Youth Justice Service
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We work with young people who have committed an offence and are aged between 10 and 18 years. We support them to help make changes in their lives so they do not re-offend or cause further harm to the community. This includes promoting restorative justice and working with victims.
A Magistrate/District Judge at a court refers young people to the service when they convict them of an offence and give either a community or custodial sentence.
Check the Crown Prosecution Service legal guidance for youth offenders.
We carry out an assessment for each young person referred to the service. This identifies the risks for that individual, and helps us produce and put in place a supervision plan which ensures their personal safety and wellbeing.
The team includes:
- social workers
- youth justice officers
- police officers
- probation officers
- family support worker
- restorative justice or victim worker
- clinical practitioners
- educational psychologist
The team also has staff for substance misuse and access to adolescent mental health services. It also works with health, housing, children’s services, schools and education authorities.
We also:
- help young people at the police station if 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 and help them to prepare for release and resettle back in the community
- arrange for young people to make amends for their behaviour
- provide support for parents of young people who are in trouble
- encourage young people to lead a positive and healthy lifestyle, including going to school, college or finding work
- support young people to access support with substance misuse, emotional or mental health
Youth Justice SEND Quality Lead Status
Barnet Council's Youth Justice Service has been awarded Youth Justice SEND Quality Lead Status with a Child First Commendation, which recognises consistently high levels of practice with children who have SEND (special educational needs and disability).
Youth Justice Plan
The Youth Justice Plan 2023 to 2025 sets out how the multi-agency partnership of Barnet’s Youth Justice Matters Board will meet the 7 key priorities of our Plan and how we will fund and deliver services to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime and violence and support those in the youth justice system to reduce risk of re-offending.
The different types of Youth Justice Orders
Barnet Youth Justice Service have co-produced a number of leaflets and a Court booklet with young people using our services which are aimed at helping other young people and their parents or carers, understand the purpose of the Youth Justice Team including how we work with young people involved in the criminal justice system, what to expect and how we prepare reports for Court.
You can view the leaflets and booklet below, they serve as a quick guide to explain the different types of Youth Justice Orders, requirements, durations and processes.
If you need to speak to us to discuss this further, you can call us on 020 8359 5535 and ask for the Duty Operations Manager or Service Manager.
Out of court disposals and prevention
When a child commits an offence in some cases, it may be most appropriate to divert or triage them away from the criminal justice system and work with the child, family and victim through more informal ways to address their needs and prevent further offending.
Out-of-court disposals can be used for children who have admitted an offence, but it is not in the public interest to prosecute as it is not always appropriate for children that commit a crime to be sent to Court.
It may be appropriate for the Police and Youth Justice Service to consider an Out of Court disposal (OOCD).
Out of court disposals options include:
- no further action
- Triage or Community Resolution: (Triage or Community Resolution is an informal process that means a child will not be prosecuted, given a community resolution or Triage. The child can be asked to go to Youth Justice Team appointments. Children who get in trouble for the first time or for less serious offences can be dealt with informally by the police. If a child is interviewed and admits doing something wrong, the police should always consider out of court disposals
- Youth Caution: (Youth Cautions aim to provide a proportionate and effective resolution to offending and support the principle statutory aim of the youth justice system of preventing offending by children)
- Youth Conditional Caution: (Youth Conditional Cautions are cautions conditions attached. If a child does not keep to the conditions they could be prosecuted for the original offence)
Prevention may involve programmes or interventions that support the child to avoid contact with the criminal justice system in the first instance.
Reparation
The video was co-produced with young people in Barnet Youth Justice Team talking about their experience of Reparation activities they have engaged with in the service as part of their YOT community order.
Volunteer with the service
Volunteers play an important part in supporting the work of the team.
Contact us for volunteering opportunities:
Email:
Telephone: 020 8359 5535
Contact us
Main office address
Youth Justice Service
London Borough of Barnet
2 Bristol Avenue
Colindale
London
NW9 4EW
Appointments with children, young people and their families
Youth Justice Service
Barnet Family Friendly Hub
London Borough of Barnet
2 Bristol Avenue,
Colindale,
NW9 4EW