The Post: Partnership Service Manager, NSPCC Young Witness Service
The Post Holder: Jenni Boyce
Good communication and the ability to listen are key to Jenni Boyce’s role with the NSPCC.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I started my social work career on placement with the NSPCC’s Childline service in Belfast. During this time, I also provided therapeutic support to families who had experienced domestic violence. While undertaking a graduate Social Work degree, I worked in hostels for sexual and violent offenders released from prison. I then went on to work in community mental health in England, followed by becoming a Probation Officer in Belfast, before returning to the NSPCC NI and joining the Young Witness Service (YWS) in 2015. It’s been more than 25 years since the Young Witness Service began and now YWS staff and volunteers operate across all Crown, Magistrates and Youth Courts in Northern Ireland.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so, what did you study and where?
I did my first BA degree in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Brighton achieving a 2:1. As a graduate I was then able to undertake the two-year Bachelor of Social Work Degree (BSW) at Queen’s University.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
Now that I work within the criminal justice system, I cannot imagine working anywhere else. Every year, hundreds of children and young people give evidence as prosecution witnesses in criminal trials in Northern Ireland. Having to attend court can be terrifying for a child and the process can be overwhelming and stressful for both the young person and their family. The YWS provides free, confidential, support and assistance to young people under 18-years-old, as well as their family, before, during and after a trial.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
A social work qualification.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
A social work qualification is required to work as a Team Manager, Service Manager or Children’s Services Practitioner (CSP), however the YWS could not operate without our wonderful team of volunteers. YWS volunteers come from all walks of life and no specific qualifications are needed. All that is required is that you are passionate about helping young people and have at least one year’s experience working with children, or in a caring, supportive environment. Full training is provided. We currently have 64 volunteers, and we are always in need of more.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
My job entails a lot of outward facing engagement, presentations, senior level meetings with the Department of Justice and other criminal justice partners. Communication, public speaking and listening are absolutely key.
What does a typical day entail?
Every day is very different, I oversee the delivery of the service across our sites and the courts in Northern Ireland, attend internal senior management meetings, write reports to the Department of Justice, engage with our criminal justice partner agencies and raise issues impacting children, undertake communications and media work promoting the service and children’s rights.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best part is being part of a team which is so valuable and impactful. Families often feed back that they could not have gone through the process of attending court without the support of our staff and volunteers. The most challenging part is that the criminal justice system can cause harm to some young people, with courts that are not suitable for children, and delays in cases coming to court. There are currently three Remote Evidence Centres (REC) in Northern Ireland where children and young people can give evidence without having to attend a more formal and intimidating courthouse. We would like every child to be able to give their evidence at a REC in order to eliminate the risk and worry of seeing the defendant.
Why is what you do important?
We are there for children and families as they navigate their way through a criminal justice system that can be stressful and intimidating and may cause additional trauma to what they’ve already experienced. It’s key that families are supported and heard during what can be the most difficult time of their lives, and our role is to advocate for their needs and rights to try and alleviate some of that stress.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Focus on professional development and learning opportunities – avail of training and networking events, volunteering opportunities, put yourself forward for opportunities to present to other professionals or organisations about your service and improve confidence in public speaking.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Learn about the organisation so you can connect your answers to the specific work they do and provide examples of how you would fit in.
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