Working With Young Offenders

There are many young offenders in our society today; some of whom have chosen to break the law of their own accord whilst some have been unfortunately sucked into the mix by friends or gangs. Young offenders come from all walks of life and as such it is hard to say what characteristics are shown by them but regardless of what makes them young offenders they need help and support for youth workers and probation officers to try and help them get back on the right path.

Working with Young Offenders

Working with young offenders is a challenging and often moving experience. It is important to remember that whilst working with them they are often on probation or are under the instruction of an ASBO (Anti Social Behaviour Order).

Many young offenders have been in trouble more than once and the system feels it necessary to hand down a custodial sentence in order to try and rehabilitate them. This means that they will be sent to a Young Offenders Institution (YOI) which is one step down from the adult prison system. Here young offenders are given the opportunity to talk with counsellors about the nature of their offending and also get help with finding work on the outside and also re-educating them.

What Kind of Jobs are there Working with Young Offenders?

There are many different aspects to working with young offenders; many need help with personal difficulties such as problems at home or with gang affiliations. Others however need more practical help such as finding employment, completing a recognised period of education or finding somewhere to live.

There are a variety of different careers to choose from; here are just a few:

• Social worker
• Youth worker
• Volunteer worker
• Youth Justice Officer

Youth Offending Teams

A Youth Offending Team (YOT) is responsible for all aspects of support and advice required when it comes to helping rehabilitate young offenders. Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) are often made up from individuals who work within the Probation Service, the Police, Social Services and Housing departments.

The primary remit of these Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) is to help establish a rapport with the young offender and help advise he or she on a course of action that will help them get back on the straight and narrow, providing along the way help with education, housing and employment.

How Can I Get Involved in Working with Young Offenders?

There are always volunteers wanted in most communities when it comes to working with the youth and young offenders. You should be able to conduct yourself in a caring and professional manner but still be able to relate and understand those coming into contact with you.

If you are interested in volunteer work you should first of all contact either your local Youth Offending Team (YOT) or your local authority who can point you in the right direction. However you should be aware that as an individual charged with working with those under age or considered to be vulnerable that you will have to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check completed before you can begin volunteering.

A DBS check is necessary before any individual can work with those considered to be under age or in a position of vulnerability and you should note that you will not be allowed to begin volunteering before this check has been completed.