Youth Custodial Officer

Youth Custodial Officers are responsible for young people aged between 10 and 17 years, supervising every aspect of their life in detention.
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The role

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Youth Custodial Officers play an important role in improving outcomes and positive outcomes for young people in detention.

The right people for this job are resilient and enjoy working with young people.

They are positive role models and support young people and their families who have often experienced significant trauma. Youth Custodial Officers are fair, non-judgmental and dependable.

A Youth Custodial Officer is a person who:

  • is responsible for the safety, security, care and wellbeing of young people in custody
  • works with young people in challenging situations by diffusing and managing conflict
  • has the ability to positively engage with young people, including those from Aboriginal or diverse cultural backgrounds.

If you have been previously employed as a Youth Custodial Officer with Department of Justice, Western Australia within the last two years and have completed your probation, complete the custodial staff re-engagement online form.

The benefits

Our Youth Custodial Officers enjoy a range of great benefits including:

  • the ability to make a positive difference to a young person's life
  • 13 weeks paid training resulting in a nationally-recognised Certificate III in Correctional Practice (Youth Custodial) qualification
  • competitive annual base salary: $79,156 - $84,977
  • 11.5% superannuation
  • 19% commuted allowance upon commencing shift work (approximately $15,000 annually)
  • generous leave provisions with up to 9 weeks annual leave
  • uniforms supplied
  • employment security
  • opportunities for promotion

Youth Custodial Officers generally work rotating shift patterns on a 24 hour roster system. Shifts include work on public holidays, weekends and nights.

Eligibility

To be eligible for appointment as a Youth Custodial Officer, you must:

  • be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or hold Australian permanent residency
  • possess a current C-Class driver's licence, (automatic is acceptable, however, no learner's or probationary licences).
  • be able to apply for a Working with Children Check, or have a current Working with Children Check to be eligible for appointment to this position.
  • successfully complete all relevant pre-employment medical, physical, psychological, and any other selection assessments as determined by the Department.

Selection process

To be considered for placement in the appointment pool, you will need to be recommended by the Decision Panel, who make a holistic assessment on your current suitability for the role, based on:

  1. online application, including your Curriculum Vitae/Resume 
  2. online psychometric test, which includes:
    1. aptitude testing (abstract reasoning and reading comprehension)
    2. situational judgement test
    3. personality questionnaire
    4. computer literacy assessment.
  3. job interview
  4. medical assessment
  5. physical readiness test
  6. psychological interview
  7. reference checks
  8. criminal history and integrity check.

Training

If you are offered a position, you will commence a paid Entry Level Training Program at the Corrective Services Academy in Bentley.

A Youth Custodial Officers probationary period comprises of two modules to achieve a Certificate III Correctional Practice (Youth Custodial). 

Successful transition from Probationary Youth Custodial Officer to Permanent Youth Custodial Officer requires successful completion of both Modules, in addition to a satisfactory performance appraisal, good conduct and regular attendance during the first year of employment. 

Announcements

Public notice

Youth Custodial Officers

The Department of Justice is looking for people with life experience, empathy and compassion.
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