Gwynedd & Ynys Môn Youth Justice Service rated as 'Good'.

Press release by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation 

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

The service was inspected and rated across three broad areas: the arrangements for organisational delivery of the service, the quality of work done with children sentenced by the courts, and the quality of out-of-court disposal work.   

The quality of resettlement policy and provision was also inspected and was separately rated as ‘Requires improvement’.   

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “The service is child focused and committed to helping children to desist from further offending.  

“An individualised approach helps to ensure children’s diversity needs are recognised, and support is put in place to help them thrive and achieve positive decision-making. Staff and volunteers are a strength - they are kind, thoughtful, work well together as one team, and are positive advocates for the children they supervise.” 

The report noted the strategic management board has some committed members who work well to mobilise financial resources for the YJS but that, since the pandemic, there has been a disconnect with frontline practitioners.  

It also acknowledged the quality of the relationships between practitioners and children, whilst highlighting that work associated with supporting children’s safety and wellbeing and their potential to cause harm to others is variable and needs to improve.  

Mr Jones added: “The YJS can be rightly proud of the way it reaches out to children with compassion to help them live out their best lives. It must now focus on using the findings from this inspection as a springboard to bring about further change.” 

 An inspection of youth justice services in Gwynedd & Ynys Môn (justiceinspectorates.gov.uk)

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).  
4. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 12 March 2024 at 00.01.
5. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.  
6. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in November 2023. 
7. For media enquiries, please contact Louise Cordell, Head of Communications 07523 805224 / media@hmiprobation.gov.uk