HM Inspectorate of Probation has recognised the exceptional work of East Riding’s Youth Justice Service following its recent inspection of the service’s work with children and victims across the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The inspection highlighted the service’s outstanding work in supporting children to achieve positive change while keeping children and the wider community safe.
The Youth Justice Service works with children and young people aged 10 to 18 who have committed an offence and come to the attention of the police. The service focuses on diverting children away from crime, supporting them to make positive choices, and ensuring victims of crime receive appropriate support.
Inspectors praised the service for its child-first and trauma-informed approach, noting that practitioners consistently identify children’s strengths and work creatively alongside them to achieve positive outcomes. The report recognised the service’s commitment to ensuring that children’s voices and views are heard and meaningfully shape the support they receive.
The inspection also found that work to keep children and communities safe was exceptional, with staff demonstrating a strong understanding of the risks children face, including vulnerability to exploitation, while maintaining a clear focus on community safety.
Inspectors described partnership working as strong and effective, highlighting how the service works collaboratively with children and their parents or carers to deliver activities and interventions that are innovative, tailored and responsive to individual needs.
The report also recognised that care-experienced children, girls, and those with SEND or mental health needs remain overrepresented in youth justice cohorts nationally, and commended the service for working proactively with partners across education, health and social care to address these challenges.
Support for victims was identified as a particular strength. Inspectors found that the service takes an individualised, responsive and sensitive approach to victim support. Victims’ safety, needs and wishes are consistently considered by staff across the service, reflecting a strong commitment to restorative justice and meaningful engagement.
Merlin Joseph, Executive Director of Children, Families and Schools at East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Chair of the Youth Justice Partnership Board, said:
“This Outstanding judgement is a powerful recognition of the dedication, professionalism and compassion shown by our Youth Justice Service and the strength of the partnership that supports it.
“As Chair of the Youth Justice Partnership Board, I am particularly proud of the way organisations across the system work together to support children, families and victims. This inspection highlights the impact of that collaboration and the shared commitment to improving outcomes for some of the most vulnerable children in our communities.
“Our practitioners work with children who have often experienced significant adversity, and the service’s child-first and trauma-informed approach ensures that children are supported to understand their choices, address the challenges they face and move forward positively in their lives.
“This result reflects the commitment of an exceptional team and strong partners across policing, health, education and social care, and I would like to thank them for the difference they make every day in supporting children and helping to keep our communities safe.”
The Youth Justice Service was last inspected in 2019, when it was also rated Outstanding. At that time, East Riding became the first Youth Justice Service in England and Wales to achieve full marks in an official inspection.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said:
“East Riding’s Youth Justice Service does exceptional work supporting children to move away from crime and build positive futures. The team works closely with young people to understand their circumstances, provide tailored support and help them make better choices for their lives.
“The service’s restorative justice work and support for victims is a real strength and plays an important role in helping victims feel heard and supported, while also strengthening community confidence.
“This Outstanding judgement reflects years of dedication from a highly skilled and committed team who go above and beyond every day to support children, families and communities across East Riding.”
Following the inspection, Phil Bowen, Interim Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, will visit East Riding on 23 April to learn more about how the service delivers its Outstanding practice. During the visit, he will meet with the Youth Justice Service team and hear more about their work with victims and the Our Place provision.
Read the full inspection report.
East Riding Youth Justice Service is a multi-agency partnership, bringing together professionals from:
- Humberside Police
- the National Probation Service
- Speech and Language Therapy services
- substance misuse services
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Find out more about the Youth Justice Service: eryc.link/youthjusticeservice
