Youth justice practitioner
Level 5 · HigherProtective services 2.1 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A youth justice practitioner works with children and young people who have offended or are at risk of offending, helping them to address the factors behind their behaviour and build a more positive future. You will carry out assessments, create intervention plans, and work alongside families, schools, and other agencies in a youth offending team or related service. This level 5 apprenticeship leads to professional registration and roles in youth offending management or related social justice fields.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Youth justice legislation, policy, and the legal framework for working with young offenders
How to use recognised assessment tools such as AssetPlus
Child development, adverse childhood experiences, and their link to offending
Restorative justice approaches and how to facilitate them
Multi-agency working with police, social care, education, and health
Desistance theory and evidence-based intervention approaches
Safeguarding children legislation and risk management responsibilities
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Complete AssetPlus assessments with young people and their families
Write and review individual intervention plans and court reports
Deliver structured programmes addressing offending behaviour
Attend court and advocate for young people as required
Work with schools and families to support reintegration
Facilitate restorative meetings between young people and victims
Maintain accurate case records and meet statutory deadlines
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 5 (Higher) - roughly Foundation-degree level. Usually needs Level 3 (A-levels, a T-Level, or an Advanced apprenticeship) or relevant experience.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 6 (Degree) apprenticeship or a senior role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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