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Tameside Youth Justice Service, rated ‘Requires improvement’ following inspection

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Tameside 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: “Tameside YJS and the broader partnership had faced a range of challenges which had impacted on the delivery of services to children and victims. Senior leaders knew their service well, and a strengthening in stability and strategic grip meant there were foundations on which to build consistent effective practice. However, improvement in the commitment of the partnership and a maintained focus on driving improvement at pace were also required.”

Inspectors found skilled practitioners who formed trusted relationships and focused on building strengths, supported children to engage in education, training, and employment opportunities and positive community-based activities.

Staff were also enthusiastic, committed, and focused on meeting victims’ needs. There was evidence of improvement activity through a dedicated victim action plan and a focus on victims in quality assurance. However, strategic oversight was underdeveloped, victim safety was inconsistent, and long-standing issues relating to victim consent and information sharing had not been resolved.

Safety of the community, including victims, also needed improvement across assessing, planning, and delivery. Too frequently, concerns relating to keeping others safe were overlooked or not sufficiently explored. The result was that key risks were not effectively considered, particularly in keeping potential or actual victims safe.  

The Inspectorate’s report makes 11 recommendations. Two are for Tameside Youth Justice Partnership Boad, including to improve information and collaborative working with children’s services, education, health and Greater Manchester. Seven are for the Tameside YJS, including improve assessing, planning and delivery practice in relation to keeping the community safe, and two are for Greater Manchester Police including to improve the police practice regarding victim consent and ensure victims are consistently aware of who their information is being shared.

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 13 October 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 August 2026.
  8. For media enquiries; please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk