Sandwell Youth Justice Service (YJS) rated 'Good'
Sandwell Children's Trust has welcomed the publication of His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation's inspection report, which has awarded Sandwell Youth Justice Service (YJS) an overall rating of 'Good' with outstanding elements.
The report praised the service's innovative and ambitious approach to supporting children and young people, highlighting strong partnership working, effective responses to exploitation and youth violence, and a commitment to ensuring the voices of children, parents and carers help shape services.
Inspectors also identified work with victims as a particular strength, recognising the genuine care and commitment demonstrated by practitioners and managers.
Emma Taylor, Chief Executive of Sandwell Children's Trust, and Chair of the Youth Justice Board said:
"We are delighted that Sandwell Youth Justice Service has received an overall rating of Good, including outstanding elements, and that inspectors have recognised the child-centred approach taken by our teams and partners."
"This report reflects the dedication, professionalism and skill of our staff who support children and young people to make positive changes in their lives, often in the face of significant challenges and increasingly complex circumstances."
"We are particularly pleased that inspectors recognised the importance placed on listening to children, young people and families, as well as the strength of our partnership working across Sandwell. Together, we are helping children achieve better outcomes while supporting safer communities."
"While there is much to celebrate in this report, we welcome the recommendations made by the Inspectorate and will continue to work alongside our partners to continuously improve the service and the support we provide to families."
Cllr Matt Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at Sandwell Council, said:
“This is an excellent outcome for Sandwell and reflects the dedication and expertise of colleagues across the Youth Justice Service and our wider partnership. Preventing children from entering the youth justice system will remain a priority and we will continue to build on the many strengths highlighted in this inspection.”
"This report adds to the growing recognition of the progress being made across Sandwell, especially after the ‘Good’ rating for children’s services last year. It is encouraging to see further independent evidence of the positive impact that strong leadership, partnership working and a shared ambition for our communities can deliver.
Graham Archer, Chair of Sandwell Children's Trust, said:
"This is a significant achievement for Sandwell and a testament to the commitment, expertise and passion of everyone involved in delivering Youth Justice Services."
"The report highlights not only the quality of frontline practice but also the strength of the collaborative approach that exists across the borough. The positive outcomes identified by inspectors demonstrate what can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared focus on improving the lives of children and young people."
"I would like to thank staff, partners, children, young people and families for their contributions to this success. We remain committed to continuous improvement and to ensuring that every child receives the support and opportunities they need to thrive."
The Inspectorate's report highlighted several areas of strong performance, including planning to help children achieve positive change, effective partnership responses to exploitation and violence, and high-quality support for victims. It also made recommendations aimed at strengthening assessment activity, management oversight, and capacity across the partnership.