“Significant shortfalls” found at Stoke-on-Trent Youth Justice and Support Service, rated ‘Inadequate’ following inspection

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “While Stoke-on-Trent YJSS had the elements that should have enabled a high-quality service, including a well-resourced, multidisciplinary team that were committed and motivated to work with children and their families, concerningly, this was not currently translating into sufficient youth justice practice, and overall, the service was rated ‘Inadequate’.”

Inspectors found significant shortfalls across all work with children, including assessing, planning, and delivery. Assessing reflected children’s voices and identified their strengths, but it did not effectively use partnership information, and a greater focus was needed on ensuring the needs and safety of the child were analysed and understood.

Planning was inconsistent and did not always meaningfully engage children, parents, carers and partner agencies. Whilst planning incorporated children’s strengths and protective factors, it was not always responsive to the safety needs of the child and the community, which reflected shortfalls in assessing. Victim safety also needed strengthening in planning.

Whilst practitioners formed strong relationships with children and families, delivery did not sufficiently address safety for the child, community or victims. Interventions were either not delivered or lacked the required depth and intensity to promote change. Delivery was undermined by silo working and management oversight needed to be more robust and consistent.

Work with victims was “encouraging” but in the early stages of development. There was a strategic focus on driving improvement in the quality of victim work and victim consent rates to engage with the YJSS were high. However, the profile and needs of victims were not understood and initial contacts with victims were not personalised and did not consider victim safety. There was also a lack of connectivity to commissioned victim services within the city.

Mr Jones continued, “It was clear staff and strategic leaders were willing to learn from this disappointing inspection and want to drive improvement at Stoke-on-Trent YJSS, and I trust that the findings and recommendations from our report will assist them in their journey.”

The Inspectorate’s report makes 15 recommendations to the Director of Children’s Services, the Youth Justice Management Board, the Stoke-on-Trent YJSS and to Staffordshire Police.

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. 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. This is the first ‘Inadequate’ rating given as part of the Inspectorate’s current Youth Inspection Programme, which began in March 2025.
5. This service works with children aged 10 to 17. The YJSS supervise children with complex needs and some in the care of the local authority.
6. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 21 July 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 May 2026.
9. For media enquiries; please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk