Social Worker - HMYOI Wetherby

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

1/7/2025

Due to an expansion in the team, the Dedicated Social Work Team at HMYOI Wetherby are recruiting for three new Social Workers: two full time posts and one part time post – up to 25 hours – to join our experienced team.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to work directly with young people and support them to have a brighter future, to promote their wellbeing, ensure their voices are heard and that they are kept safe in custody.

HMYOI Wetherby currently holds males aged 15-18 who are either remanded to youth detention accommodation or sentenced to custody. No two days are the same and you will be working with children and young people from all over England and Wales and their community teams. You will have the opportunity to build positive relationships with young people, to advocate for them and to share your expertise in young people’s rights and entitlements. Experience of working with children who have been in contact with the Youth Justice System is helpful but not essential; as well as an understanding of some of the factors that lead young people into custody such as exploitation, contextual safeguarding and experiences of trauma.

The Social Work Team within Wetherby work closely with the Safeguarding and Resettlement Teams, as well as wider multi-disciplinary teams involving Prison Officers, Youth Justice Services, Health, Education, CAMHS, Forensic Psychology and Barnardo’s to name a few.

The Social Workers at Wetherby drive restorative practice in a secure environment. There is also the opportunity to be creative and innovative in bringing best practice from the community into the prison, and the Social Work Team have led on the introduction of a parkrun within Wetherby, the Clear Approach Programme for care-experienced young people, ‘Time Out for Dads’ parenting course and a girls group in collaboration with The Safe Project in Leeds.

Working within a custodial setting is a different environment than working in the community therefore we would strongly encourage anyone considering applying for the posts to visit the team at HMYOI Wetherby to hear more about the work and understand the role.

We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds that represent the communities we serve. If there is anything we can do to make the recruitment process as accessible as possible then please get in touch.

For a discussion about the role or to arrange an informal visit please contact Elly Giles, Team Manager, on 01937 544415 or elly.giles@justice.gov.uk or Nicole Woodward, Service Delivery Manager, on 0113 3784822 or Nicole.woodward@leeds.gov.uk .

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy .

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job purpose

To deliver a number of positive outcomes to both young people and the establishment within which their duties are discharged. These will include:

• The YOI is fulfilling its statutory safeguarding duties effectively
• All young people who are, or have been in the past, looked after or cared for by the Local Authority are identified and supported to access statutory services to which they are entitled
• All young persons identified within the parameters of s. 17 (in custody or on release) are assessed as such and provided with appropriate services/support while in custody and in preparation for and during release.
  
  
  

To employ a number of methods to achieve the above objective, including (but not limited to):

• Direct work with young people
• Management of (and, where necessary, introduction of) effective screening and needs identification processes
• Development and maintenance of effective links to Local Authority Children’s Services and LSCBs – home and host
• Attendance at relevant meetings
• Assisting and advising Senior Prison Service Managers on Child Protection issues – encompassing both legal as well as practice issues.
  
  
  

