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Wandsworth Youth Justice Service, rated ‘Good’ following inspection 

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Wandsworth Youth Justice Service (YJS) 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: “Practitioners at Wandsworth YJS were skilled and enthusiastic about their work delivering high-quality interventions.”

Inspectors found assessing, planning, and delivery was supported by effective information sharing and collaborative working with statutory and voluntary sector partners. Practitioners knew the children they were working with well and prioritised their engagement in education, training and employment, positive activities and interventions which enhanced safety for them and their community. While planning was responsive to children’s needs, strengths and protective factors, it would benefit greater co-production to make it more child centred. Improvements were needed to ensure work with children effectively responded to the needs and wishes of victims.

There was a strong focus on restorative justice with skilled practitioners sensitively facilitating high-quality restorative conferences. However, the YJS lacked a broader, more diverse victim offer and victim safety was not consistently considered. The collation and analysis of victim data, including victims’ protected characteristics and individual needs, was underdeveloped and a greater understanding of effective interventions was required. Strategic leadership and governance needed strengthening to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality support for victims.

Mr Jones continued, “With an increased focus on work with victims including greater consideration of victim safety, Wandsworth have what it takes to become an exceptional service, and I wish them the best on their journey.”

The Inspectorate’s report makes 10 recommendations. Two are for Wandsworth YJS Management Board, including to drive and oversee improvement activity in work with victims. Seven recommendations are for Wandsworth YJS, including the improvement of planning to ensure it is collaborative with children and families. One recommendation is for the Metropolitan Police to improve the quality of information shared with the YJS regarding victims’ individual needs and protected characteristics.

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 12 May 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 February 2026. 
  8. For media enquiries; please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk