Skip to content

All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated.

To view this licence, visit:
https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3

or write to:
Information Policy Team,
The National Archives,
Kew,
London TW9 4DU

or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

This publication is available at:
https://hmiprobation.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk.

© Crown copyright

Gloucestershire Youth Justice Service rated ‘Requires improvement’

Published:

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

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “We found many elements of strong practice at Gloucestershire YJS. Where successful outcomes for children were observed, practitioners had taken a relational approach, taking the time to understand children’s needs and backgrounds. Unfortunately, there were inconsistencies in practice which resulted in an overall rating of ‘Requires improvement’.”

Inspectors found practitioners considered structural barriers facing children and understood the impact of these barriers in assessing. Work to identify the health needs of children was strong, with “impressive” detail in the health assessments. This information was used to inform assessing, planning, referral and signposting activity. However, an inconsistent approach to identifying previous harm related behaviours had resulted in undeveloped analysis of what was needed to keep children and communities safe.

While inspectors saw a responsive, individualised approach in the delivery of victim work, the strategic approach was still in development. A greater scrutiny of data and information at management board and more focus to the quality assurance of work, particularly work which supported victim safety, needed to be in place. Work with victims needed to be strengthened, with the YJS having a limited understanding of the demographics of victims and no systematic victim feedback loops in place to inform and improve service improvement.

Mr Jones continued, “With a renewed focus on identifying and addressing children’s harm related factors,  and further strategic analysis and oversight of data to fully understand the needs of children and victims, I am confident Gloucestershire YJS has what it takes to thrive, and I wish them every success for the future.”

The Inspectorate’s report makes nine recommendations. Four are for Gloucestershire YJS, including to review quality assurance arrangements to ensure all harm-related behaviours to the child and to the community are identified consistently. Two recommendations are for Gloucestershire YJS, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Restorative Gloucestershire, including to review and evaluate victim engagement rates to understand the reasons why victims do not engage with the YJS after giving consent. Three recommendations are for Gloucestershire YJS management board.

ENDS 

Notes to editor 

  1. Inspections of work with children and victims is one of two separate types of youth justice inspection undertaken by the Inspectorate.
  2. In this inspection we have inspected and rated work against our standards in domain two, and the victims’ standard. For more information, visit our website: Youth Justice Services – HM Inspectorate of Probation
  3. 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.
  4. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’; ‘Good’; ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’; rating specific aspects of each service and giving an overall rating.
  5. Bridgend YJS began operating in 2019 after the disaggregation of Western Bay YJS, which we rated as ‘Inadequate’ in 2019.
  6. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 24 February 2026.
  7. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
  8. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in November 2025.
  9. For media enquiries; please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk