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Andrea Brazier provides an update on our youth inspection programme…

Published:

The youth inspection programme is nearing its first year in deployment. Following feedback from inspected youth justice services (YJS) and learning from the first year of inspecting under the new programme, we have undertaken a full internal review.  There have been some changes to the programme as a result:

  • The minimum number of children’s cases that we will inspect in work with children have been reduced from 15 to 14.  The anticipated maximum number of children’s cases that will be inspected in the largest YJSs has reduced from 125 to 91 (dependent upon YJS caseloads).  This will be reviewed annually. 
  • The minimum number of victims cases inspected will remain at nine.  However, we have reduced the maximum number of cases from 30 to 24.
  • We have developed additional information leaflets for victim workers and those attending multi-agency case discussions.  These are now included as part of our announcement paperwork.
  • We have reviewed the organisational data spreadsheet that we ask YJS to complete as part of evidence in advance.  We anticipate the changes will provide greater clarity and reduce repetition.  This is available on our website.
  • We have amended the narrative template and multi-agency discussion template for YJS to complete, following feedback from inspected services.  These documents are the opportunity for YJS to bring their local context, landscape, and partnerships alive.  These are available on our website.
  • We have revised our processes and paperwork in relation to child, parent and carer participation and included additional resource to provide greater flexibility during inspection weeks to speak with and meet children, parents, and carers.
  • We are trialling the opportunity for board presentations to be held remotely the week prior to fieldwork, rather than on the Monday afternoon on the first day of fieldwork.  This will be discussed by the lead inspector following an inspection announcement and as part of inspection planning.
  • We will amend our language in all paperwork to reflect the move from out-of-court disposals to out-of-court resolutions.  This work has commenced and will continue over a period of time.
  • We will shortly be amending our manual and associated paperwork to reflect these identified changes. Once completed this will be available on our website.

During our programme development we implemented a stakeholder working group which was invaluable in developing and supporting the direction, standards, and methodology of the new programme.  We will shortly be looking to commence a new longer-term stakeholder group as part of our ongoing commitment to engage with and listen to the youth justice sector.  We anticipate the group will meet quarterly, through a combination of remote and in person meetings, with meetings lasting approximately two hours.  In person meetings will mostly likely be held once a year, in either Manchester or London.  We are hoping to get coverage of membership for all regions across England and representation across Wales.  We welcome expressions of interest from YJS Managers, Service Managers or Heads of Service.  If you are interested in being a member of the stakeholder working group please complete the expression of interest form and return to the Head of Youth Inspection Programme, Andrea Brazier at Andrea.Brazier@hmi.probation.gov.uk by Wednesday 04 March 2026.

Expression of Interest Stakeholder working group (DOCX, 43 KB)

We are also keen to ensure that we make inspection announcements to the right people.  We currently use the gov.uk contact details information as our guide for who to contact.  However, we are finding these often contain a generic contact number, which means there can be a delay in speaking with the appropriate identified person to announce.  If YJSs are willing to provide us with direct contact details for announcements, please could you share these with Steve Doust at Stephen.Doust@hmiprobation.gov.uk These will be held securely on our systems and only utilised in the event of an inspection announcement.  If details are not provided, we will continue to utilise those details held via the gov.uk website