Responsibilities

• To ensure that Wetherby YOI provides suitable care to looked after children and to a standard that meets and where appropriate exceeds the department’s legal responsibilities.
• To ensure that all useful lessons and feedback are taken up into the Wetherby YOI’s continuous improvement agenda.
• To contribute to quality assurance and performance management systems as required.
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Wetherby YOI Departmental policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Council's and Wetherby YOI Departmental Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.
• To provide a high quality responsive service using all appropriate methods of social work intervention and of the prison service, developing strategic links with all service providers e.g. YOTs, Education, Police and Probation
• To provide such a service within the agreed policies and procedures of the Service and developing and maintaining partnerships between the local authority, Wetherby YOI and Home Local Authority in relation to the relevant young people in order to meet the identified needs of the young people in custody through to resettlement.
• To be supervised for professional purposes by the Team Manager.
• To assist Wetherby YOI in managing the Safeguards team’s agenda
• To provide consultation and support to other staff at Wetherby YOI e.g. HMPS operational staff and local providers.
• To contribute to and assist in risk management strategy meetings/case conferences, young people support plans conducted through the suicide prevention strategy and contribute to the violence reduction and anti-bullying strategy’s
• To conduct child protection enquiries and investigations with regards to complaints, allegations or referrals within Wetherby YOI. To be responsible for the maintenance of child protection records in accordance with the Children and Young People’s Department and Wetherby YOI. To refer, where appropriate, to the Home Authority with regard to allegations of historical abuse and record outcomes
• To liaise and assist in managing risk with all agencies in relation to young people entering custody on full child protection measures e.g. risk to children measures
• To participate in a staff development and training programme which aims to enhance individual skills and create opportunities for professional development.
• To fulfil the Service's expectations in terms of record keeping and administration and compliment the Prison Service’s standards/protocols.
• To establish and maintain close working relationships with those responsible for the provision of other related services.
• To participate in the Service's workload Management Scheme.
• To participate in staff/team meetings and activities as and when required.
• To promote the use of current best practice documents including the looked after children documentation.
• To promote the health and wellbeing/welfare of young people in custody by adhering to the legislation and guidance which particular relates to:
• Child protection
• Children in Need
• Looked After Children
• Children leaving Care.
• To liaise effectively with other teams, other departments and other agencies to promote services to children and young people.
• To keep abreast of new developments in policy, law and professional practice, making recommendations for implementing changes where appropriate.
• To work directly to the Team Manager who is also accountable to the Safeguards Manager at Wetherby YOI ensuring all work is agreed through the Safeguards Team in order to promote effective working partnerships within the establishment
• To assist with the formulation, implementation and review of care plans, child protection plans, and pathway plans for young people who have been voluntary accommodated, subject to care orders or who are eligible for assistance under the Leaving Care Act
• To maintain records and produce reports as per department and prison service standards
  
  
  

Qualifications

It is essential that the postholder has an appropriate social work qualification (degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) and they must be registered with Social Work England on commencement in post.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

SKILLS

• Ability to communicate effectively with children of all ages, families and professionals including outside agencies
• Be able to demonstrate the confidence and ability to work constructively with senior managers, offering a critical perspective and appropriate challenge
• Ability to pass information effectively, accurately and concisely.
• Analyse complex situations and make considered decisions.
• Analyse and understand statistical information.
• Prepare and present reports on complex issues to a variety of different audiences.
• Contribute to the overall development of services for Children.
• Develop constructive working relationships with other Agencies.
• Knowledge of the evidence about what makes for good quality practice in working with young people to safeguard and promote their welfare
• Skills in quality assurance and monitoring performance
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding issues for Looked After Children and young people
• Well developed presentation and communication skills
• Ability to provide a scrutinising approach within the Looked After system including the scrutiny of performance of the local authority and other agencies and to manage conflict effectively on behalf of the child
• The ability to demonstrate a flexible approach to work and be able to work outside normal working hours
• Creativity in developing the participation of children and young people in the care system
• Commitment to own professional development
• Hold attitudes which demonstrate a “can do” approach to problem solving in the interest of children
  
  
  

KNOWLEDGE

• DipSw or equivalent.
• Understanding of local government issues and the social, political and legal context in which it operates.
• Understanding of child care legislation and current issues affecting the provision of Social Services.
• Understanding of the work of other key Agencies.
• Understanding of child protection issues.
• Knowledge of the current developments affecting the provision of services to children
  
  
  

EXPERIENCE

• Considerable experience as a practitioner in all aspects of child protection work
• Of taking part in complex meetings involving conflict
• Developing inter-agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to issues.
  
  
  

Essential Behavioural And Other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
  
  
  

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

SKILLS

• Competent in the use of information technology, including word-processing and databases.
  
  
  

KNOWLEDGE

• A management qualification.
• Car driver.
  
  
  

EXPERIENCE

• Of management of multi-agency work.
• Experience of developing new approaches to work related issues.
  
  
  

BEHAVIOURAL AND OTHER JOB RELATED CHARACTERISTICS

• Knowledge of the problems of disadvantaged groups
  
  
  

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