Carmarthenshire Youth Justice Team rated ‘Outstanding’.
Carmarthenshire Youth Justice Team (YJT) has received an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation as part of its programme of Youth Justice Service (YJS) inspections.
The YJT was rated across three broad areas – the arrangements for organisational delivery of the service, the quality of work done with children sentenced by the courts, and the quality of out-of-court disposal work. The quality of resettlement policy and provision was also inspected, and separately rated as ‘Outstanding’.
Carmarthenshire YJT receive funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys to deliver the regional restorative justice project. Working with victims and restorative approaches remain central to the work of the YJT, who are one of three Youth Offending Teams who are piloting the new assessment tool for Out of Court Disposals on behalf of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, said: “There is a high level of care and dedication to the staff, children, and victims accessing the service, which extends from senior leaders to operational staff. “Staff are motivated, passionate, and their hard work is routinely acknowledged and rewarded. The management board is invested in the YJT; it has continually advocated for the service and proactively supported it in achieving the best outcomes for children, families, and victims.”
The report noted that the YJT is highly respected within the partnership, with strong, vibrant and consistent leadership which has enabled the service to operationalise its vision and strategy effectively.
It also praised the mature and cohesive partnership arrangements which enable children and families to access a range of services, including speech, language, and communication therapy, wraparound education support, and specialist intervention for children involved in sexually harmful behaviour.
Mr Jones added: “The YJT’s reparation provision is impressive - the service has worked with the community to identify and deliver meaningful and impactful projects, and children have been able to develop skills as well as engaging in restorative justice. “It also proactively seeks opportunities to learn and improve the services it provides from the wider sector, including work with police partners in adopting and localising an approach for care-experienced children to avoid unnecessary criminalisation and contact with the justice system.”
The Principal Manager of the Youth Support Services, Gill Adams, who works closely with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in Dyfed-Powys has recently won an award from the Butler Trust in recognising of her leadership of the Carmarthenshire YJT. In congratulating Gill for her award, and the wider YJT in Carmarthenshire, PCC Dafydd Llywelyn said: “I would like to congratulate the youth justice team in Carmarthenshire for their hard work that has been recognised as outstanding in today’s Inspectorate’s report.
“I would like to extend my thanks for all the work the team are involved in, in conjunction with the Local Criminal Justice Board and my office. Their support has been instrumental in achieving some of the aims set out in the current Police and Crime Plan. This includes developing relationships with young people through forum and engagement activities and prevention services for young people which are effective at reducing harm and risk. Their passion and dedication ensure that they will always do what is right for children and young people in Carmarthenshire.”
Article Date: 19/03/2024