Integrated Safeguarding for Children in the Justice System
Safeguarding and Youth Justice: A Shared Responsibility
Integrated Safeguarding for Children in the Justice System
The Gloucestershire Youth Justice Management Board (YJMB) and the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership (GSCP) work in close alignment to ensure that safeguarding is at the heart of all youth justice activity. Children in contact with the youth justice system are often among the most vulnerable in our communities, and many face complex risks including exploitation, trauma, mental health challenges, and social disadvantage.
Recognising this, the YJMB and GSCP have developed a shared governance model that ensures safeguarding and justice services are not only aligned but mutually reinforcing.
Why Safeguarding Matters in Youth Justice
Children who offend are still children first. Many have experienced significant adversity, including abuse, neglect, exclusion from education, or involvement in harmful relationships. The GSCP and YJMB are committed to ensuring that:
- Safeguarding is not compromised by justice processes
- Children’s welfare is prioritised at every stage of the justice pathway
- Multi-agency responses are timely, proportionate, and trauma-informed
- Children’s voices are heard and acted upon
Joint Working in Practice
To deliver on this commitment, the GSCP and YJMB have established a number of shared structures and processes, including:
- Joint Subgroups: Covering areas such as education, child exploitation, and children missing from home or care, these subgroups bring together safeguarding and youth justice professionals to address cross-cutting risks.
- Shared Secretariat Support: The GSCP Business Unit provides governance and coordination support to both the GSCP and YJMB, ensuring consistency, transparency, and effective information flow.
- Integrated Serious Incident Oversight: The GSCP Serious Incident Notification Panel reviews all relevant youth justice incidents, ensuring a safeguarding lens is applied and learning is shared across systems.
- Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) Engagement: The YJMB contributes to CDOP reviews where relevant, helping to identify systemic issues and improve responses to children at risk.
A Child First, Safeguarding Always Approach
The GSCP and YJMB are united in their commitment to the Child First principles, which align closely with safeguarding values:
- See children as children – not as offenders, but as individuals with rights, needs, and potential.
- Promote safety and resilience – by addressing the root causes of offending and supporting recovery from trauma.
- Empower children and families – through inclusive, strengths-based practice.
- Prevent harm and reduce risk – by working together to identify vulnerabilities early and intervene effectively.
Our Shared Vision
Together, the GSCP and YJMB are building a system where no child falls through the gaps. By embedding safeguarding into every aspect of youth justice, we aim to:
- Reduce offending and re-offending
- Improve outcomes for vulnerable children
- Create safer communities
- Promote fairness, equity, and opportunity