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

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “This is a much-deserved ‘Good’ rating for Gateshead Youth Justice Service – they are a credit to the local community and to Tyne and Wear. They are successfully preventing children being involved in reoffending, often going above and beyond to support each child and give them every chance of a brighter future.”

The inspection found a number of strengths at Gateshead Youth Justice Service, not least how youth justice staff have established positive relationships with children under their supervision and their parents or carers. The service for children under the care of the local authority, or considered particularly vulnerable, is prioritised and they are provided with bespoke support.

The YJS manages risk of harm well and consistently, working with partners to monitor the safety of children. In turn, victims of crime are well supported and are involved in many aspects of how the service delivers meaningful interventions to deter children from reoffending. The inspection also found that the YJS is making substantial efforts to work with police and courts to divert children from formal court processes.

The report makes seven recommendations to Gateshead YJS, including that the service reviews how they manage children released from custody (known as resettlement) which was separately rated as ‘Requires improvement’. Diversity is also a key area for improvement and where the service needs to better support the needs of all children. The inspection report also calls on the YJS management board to ensure that children have quick access to specialist mental health provision.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. This service works with children aged 10 to 17. The YJS supervise children with complex needs and some in the care of the local authority.
2. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’, rating specific aspects of each service and giving an overall rating.
3. The inspection looked at standards of organisational delivery (leadership, staffing and facilities), their management of children serving court sentences (court disposals) and children serving cautions or community sentences (out-of-court disposals). We also inspected the quality of resettlement policy and provision, which was separately rated as ‘Requires improvement’.
4. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 23 May 2023 00.01.
5. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services across England and Wales.
6. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in February 2023.
7. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications Diane Bramall media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)