We work with children and young people aged between 8 and 17 years old to help prevent them from offending. We also work with parents and carers and anyone harmed by children’s offending. Find out what services we offer and how to contact us.
Who works in the Youth Justice Service?
Our team includes staff from the following services:
- National Probation Service
- Social care
- Education
- Health
- Police
We put the health and safety of the children and young people we work with first.
What we do
We offer the following types of help and support.
Compass offers support at home, school and in the community for children, young people and families when there is concern that children’s behaviour may harm someone and/or get them in trouble with the Police. Email us for further information about Compass at compass@bathnes.gov.uk
If a child or young person is under 18 years old, they must have an appropriate adult with them during a Police interview. This is usually a parent or carer and sometimes a social worker or a trained volunteer. It could be a member of the Youth Justice Service if the interview is about a very serious offence and the parent or carer cannot be present.
We offer support for children or young people who have admitted an offence to the Police and need short-term help to address concerns (for example, alcohol).
We provide information for children and young people who have been charged with an offence. We can also discuss what happens in court, and when the Court asks for it, help in keeping to Bail conditions, with parents or carers. We also make proposals to Courts about sentencing.
We meet regularly with children and young people who have been sentenced to a Court Order to help prevent them from offending again.
A community panel of volunteers set and review a plan for our work with children to help them not to offend again.
We visit children and young people regularly, help get the support they need and make preparations for them to return home or to a placement.
Who we work with
Our Youth Justice Service Management Board oversee our work as part of the B&NES Community Safety and Safeguarding Partnership. This board has two sub groups:
- the Custody Review Panel who promote work to keep children and young people out of custody, including Police custody, wherever possible
- the Youth Crime Prevention Board, who promote early help with young people at risk of offending.
The Youth Crime Prevention Board includes the following partners:
Project 28 is a young peoples' drug and alcohol treatment service based in Bath, who work with young people up to 19 years old living in Bath and North East Somerset. They provide holistic packages of care which can include:
- One to one counselling
- Alternative therapies
- Music programme
- Substance prescribing
- Training for partner agencies
- Outreach in central Bath and rural areas
Mentoring Plus works with 12 to 17 year olds who are at risk of offending. They offer a year-long programme of mentoring and educational or social support. Mentors are volunteers from the community who try to help young people build self-esteem and make positive changes. The project also offers residentials a holiday programme and a wide range of activities and interest groups aimed at developing practical, social and educational skills.
Call us on 01225 42 96 94, or write to us at Mentoring Plus, York Place, London Road, Bath BA1 6AE.
This organisation provides a lot of fire safety and other educational support for young people. See their website for further information.
This organisation promotes racial equality in the education system by providing advice, information, advocacy support for parents and carers, and education activities for young people. See their website for further information.
B&NES Youth Justice Service Anti-Racism Vision
- To commit to being an anti-racist service.
- To uphold social justice and challenge inequality and racism in the actions of individuals, in services and in society.
- To value and celebrate diversity and promote equality of opportunity.
Contact our Youth Justice Service
By phone
Call us on 01225 39 69 66 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm, Fridays 8.30am to 4.30pm).
By email
Email us at youth_justiceservice@bathnes.gov.uk
By post
Write to us at Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG.