Swindon Youth Justice Service

Swindon’s Youth Justice Service (YJS), which is rated Outstanding by HM Inspectorate of Probation, works with children and young people aged 10 to 17 (and their families) to tackle issues that might lead to offending behaviour. We also help prevent children at risk of offending from becoming involved in crime and jeopardising their future prospects.

Swindon combines a case formulation approach with a focus on identity and its link to offending. This promotes interventions with children and young people that move away from managing risk, and instead support them to develop a pro-social identity, which naturally shifts them away from risk and offending behaviour.

Activities, interactions and roles (AIR)

Swindon YJS is committed to assessing and prioritising children’s access and opportunities for fresh AIR (Activities, Interactions and Roles), which are the building blocks for developing a pro-social identity.

  • Activities
    • Children are actively involved in designing and participating in activities that support their individual needs and goals, rather than being passive recipients of services
  • Interactions
    • Child First emphasises the importance of supportive relationships with adults and peers, which are crucial for building a positive pro-social identity and fostering a sense of belonging
  • Roles
    • Activities and interactions are designed to help children develop positive roles within their families, communities, and peer groups, fostering a sense of purpose

Partnership approach

The service collaborates with key partners to deliver effective support and create safer communities, including:

  • children’s services
  • community safety partnership
  • education
  • health services
  • police
  • probation
  • voluntary and private sector providers
  • education and employment services

Together, these partnerships strengthen support for children, families and victims of youth crime.

Practice model

Our main aim is to provide targeted intervention and education for children and young people aged 10 to 17 who have caused harm to others. The service follows a Child First (PDF) and identity-focused approach by:

  • engaging children and carers in meaningful collaboration
  • minimising justice system involvement through prevention, diversion and minimal intervention
  • prioritising children’s best interests, rights and potential
  • promoting children’s strengths to develop pro-social identities and achieve sustainable desistance (reducing or stopping criminal activity)

Our work with young people

We work with children, young people and families to create tailored interventions, risk management, and safety plans. This applies to both diversion cases (started by the police) and substantive court outcomes.

We also:

  • work with the secure estate to support children in custody and those preparing to return to the community as a child
  • work with families and professionals to understand and address the reasons a child may have caused harm
  • offer opportunities for children to give back to victims and the wider community. This may include restorative justice, community reparation, or similar activities.

Our work with victims

We offer support, signposting and, most importantly, a voice to people affected by a crime committed by a child or young person in Swindon. All victims will be contacted by a dedicated worker specialising in victim support and restorative justice practice.

Swindon YJS is here to support you with information, advice and guidance, and will offer each person a tailored approach to support, based on individual needs and wishes.

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