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Young people

‘Good’ rating for Youth Justice Service

Bexley’s 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.

'Good' rating for Bexley's Youth Justice Service

Cllr Chris Taylor, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services 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, along with partners 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.

Guiding our children

Lynsey Riglin is one of the Team Manager’s for Bexley’s Youth Justice Service (YJS). Her team are dedicated to supporting young people who are subject to both Court orders and Out of Court disposals.

Bexley Youth Justice Service has a multi-disciplinary team that includes Probation Officers, Social Workers, Youth Justice staff and specialists like family workers and nurses, who work together to address the complex needs of the young people they work with.

Photo of young person in court from Adobe Stock

Lynsey said:

Many of the young people we support have faced trauma, have additional diagnoses such as ADHD, ASD or have mental health challenges. Our team focus on viewing them all as individuals rather than offenders, working closely with their families to foster sustainable positive change”.

As a Team Manager, Lynsey oversees Out of Court disposals, Restorative Justice, and partnerships. She chairs weekly meetings to determine appropriate disposals based on various factors, including the victim’s perspective and the child’s needs.

Additionally, she manages the Restorative Justice worker, Education worker and nurse while also liaising with Police colleagues in the Bexley Youth YOT police team.
A typical day for Lynsey and her team varies greatly. It would usually include attending meetings, staff supervision, providing case advice and risk management.

Lynsey adds:

Celebrating successes with children and staff is the most rewarding aspect of our job. The most challenging part is homelessness among children, impacting their ability to desist from offending and progress in life. Overall, this role provides immense job satisfaction and a sense of pride in contributing to a cohesive and effective team. We work in a supportive and flexible environment, focused on quality interventions and holistic care for children and their families.”

If you would like to work in our Ofsted ‘outstanding’ Children’s Services Team visit Jobs and careers.