The Bexley Youth Justice Service has received an overall rating of ‘Good’ with some areas of work rated outstanding following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP).

The report follows an inspection that took place in April this year. It highlights the team’s exceptional efforts and successful strategies in delivering effective youth justice services across the borough.

Bexley’s Youth Justice Service works with children aged 10 to 17.

The inspection assessed the Bexley Youth Justice Team across three key areas: the organisational delivery of the service, the quality of work with children sentenced by the courts and the quality of out-of-court work.

Cllr Chris Taylor, Cabinet Member for Children’s Service said:

This is great news for our Children’s Services team and for the young people that we support in this service. This recognition from HMIP is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our Youth Justice Team, who consistently go above and beyond to support young people in our community.”

The HMIP report noted that the Bexley Youth Justice Team delivers a broad range of services and activities tailored to meet the needs of children and their families. The team’s approach has been effective in helping young people who have offended to steer clear of trouble and contribute positively to the community, making Bexley a safer place for all residents.

Bexley’s Director of Children Services, Stephen Kitchman said:

Bexley Youth Justice Service is a robust service, operating in a challenging environment. The team should be proud of its achievements and we trust the inspection findings and recommendations will further aid them in consistently delivering high-quality services for all the young people in their care."

The HMIP is an independent body that inspects youth justice and probation services across England and Wales, ensuring they meet high standards of quality and effectiveness.

You can read the full report on Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation website.