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“Committed and motivated” Luton Youth Justice Partnership rated ‘Good’ following inspection

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Luton Youth Justice Partnership (YJP) has received an overall rating of ‘Good’ following an inspection of work with children and victims by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “The staff and management at Luton YJP were committed and motivated in supporting positive change for children and families. It was encouraging to see how the building of trusting relationships was prioritised.”

Inspectors found skilful work across assessing and delivery to achieve positive change for children, finding evidence of practitioners working alongside children to ensure their opinions and voices were heard. Factors that affected children’s safety were considered and practitioners were responsive to the emergence of new concerns.

Planning did not always consider the pace at which children could positively engage, with some examples being found of children being overwhelmed by the number of professionals working with them.

While the report praises the “passionate” practitioners who were committed to improving the offer for victims, improving the overall quality, consistency and strategic oversight of victim work needed to be a priority for the partnership, alongside ensuring victims’ experiences were better understood.

Mr Jones continued, “Overall, Luton YJP can be proud of the service they are providing to the children in their care and with some renewed strategic focus to their work with victims, I am confident they can improve even further.”

The Inspectorate’s report makes six recommendations. Two are for the Luton YJP, including to improve planning to ensure consistent and high-quality activity to achieve positive change for children. Four recommendations are for the Luton YJP strategic management board, including to work with the Probation Service to make sure it meets its statutory duties and improve information sharing about key individuals in children’s lives.

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. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 01 June 2026.
  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 2026.
  8. For media enquiries; please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk