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Job description

The YJA aims to make communities safer by helping children to stop offending. The YJA works with children aged 10-18 years who have offended or are at serious risk of offending. The YJA provides a range of services, often delivered in partnership with others, to help children to address their offending behaviour, divert them from crime, assist their integration into the community and to meet the needs of victims of crime. The overall statement of purpose for the YJA is Making communities safer by helping children to stop offending. Organisational Structure and Staffing: There are two operational directorates in the YJA Youth Justice Services and Custodial Services. These operational directorates are supported by a range of back office functions that deliver finance, business planning and support functions on behalf of the Chief Executive. The YJA operates through a Headquarters, a Juvenile Justice Centre and five regional offices across Northern Ireland. Headquarters is based in Waring Street, Belfast. Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre is located in Bangor and the regional offices are in Ballymena, Banbridge, Belfast, Newtownards and Foyle. There are currently around 216 personnel employed by the YJA. The Chief Executive is directly accountable to the Minister for the Agency’s performance. He is supported in discharging the day to day responsibilities by a Management Board, which comprises: Director of Youth Justice Services; Director of Custody; Two Independent Board Members..

Responsibilities

• Night Support Workers will assist with providing high quality care for young people in custody. Applicants will be expected to bring qualities and attributes which contribute to the overall effectiveness of the night care service.
• Night Support Workers will be expected to be active in their supervisory duties and in carrying out specific instructions as directed regarding the supervision and monitoring of young people to ensure their safety.
• To participate in handover meetings and team meetings as required.
• To liaise with other staff in the Juvenile Justice Centre in order to ensure the needs of individual young people are identified and addressed.
• To ensure the upkeep and maintenance of fabric, furnishings, equipment and supplies within the Centre.
• To undertake administrative tasks and all forms of record keeping and report preparation as required by management.
• To liaise closely and work with colleagues throughout the Centre. To act as a member of a staff team supporting colleagues and receiving support as necessary.
• To provide additional support and comfort to young people under stress.
• To assist in the provision of good quality physical, social, domestic and emotional care for young people.
• This will include participating in practical tasks within the unit to contribute to the health, safety, security and operational running of the unit.
• To promote the development of a comfortable, physical and emotional environment which is conducive to good child care practice.
• To act flexibly within reasonable bounds in order to ensure the necessary cover for a custodial residential establishment.
• To assist in ensuring that the physical state of the building is maintained in line with health and safety, and security and day to day repairs are reported promptly.
• Night Support Workers will participate in all situations that may arise within the night time routine.
• This may require the worker to participate in physical intervention techniques and may require the use of Personal Protection Equipment. This may include accompanying young people to the hospital.
• Night Support Workers will participate in appropriate training, supervision and the performance management process.
• To undertake any other duties as required.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must have, by the closing date for applications: GCSE Maths & English Language Grade C and above or equivalent;
• AND, At least 6 months experience of working with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults, with complex needs, in a professional or voluntary capacity.
• AND, Current registration or be eligible for registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council. (Continuing employment will be dependent on the successful registration); Please refer to the Candidate Information Booklet.
• AND, Provide full education and employment history. See explanatory notes on page 15 for further details;
• AND, Provide the names and addresses of two referees, one of which should be your current / most recent employer. (Referees should not be relatives, GP's or current employees of the Youth Justice Agency).

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date 29th March 2024 at 12noon. Applications from Roman Catholics, females, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC297059).