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Merton Youth Justice Service rated as ‘Requires improvement’ but is “committed to achieving success” – Inspection finds

Published:

Merton Youth Justice Service has received an overall rating of ‘Requires improvement’ following an inspection of youth justice work with children and victims (IYJWCV) by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

This was the first inspection under the Inspectorate’s new youth inspection programme, which introduced new inspection standards for work with children and victims.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “Attention to meeting the range of diversity needs of children was impressive at Merton YJS, and the kind, caring staff were committed to achieving success in the lives of children known to the service. However, we found work to keep the child and community safe across assessing, planning and delivery of services needed to improve.”

Inspectors found the quality of work undertaken with victims to be a strength, with workers taking time to introduce themselves to victims and highlighting the services available. A strong focus was given by the YJS to understanding the vulnerabilities of victims to ensure services could be individualised, with specific needs being considered when accessing the broad range of direct and indirect interventions available.

The report highlights that while the service had arrangements to keep children and the community safe, inspectors found the application of these arrangements to be inconsistent. The report highlights that while the service had inspectors found the application of these arrangements to be inconsistent. Practice was not always responsive to changing circumstances or situations to support the safety of children or the community.

The Inspectorate’s report makes seven recommendations. Four are for Merton YJS, including to improve the quality of management oversight, and to ensure sufficient services are delivered to achieve safety for the child and the community. Two are for the Youth Crime Prevention Executive Board, including to further prioritise strategic oversight of work with victims. One recommendation is for the Metropolitan Police to formalise the collection and presentation of consent data from victims, so the partnership has a better understanding of this information.

ENDS 

Notes to editor 

  1. Inspections of youth justice work with children and victims (IYJWCV) is one of two separate types of youth justice inspection undertaken by the Inspectorate.
  2. 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.
  3. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’, rating specific aspects of each service and giving an overall rating.
  4. 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).
  5. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 24 June 2025 at 00.01.
  6. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
  7. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in March 2025.
  8. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk