Youth offending team officer

In your day-to-day duties you might:

• carry out risk assessments and manage risk of reoffending
•  prepare reports for the courts before sentencing
•  provide support to young offenders 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 into education, work or training
•  encourage young people to take part in constructive activities
•  visit young people in secure institutions

• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of psychology
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to work on your own
• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• 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

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• volunteering
• applying directly

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

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