What is a Youth Justice Worker?

A Youth Justice Worker (sometimes called a Youth Offending Worker or Youth Justice Officer) supports young people who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Their role is to help reduce reoffending, support rehabilitation, and ensure the needs of vulnerable young people are understood and addressed.

They work with young people who have been cautioned by police, are facing court proceedings, or are on youth justice orders. Many of these young people have unmet needs, including neurodivergence and experiences of trauma.

One youth justice worker told us about their job. This is what they had to say:

A typical day may include:

• Visiting young people in their homes, community settings, or secure environments.
• Building relationships and understanding each young person’s story.
• Supporting with issues like education, mental health, substance use, or exploitation.
• Helping young people set and work toward goals for their future.
• Liaising with schools, social workers, police, and courts.
• Advocating for the young person’s voice to be heard.

We aim to balance accountability with compassion.

Youth Justice Workers often come from varied professional backgrounds, such as probation, social work, youth work, or education and might have qualifications like:

• Degrees in criminology, psychology, social care, or youth justice.
• Specialist training in:
  • Trauma-informed approaches.
  • Child-first practice.
  • Safeguarding and exploitation.
  • Neurodivergence, including Autism and PDA.

Many teams also receive training from national organisations such as the Youth Justice Board.

Youth Justice Workers who understand PDA can:

• Recognise when a young person’s behaviour is misunderstood or mislabelled.
• Support the young person to understand their own needs and reduce shame.
• Educate other professionals (e.g. police, schools) on PDA to reduce escalation.
• Help create flexible, respectful plans that promote autonomy.
• Offer trusted adult relationships that are not based on control.

The Youth Justice Workers we heard from emphasised:

• Listening and validating experiences, even when behaviour seems risky.
• Avoiding rigid structures, and instead tailoring plans around the young person’s needs.
• Using flexible communication, including walk-and-talks, texts, or creative approaches.
• Reducing perceived demands, especially in how appointments or discussions are framed.
• Supporting professionals across services to understand how PDA might present.
• Offering advocacy in formal processes, such as court or safeguarding meetings.

They work hard to ensure PDAers are seen and supported, not punished for their distress.

The Youth Justice Worker we spoke to said that for a young person with PDA who enters the justice system, a Youth Justice Worker may be:

• The first person to understand their behaviour in the context of anxiety and trauma.
• A consistent, calm adult who builds trust and confidence.
• A powerful advocate who ensures they aren’t judged solely by their actions.

They play a vital role in preventing further harm and helping young people find new paths forward.

PDAers and their families often tell us how confusing and unsettling it can be to meet new professionals – especially when it’s not clear what their job is or what good support looks like. That’s why we asked professionals themselves to tell us, in their own words, what they do. You’ll find their honest, personal answers in the ‘What professionals do’ section of our site.

This is a growing resource, so if you don’t see the role you’re looking for yet, you could ask the person you’re working with to fill in this short form.

Please note: these insights come from individual professionals, not official organisations, so you might find some variation in how people describe their roles. If you’re wondering whether a service you’ve been offered is the right fit, our guides to finding helpful support can help.