ABSTRACT
A social worker’s professional responsibilities in the criminal justice system require your involvement with the police and the courts in a unique way. At various times, you will work with the police as part of an inter-agency child protection team; negotiating and liaising with the police when a decision is made about what further action (if any) should be taken against your juvenile or ‘vulnerable’ client; receiving a child into your care where the child is the subject of a secure accommodation order; acting as an ‘appropriate’ adult at police interviews; appearing in court as a witness or providing support for a ‘vulnerable’ witness; and assisting the court in its sentencing decision by preparing a pre-sentence report. It is stating the obvious to say that the expectations of your professional competence are extremely high – not least because no other professional or lay person is required to play such a versatile and multi-faceted role.
