National Standards for Youth Justice Services 2004 sets out the requirements for service provision for youth justice services.
The requirements below must be read and implemented by all YOTs, other than those in the four National Standards pilot areas.
The YJB is currently finalising arrangements for the monitoring of National Standards for 2007/8.
Future changes to National Standards
As part of Youth Justice: The Scaled Approach, the National Standards are being revised. Click for more information on how the National Standards may change.
Action to improve performance
In addition to the general reporting requirements below a number of YOTs will be required to undertake the following additional actions.
Where performance has fallen to 3 or less
For YOTs whose performance has fallen to 3 or less in the 2006 audit, there is a requirement to audit policies and practice against the attached compliance and enforcement checklist. The findings of the audit should then be reported to your management board alongside an action plan to improve performance. This process should be completed by September 2007 and the outcome reported to your regional manager.
Click to download the effective practice checklist [113Kb Word document; opens in new window].
Where performance has not improved and remains below a score of 3 or less
The YJB is very concerned that a small number of services that scored 3 or less in the 2005 audit failed to make any significant improvement during 2006. For these YOTs individual plans for performance improvement need to be drawn up that ensure substantially greater compliance with National Standards is achieved in 2007. These plans will be determined by respective YOT management boards, the YJB regional manager and the YJB head of performance on a case by case basis between June and August.