that is best equipped to understand and reduce offending behaviour amongst children and we are looking for the right people to help us to achieve this.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for the right individuals to join Birmingham Youth Justice Service as a Court Officer.
Have you the skills and experience to provide an effective service in the Criminal Court setting? Are you able to promote the Birmingham Youth Justice Service’s interventions regarding the courts, parents, children, and young people?
You must have excellent communication, advocacy, and assessment skills supported by a good understanding of the YJS Court Officer role to work in this specialist arena. You must have experience of working in a multi-agency setting with children and young people involved in the Criminal Justice System and knowledge of criminal legislation including bail and remand as it affects youths. The ability to work on your own initiative is essential. You must have experience of preparing formal reports, carrying out safeguarding assessments, evaluating risk, and dealing with safeguarding issues.
You’ll have the experience and awareness of the underlying issues that contribute to children and young people’s offending behaviour and will want to achieve the best outcomes for them, their family, their victims and the community.
The key responsibilities for this role will involve the following: -
- To work as part of the Youth Justice Service (YJS) Court Team servicing Birmingham Youth, Magistrates and Crown Court to fulfill the statutory requirements placed on the Youth Justice Service by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and any proceeding legislation.
- Working in partnership with the Criminal Justice Agencies and the Judiciary. Influencing remand and sentencing decisions, particularly in reducing the use of remands to youth detention.
- Undertaking assessments including safeguarding and vulnerability to determine the appropriateness of placements in respect of children and young people entering the secure estate and delivering these services in line with the expectations of the Youth Justice Board.
- To ensure that the appropriate action is taken by the Court Team after each Court session to meet the requirements of the bench upon the Youth Justice Service or its statutory partners. This will involve the maintenance of clear, concise written records, and updating the Youth Justice Service electronic database and Youth Justice Service E-records.
- Liaison with other agencies involved in the court process, including the presentation and dissemination of Youth Justice Service information, formal reports and interventions to Judges and Magistrates.
- Production of placement information and post custody reports within the asset plus framework as required by the Youth Justice Board.
In order to be successful in obtaining an interview you must have experience in the following areas: -
- Experience of work within the Criminal Justice setting with children including the application of risk
- Ability to produce good quality court reports.
- Knowledge and understanding of the bail and remand process as it relates to children.
- Ability to co-ordinate the assessments of children regarding public protection prevention of offending, risk and safeguarding.
There is nothing more fulfilling and rewarding than knowing that you have helped a child but if that is not enough, then these vacancies also come with:
- Competitive rewards, including salary
- Generous Annual Leave allocation
- Various additional employee benefits
- Opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme
- A commitment to your personal learning and development
- Excellent career progression opportunities
This is an office role based in Birmingham City Centre so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK.
- You will be required to work on - Bank Holidays and Saturdays on a rota basis.
- Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.
Come and join us on our journey and help achieve the best outcomes for the children of Birmingham. Previous applicants need not apply.
Closing Date for all positions is Sunday 3rd August 2025 with interviews being held on week commencing 18th August 2025.
Please note - candidates will be selected following successful application, interview and a performance on a presentation task.
For further information please contact:
[email protected]
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.
We actively deliver services that are culturally responsive to the needs of the children, parents and carers we work with to deliver equality, diversity and inclusivity in all we do.