Kirklees Youth Justice Service

The Kirklees Youth Justice Service (YJS) is a multi-agency team that is co-ordinated by Kirklees Council and overseen by the Youth Justice Board. The team includes Social Workers, Health practitioners and Restorative Justice workers. It works with young people aged 10-18 who are involved with Police (pre-court) and those who have been ordered by the court to serve sentences in the community or secure unit.

Kirklees YJS Court Officer or representative attends Leeds Youth Court to assist Kirklees Young people whenever they attend for hearings.

Their main objective is to help and assist young people and their families through their current court orders and to prevent any further offending.

Kirklees YJS have achieved SEND Quality Lead Status through the ‘Achievement for All’ charity process in 2018 and the Restorative Service Quality Mark through the Restorative Justice Council in 2019.

Kirklees YJS believe in rehabilitation and value Diversity and Equality of opportunity. This is a golden thread through our work with children, young people, and their families.

Kirklees YJS aims to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people under the age of 18, to protect the public and to give victims a voice. All young people involved in the service undergo an assessment which includes assessment of their educational status and learning styles.

The new legal framework for children and young people with Special Educational Needs in youth custody came into force on 1st April 2015 (sections 70-75 of the Children and Families Act (C&F Act) and the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Detained Persons) Regulations 2015).

Kirklees has a very small number of young people sentenced to custody each year. Some of these young people will be disabled and/or have special educational needs. The YJS works closely with the Local Authority and SENACT to ensure that young people who are involved with the service receive the most relevant and appropriate support.

Children and young people aged 18 and under (i.e up to their 19th birthday).
Children and young people who have been sentenced or remanded by the Courts to a Young Offender Institution, a Secure Training Centre or a Secure Children’s Home (relevant youth accommodation) in England.
In future, secure colleges.
Children voluntarily detained in a Secure Children’s Home.

0- 25 system (for detained Children and Young People (CYP) the new approach applies to age 18 and under)

Focus on outcomes and preparing for adulthood.
Joint working between education, health, and social care.
Principles of engaging with young people, children, and their parents with greater. transparency/information about what is available in the local area.
Education, health care plans (EHCP) replace Statements of Special Educational Needs. (Statements) and Learning Difficulty Assessments (LDA) (Section 139A assessments).

The Code of Practice (the Code) is statutory guidance for organisations who work with and support children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and a range of institutions and bodies must have regard to it.
Specifically in relation to youth justice services, and persons in charge of relevant youth accommodation must have regard to the Code.
Chapter 10 (10:60-10.150 (pp222-243)) of the Code relates to children and young people with SEN detained in custody.
Youth custody: Principles of the new approach
The home Local Authority (LA) continuing engagement and responsibility for arranging a CYP’s special educational provision while they are in custody
The child or young person receives appropriate special educational provision and health provision in custody
Identifying need and ensuring that provision continues release will help a child or young person’s resettlement
Making a request and getting an assessment underway in custody

This has been developed in line with Section 10: 10.60 to 10.150 of the SEND Code of Practice January 2015 from the Department for Education.

All referrals come through either directly from the police or from the Courts. There is no self-referral system.

Any queries re referrals can be sought through contacting the YJS Office:

Tel: 01484 226263 or 01924 482118

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Last updated: 11/01/2022

Useful links

Kirklees Youth Justice Service

YJS Webpage