A service dedicated to supporting young people to turn their lives around has been praised by Government inspectors. 

 

Northumberland’s Youth Justice Service (YJS) has received an overall rating of ‘Good' following an inspection by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation. 

 

Three areas - staff, planning and implementation and delivery of out-of-court disposals - were also singled out as “outstanding.”  

 

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member for Inspiring Young People, said: “I am delighted that the ambition, commitment and young person-centred approach of our staff, partners and leaders has been recognised in this report. 

 
“We are particularly pleased that inspectors noted the outstanding work of our staff and volunteers, describing them as passionate, kind, enthusiastic, going the extra mile for the children they work with, and all wanting to keep improving the quality of work they deliver. They are a credit to Northumberland. 

 

“In line with our ambition to offer the best service we can, we welcome and will implement the recommendations for further service improvement.” 

 

The YJS work with young people aged 10 to 19 with the aim of preventing them from offending, reoffending, and supporting them to engage in activities to fulfil their potential. 

 

Inspectors were impressed by the trauma-informed, whole-family approach to tackling reoffending as well as how planning is co-designed with children with realistic and achievable targets. This was having a positive impact on tackling repeat offending or poor behaviours. 

 

They also recognised how the service works with victims of crime – known as restorative justice – to assist children in reflecting on their actions and repairing relationships with victims. 

 

Leadership, governance and partnership working are noted as being effective and the colocation of YJS within the council’s wider Northumberland Adolescent Service (NAS) works well. The Northumberland Adolescent Services has engaged effectively with partners, stakeholders, and the management board to set a clear strategy for the YJS. 

 

The health offer is reported as being impressive and making a difference in improving children’s emotional wellbeing. 

 

The inspection identified a total of four recommendations for further improvement which the leadership team have action plans in place to address.  

 
Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “Northumberland YJS is going the extra mile to help children under their supervision to change their behaviour, recognise the impact they are having on victims of crime and deter them away from reoffending.” 

 

Inspectors also asked the views of children and their parents and carers with responses including:  

 

• “Before the YJS, I was getting into a lot of trouble. Then, when they entered my life, I changed how and what I did and the people I hung around with that got me into trouble. The YJS helped me massively.”  

 

• “My worker is wonderful - I was struggling after the offence, getting rejection from jobs and in a rough state with my parents. I now see a worker for mental health support - we have weekly sessions. My YJS worker encouraged me to attend when I initially said no!”  

 

• “The support I have received has been amazing. They are very supportive and motivating. At the beginning I felt really intimidated and they helped to boost my confidence. I can now do things I would have found too hard to do before.”  

 

• My worker is always there for me with advice. She has helped me a lot. She won't tell me what to do, but she will advise me on it, and I can talk things through with her.”