Location
Feltham, Werrington, Wetherby

Hours
Full Time - 37 hours per week standard, with options to increase to 39 or 41 hours per week for Band 3 roles depending on location. Shift patterns include evenings, some nights, weekends and public holidays.

Salary
Band 3 (Werrington and Wetherby): £34,927 to £39,333 per year depending on hours worked
Band 3 (Feltham): £38,838 to £43,736 per year depending on hours worked
Band 4 (Werrington and Wetherby): £39,930 per year (37 hours)
Band 4 (Feltham): £43,908 per year (37 hours)
All salaries include a 20% unsocial hours allowance. Some locations may receive a market supplement of £2,000 or £3,500 per year.

About the Role
If you are a former youth justice worker with less than 5 years gap in service who completed foundation training and probation before leaving HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS), this scheme offers a simplified return process. You can be allocated directly to an available vacancy without repeating the online assessment centre or foundation training. You will then be invited to medical and fitness assessments and undergo pre-employment checks. If no immediate vacancies are available at your preferred Youth Offending Institution (YOI), you will be placed on a merit list and prioritised over external candidates as vacancies arise.

You will support your former colleagues in keeping prisons and the public safe by working within youth custody. The role is physically active and requires passing medical, fitness, eyesight, and hearing standards. Tattoos are permitted but must not be offensive or intimidating, with facial tattoos generally not acceptable except for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.

Travel to work may require own transport due to some rural locations and fixed shift times. The role offers a clear career progression pathway, including a Level 4 qualification after successful completion of a 12-month probationary period and opportunities to progress to Band 4 Youth Justice Worker Specialist roles. Ongoing training in specialist skills such as child protection and safeguarding is provided.

Prisons operate 24/7, so shift work including evenings, nights, weekends, and public holidays is required. Additional paid hours may be available.

Experience
Previous experience as a youth justice worker at HMPPS at Band 3 or 4 is required. You must have completed foundation training and your full probation period as a youth justice worker. If you held another HMPPS role before becoming a youth justice worker, you must have completed probation in that role and worked as a youth justice worker for more than 12 months before leaving.
The scheme is also open to former youth justice workers currently employed within the Ministry of Justice (excluding HMPPS) or other government departments.

About you
You must be at least 18 years old at the start of employment and meet Civil Service nationality requirements. You need to be physically fit to pass medical and fitness assessments, meet eyesight standards (with or without corrective lenses), and have suitable hearing without hearing aids. You must be able to communicate confidently in English (or Welsh when specified).

You should be reliable and committed, as HMPPS reserves the right to refuse reappointment based on previous poor attendance or performance.

A driving licence and own transport are beneficial but not essential due to some rural locations and fixed shift times. You must be able to travel to work on time for your shifts.

Qualifications
No new qualifications are required to return. However, after a 12-month probation period, you will be offered the opportunity to undertake a Level 4 qualification focused on working with children and young people in custody.

You will be required to undergo full pre-employment checks including DBS, occupational health, and security vetting (counter-terrorist check).