Focussed Deterrent Worker

Job introduction

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the multi-disciplinary Brighton & Hove Adolescent Service, working with vulnerable children who are at risk of offending. This post will involve working with partner agencies to identify and assess children in the city who are coming to notice of police and partner agencies due to their behaviour and vulnerabilities. This post is attached to the Youth Justice team and will involve assertive outreach relationship-based work to engage children in positive activities, support them to develop skills and self-confidence and achieve better outcomes. You will be working with children ranging from age 10- 17, whose life chances may be adversely affected by a range of issues, including family difficulties and breakdown, contextual harm such as exploitation, substance misuse, emotional/ mental health issues, educational needs and social exclusions.

Fixed term for: until 31st March 2026

Interview date: TBC

This role is available as a secondment to internal applicants in line with our secondment policy. Before applying, please ensure you have read the Secondment policy to ensure you are eligible to apply. In accordance with the policy, please ensure you have the written approval of your line manager before applying. Evidence of this must be included with your application.

For an informal discussion, please contact Gill Clark, Adolescent Service Manager (Youth Justice) on 01273 296169.

About the role

The post will involve close collaboration with police, children and family services, health, education, voluntary services and other community partners to prevent offending behaviour and offer programmes of support and intervention focussed on enhancing the resilience of children and families.

The role requires excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage children with complex needs who may be resistant to professional intervention. You will need to have experience of working with children in a statutory or voluntary setting and be adept at assessing risk and need and responding to changing circumstances.

We are looking for someone with the creativity, enthusiasm and motivation to make a difference to children, families and communities in Brighton & Hove.

Please read our Apply for a job at the council pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your Application Form and answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as it will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Application Form guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and (Shortlisting guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work life balance and team collaboration. These would be part of your individual working arrangements alongside any personal preference agreed with your manager in advance of joining. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team and travel to and from your contractual location would be at your own expense.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.