202608: Youth Justice Worker - HMP Wetherby


Company:	Ministry of Justice
Salary:	Not specified
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Wetherby, LS22 5ED
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	13 Aug 2026
Closing date:	3 Sept 2026

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Summary

Youth Justice Worker – HMYOI/ HMP Wetherby

HMP Wetherby, York Rd, Wetherby LS22 5ED

Starting salary: £36,816 (for a 39 hour week inc 20% unsocial)

City/Town: Harrogate

Region: North East

Vacancy type: Merit

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available for this role, subject to eligibility and in line with the UK Immigration Rules in force at the time of application. However, due to current immigration requirements and recruitment timescales, candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored if applying to this campaign.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider their right to work in the UK carefully before applying. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and eligibility criteria at gov.uk.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.

Someone like you

The Youth Custody Service is transforming its workforce, and we invite you to be part of this journey. The youth justice worker role is similar to that of a prison officer but specifically focused on supporting children and young people in custody. This role is vital in reshaping how children and young people are cared for in custody.

You will need a DBS check.

An extraordinary job

This role will be dealing with the practical side of life for children in custody. This includes, but is not limited to, interventions when required, overseeing and facilitating safe movement around the site, and providing supervision to ensure safety.

To become a youth justice worker, you will need to:

· be at least 18 years old at the point you commence employment

• meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements

· pass a medical and fitness assessment as part of the application process as this is a physically active job

• meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes (both with and without corrective lenses)

· For safety reasons, everyone training to be a youth justice worker needs a suitable standard of hearing (without the use of hearing aids)

· Whilst tattoos are permitted, including those that are visible, they must not be deemed as offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating in any way. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable, except where this is for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.

Find out more about being a youth justice worker.

Pay

The initial training is 37 hours a week. After training, you can choose to work 37, 39 or 41 hours a week. Your annual salary will reflect your weekly hours.

• 37 hours a week = £34,928 a year

• 39 hours a week = £36,816 a year

• 41 hours a week = £39,334 a year

All salary figures quoted include any additional allowances applicable to the role/location.

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service)

• paid time off for public holidays and one extra privilege day

• Civil Service pension with employer contributions of 28.97%

• cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits

Read more about youth justice worker benefits.

Assessment Process

During the recruitment process you will be assessed on:

• communicating and influencing

• managing a quality service

• making effective decisions

• Caring

Online Tests

Once you have completed your initial application form.

You will then be invited to complete stage 1 of the online tests, to see if you have basic judgement and numerical skills.

If you are successful, we invite you to the stage 2 values-based assessment (VBA)

If you pass the VBA, you'll progress to the Online Assessment Centre (OAC).

Candidates who achieve a higher pre-determined VBA score may be invited to the OAC sooner.

The online assessment centre (OAC)

On successful completion of the online test, we will invite you to an online assessment centre.

Once you have successfully completed the online assessment centre, we will invite you to complete a medical and fitness test.

Read more about the application process.

Job offers: merit vacancy

This is a merit job vacancy. If you are successful at the online assessment centre, you will be added to a merit list based on your score.

When all applicants have completed the assessment centre, the prison will make job offers to individuals with the highest scores first when positions become available.

You can stay on the merit list for 12 months. After this, you’ll need to apply again.

Operational Support Grade Role

Our Online Assessment Centre (OAC), will not only assess you against the key criteria to become a youth justice worker but will also determine your suitability for appointment as an operational support grade OSG If following attendance at your OAC, you are unsuccessful in your application to become a youth justice worker, we may instead offer you an alternative role as an OSG.

Reasonable adjustment support

Applying for reasonable adjustment support has been made simple. Just tick ‘yes’ when it asks if you think you might need it.

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