Haringey Youth Justice Service (YJS) has received an overall rating of ‘Good’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “Haringey YJS can be rightfully proud of the work it is delivering. The service works alongside multiple vibrant and diverse community-based organisations which provide extensive services for children and their families.”

The report praises the partnership focus on education, training, and employment focus at Haringey YJS, where inclusive provisions such as the Haringey Learning Partnership and the in-house Dusty Knuckles (see notes to editor) programme are having tangible impacts for children, including lowering school exclusion rates which can divert children from the youth justice system.

Addressing disproportionality and improving outcomes for vulnerable groups was a strength of the board and the service; the Stop and Search project, initially piloted in Haringey and now being delivered across London, highlighted as a positive example of partnership working to safeguard children and promote early intervention.

Inspectors found practice to promote desistance and to support the safety of the child was high quality, with “sensitive and meaningful” diversity practice, and effective planning and delivery to keep others safe. While planning and delivery to keep others safe was effective, assessment practice required strengthening to ensure all harm related behaviours and partnership information was considered. Work to protect victims from potential harm needed development, with inspectors finding examples of planned victim awareness sessions not being delivered and instances of insufficient activity to protect actual and potential victims from harm.

Mr Jones continued: “While improvements are needed in assessing practice to keep others safe, the service is a strong one – with a committed partnership board and highly skilled staff team who are authentic in their care for youth justice children and families.”

The Inspectorate’s report makes six recommendations. Five of these are for the Haringey YJS, including to strengthen assessing practice and management oversight to keep others safe. One recommendation is for the Metropolitan Police to review the use of Outcome 22 (see notes to editor) or other deferred prosecution options in Haringey.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. 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.
2. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’, rating specific aspects of each service and giving an overall rating.
3. The inspection looked at standards of organisational delivery (leadership, staffing and facilities), their management of children serving court sentences (court disposals) and children serving cautions or community sentences (out-of-court disposals).
4. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 05 March 2025 at 00.01.
5. The Dusty Knuckles programme is a bespoke post-16 training programme for children not in education, employment or training developed by the YJS in collaboration with the Dusty Knuckles Bakery, Community Interest Company.
6. Outcome 22 is a police outcome code that can be used when the police have decided to defer prosecution until the accused has been given the opportunity to engage with an intervention activity.
7. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
8. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in December 2024.
9. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)