Young Peoples Criminal Justice Worker

Location: Saddler House, Saddler Street, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7BH

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent (Full Time)

Salary: £25,877.80 to £34,240.03 per annum pro rata

A Driving Licence is Essential for this role.

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.

About Waythrough

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.

Please note: This role will cover a number of areas across County Durham. The role will involve travel across the county to meet the needs of young people and partner services.

About the Role

We're looking for a Young Peoples Criminal Justice Worker to join our County Durham Drug and Alcohol Service, supporting children and young people involved with the Youth Justice Service.

Based primarily at our Saddler House site, you'll work across a number of areas throughout County Durham, providing flexible and accessible support to young people in the locations where they need it.

This is an opportunity to provide specialist drug and alcohol support to young people who may be at risk of, or currently experiencing, substance use. You'll work alongside young people to reduce harm, build resilience and help them make informed choices that support positive change.

You'll build trusting and meaningful relationships with young people, providing advice, guidance and targeted interventions tailored to their individual needs. You'll also work closely with parents, carers, families, Youth Justice colleagues and partner agencies to ensure young people receive coordinated and person-centred support.

The role will involve working across operational sites and partner settings throughout County Durham, including outreach and in-reach activity. Some evening and weekend working will also be required to meet the needs of the service .

What You'll Do

- Undertake comprehensive assessments of children and young people supervised by the Youth Justice Service, identifying substance use, risks, strengths and support needs.
- Manage a caseload, providing effective assessment, care planning, risk management, structured interventions, discharge and aftercare planning.
- Build trusting and positive relationships with young people, supporting them to engage with treatment and make sustainable changes.
- Provide one-to-one interventions and, where appropriate, group-based therapeutic interventions.
- Provide harm reduction advice, education and information around drugs and alcohol, helping young people understand risks and make informed choices.
- Work collaboratively with young people, parents, carers and families to reduce the impact of substance use and encourage positive family involvement.
- Work closely with Youth Justice colleagues and partner agencies to provide coordinated, person-centred support.
- Contribute to shared assessments, key working and interventions that support young people from engagement through structured treatment and towards sustained recovery.
- Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, following organisational and local safeguarding procedures and making appropriate referrals where required.
- Provide specialist drug and alcohol advice, reports and information to colleagues and partner agencies.
- Deliver targeted outreach, in-reach, diversionary activities and satellite advice and information services with partner agencies.
- Promote visible recovery and ensure young people and their families can access appropriate peer support opportunities.
- Maintain accurate and timely records using relevant case management systems.
- Attend reviews, team meetings, supervision and other relevant meetings to support effective multi-agency working.
- Contribute to the priorities and objectives of the Youth Justice Service Strategic Plan.
- Travel across County Durham as required to provide support across different locations and partner settings.
- Work flexibly across operational sites and service settings, including evening and weekend working.

What You'll Bring

We're looking for someone who is compassionate, resilient and passionate about supporting children and young people to achieve meaningful change.

You'll ideally have experience of working with children, young people and families, particularly those who may be vulnerable or experiencing complex needs.

You'll have experience of undertaking comprehensive assessments and supporting people affected by drug and/or alcohol use, alongside an understanding of the impact substance use can have on young people, families and communities.

You'll also bring strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage young people who may be reluctant to access support.

You'll be confident working independently while contributing positively to a multidisciplinary and multi-agency team.

Experience of delivering one-to-one or group therapeutic interventions would be beneficial, as would experience of working with people involved in the criminal justice system.

A Level 3 qualification in Health & Social Care, or equivalent, is essential, or you'll need to demonstrate a willingness, ability and commitment to achieve this qualification.

A relevant professional qualification in areas such as addiction studies, youth work, counselling, social work or therapeutic practice would also be beneficial.

You'll also need to be confident using Microsoft Office and case management systems and able to produce clear, accurate written records and reports.

As this role covers a number of areas across County Durham, you'll need to be able to travel between different locations and partner settings as required.

Most importantly, you'll share our commitment to treating every young person with kindness, courage and respect, recognising their strengths and supporting them to reduce harm, build resilience and move towards a more positive future.

To view the Job Description CLICK HERE

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:

- 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
- Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
- Life assurance (3× annual salary)
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
- Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
- Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
- 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
- Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
- £500 Recommend a Friend bonus
- Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
- Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
- Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year

Inclusion and accessibility

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support.

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: [email protected]

Closing Date:
2026-10-07