Night Support Worker - Youth Justice Agency, Custodial Services

Job description

The post holder will work as part of a dedicated team to take responsibility for maintaining a safe and secure environment for young people and staff during night time hours. This will involve evening and weekend working and public holidays.

Responsibilities

• Night Support Workers will assist with providing high quality care for young people in custody. Applicants will be expected to bring qualities and attributes which contribute to the overall effectiveness of the night care service.
• Night Support Workers will be expected to be active in their supervisory duties and in carrying out specific instructions as directed regarding the supervision and monitoring of young people to ensure their safety.
• To participate in handover meetings and team meetings as required.
• To liaise with other staff in the Juvenile Justice Centre in order to ensure the needs of individual young people are identified and addressed.
• To ensure the upkeep and maintenance of fabric, furnishings, equipment and supplies within the Centre.
• To undertake administrative tasks and all forms of record keeping and report preparation as required by management.
• To liaise closely and work with colleagues throughout the Centre. To act as a member of a staff team supporting colleagues and receiving support as necessary.
• To provide additional support and comfort to young people under stress.
• To assist in the provision of good quality physical, social, domestic and emotional care for young people. This will include participating in practical tasks within the unit to contribute to the health, safety, security and operational running of
• the unit. This may include accompanying young people to the hospital, either for pre-planned appointments or emergencies.
• To promote the development of a comfortable, physical and emotional environment which is conducive to good child care practice.
• To act flexibly within reasonable bounds in order to ensure the necessary cover for a custodial residential establishment.
• To assist in ensuring that the physical state of the building is maintained in line with health and safety, and security and day to day repairs are reported promptly.
• Night Support Workers will participate in all situations that may arise within the night time routine. This may require the worker to participate in physical intervention techniques and may require the use of Personal Protection Equipment.
• Night Support Workers are required to complete manadatory training in relation to physical restraint, which consists of an initial 9 day training course followed by bi-annual refreshers to validate continued competency.
• Night Support Workers will participate in appropriate training, supervision and the performance management process.
• As part of staff continuous professional development, Night Support Workers will be required to deputise for the Night Manager as and when required.
• Staff will be supported in learning key duties within the Night Manager role that will equip them to fulfil this deputising requirement. NICS Deputising Allowance will be claimable during these periods.
• To undertake any other duties as required.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must have, by the closing date for applications: GCSE Maths & English Language Grade C and above or equivalent;
• AND At least 6 months’ experience of working with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults in a community or residential setting;
• OR At least 6 months’ experience in a post that delivered on-site security and observation/routine checks;
• AND Current registration or be eligible for registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (Continuing employment will be dependent on the successful registration);
• AND Provide full education and employment history (See explanatory notes on page 16 for further details);
• AND Provide the names and addresses of two referees, one of which should be your current / most recent employer. (Referees should not be relatives, GPs or current employees of the Youth Justice Agency).

Further Information

NICS Application form only vacancy closing Friday 11th September 2026 at 12 noon. Please Note: This is generic and may change from competition to competition. Applications from Roman Catholics, females, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.