A multi-agency team within a local authority to prevent and reduce offending by children and young people.
They were previously referred to as Youth Offending Teams (YOTs).
YJSs supervise children on out of court resolutions and youth sentences. They also have a statutory duty to provide appropriate adults for children being interviewed at police stations, and to provide support for children on bail.
Work performed by YJSs also includes:
- supervising rehabilitation programmes;
- assessing children for out of court resolutions;
- recommending bail packages;
- recommendations for pre-sentence reports;
- implementation of referral orders;
- supervising youth rehabilitation orders;
- supervising detention and training orders; and
- supervising any licence requirements.
YJSs may include:
- Probation Officers
- Social Workers
- Police Officers
- Health Worker
- Education Officer
- Substance Misuse Worker
- Parenting Worker
- Connexions Worker
- Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (ISSP) Worker
- Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) Worker
- Early Intervention Team – Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)
- Court Officers
- Restorative Justice Worker
YJSs can also include other people that the local authority considers appropriate.