Youth Justice Service (YJS) – - Ceredigion County Council

Youth Justice Service (YJS) – Ceredigion

The Ceredigion Youth Justice Service is made up of trained professionals from the Local Authority, Police, Probation Service, Social Services, (Statutory partners) and other partners including Health (Including CAMHS), Education, Drugs and Alcohol misuse and Career Wales.

There is a Justice Service (YJS) serving every local authority in England and Wales for young people aged 10 to 18 or until the end of their sentence if they have been sentenced as a youth to a Referral Order.

As YJS incorporates representatives from a wide range of services, it can respond to the needs of young offenders in a comprehensive way. The YJS assesses the needs of each young person using a national assessment tool, (ASSET or PAD), to identify the specific problems that make the young person offend. It measures the the safety concern levels the young person may pose to others as well as to themselves. This assessment provides a proportionate intervention tailored specific or individual needs. YJS will also manage all Court Orders, pre-court disposal and prepare reports to both Court and Referral Panels. The young person will be required to attend regular meetings with their supervising officer, which will focus on their offending and factors that may reduce the likelihood of the young person reoffending. Referrals to other agencies will be made where appropriate.

YJS also provides preventative programmes and structured activities to divert young people away from offending and anti-social behaviour. This work is undertaken with a voluntary agreement between the young person and their parent/carer and is specific to those children at risk of offending, those who have been released under investigation or remanded in custody.

In addition, the YJS will seek to assist those harmed by the actions of young people who offend in efforts to repair the harm caused. This process is also known as Restorative Justice and may involve an activity or direct action from the young person to the person where harm has been caused. On occasion it is possible and desirable that the young person who has offended meets the individual harmed and makes a personal and direct apology for the harm caused.

Youth Justice Services (YJS)

YJS work with young people aged 10 – 18 that get into trouble with the law.

They look into the background of a young person and try to help them stay away from crime.

They also:

run local crime prevention programmes
help young people at the police station if they’re arrested
help young people and their families at court
supervise young people serving a community sentence
stay in touch with a young person if they’re sentenced to custody

When you may come into contact with a youth offending team

The youth offending team gets involved if a young person:

gets into trouble with the police or is arrested
is charged with a crime and has to go to court
is convicted of a crime and given a sentence

Usually, the police are the first people to contact the youth offending team. But family members and friends can also contact them if they’re worried about a young person’s behaviour.

Youth offending teams are part of your local council and are separate from the police and the courts.

They work with:

the police
probation officers
health, housing and children’s services
schools and education authorities
charities and the local community

A guide to Child First

A Child First approach means putting children at the heart of service provision and seeing the whole child, identifying/tackling the influences on offending and identifying/promoting the influences that help them to move to pro-social, positive behaviour.

Seeing children as children

Child First recognises that children are different to adults - they have different needs and vulnerabilities, and they should not be treated in the same way. Furthermore, children should be treated according to their age, development, maturity and abilities. A focus is required on addressing children’s unmet needs, overcoming any barriers, and identifying their strengths and creating opportunities for them to realise their potential.

Developing pro-social identity

Adolescence is an intensive period for identity development, containing a number of important social transitions, and Child First promotes a focus on shifting potentially ‘pro-offending’ identities to those which are ‘pro-social’. Developing a pro-social identity means helping children to see themselves in ways that encourage positive behaviours. Positive relationships with children are crucial for reaffirming their individual strengths and teaching them that they belong, while activities should be constructive and future-focused to help children move forward rather than underlining an offender identity.

Promoting diversion

There is evidence that diversion programmes can reduce offending compared to formal criminal justice processes and can be cost-effective. Child First promotes diversion from the formal justice system, with a focus on minimising stigmatisation or labelling effects, which can lead to further anti-social and criminal behaviours.

We provide access to other local services, with a range of options to address individual needs and welfare concerns, including through youth work, community activities, and educational interventions. We work alongside health, education, housing, police to promote social inclusion, building family resilience, and ensuring access to universal services and facilities.