Legislation and guidance documents
This section contains links to relevant youth justice legislation and operational guidance to support operational delivery of youth justice services.
The aim of this section it to provide a place for operational staff to access links to legislation and other official guidance that can support working with children, families, victims and key partners.
If you would like to submit guidance or tell us of regularly used legislation that is relevant to supporting operational delivery of youth justice services to the Youth Justice Resource Hub, please complete the submission form.
Summary: Access to the joint housing protocol for care leavers to help reduce homelessness. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government together with Department for Education have published a the following guidance: Joint housing protocols for care leavers: good practice advice ~(2020) to support councils to help ensure care leavers have the stable homes they need and prevent them…
Summary: Access to the Unpaid Work operating briefing for children 16/17 years of age. Description: The Unpaid Work operating briefing aims to give advice on the operation of Unpaid Work in youth justice services across England and Wales. The briefing outlines the requirements/expectations for the youth justice services, National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies.
Summary: Generic overview of information concerning age assessments for unaccompanied and separated asylum seeking children. Description: Unaccompanied and separated asylum seeking children, is an asylum-seeking child under the age of 18 and not accompanied by a close relative. Almost all of these children have no form of identification, and therefore have no way of proving their age with…
Summary: Agreed definition of prevention and diversion. Description: Part of the Prevention and Diversion Project, funded by National Probation Service (NPS) and jointly commissioned with YJB and Association of YOT Managers (AYM), was to develop a shared definition of prevention and diversion. Following consultation with various stakeholders, definitions for prevention and diversion have been created in alignment with…
Summary: MoJ Race Disparity Team have developed a guide to support those working in the CJS to work in a more effective way with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. The Ministry of Justice’s Race Disparity team have developed this guide for criminal justice staff about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. The booklet is intended for both operational staff and…
Summary: Link to the Sentencing Children and Young People: Definitive Guideline 2017. Description: The Sentencing Children and Young People: Definitive Guideline (2017) is for use in courts in England and Wales on the overarching principles for sentencing children and young people. In addition it includes specific guidelines for sentencing Sexual and Robbery Offences.
Summary: The Bar Standards Board have published competences and guidance to support all barristers practising in youth proceedings. Description: The Bar Standards Board has created the Youth Proceedings Competences. The purpose of the competences and guidance is to support all barristers practising in youth proceedings, and those contemplating doing so to improve the standards of advocacy.
Summary: Link to the guidance and toolkit, to improve the effectiveness of pre and post Court as well as at Court experience of children. Description: The Youth Justice Board published Making It Count in Court (2020). The guidance and toolkit provide practical guidance and templates to help improve the effectiveness of the pre-court, at-court and post-court experience for children.
Summary: Access to the Multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) guidance for the management of violent and sexual offenders. Description: Multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) are in place to ensure the successful management of violent and sexual offenders. The multi-agency public protection arrangements guidance sets out the responsibilities of the police, probation trusts and prison service. The guidance includes information…
Summary: Legislative References is a quick guide to all statutory duties of youth justice services. Description: Legislative References has been created to support youth justice services to access, at a quick glance key legislative duties from: Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 Bail Act…
Summary: Access to frequently asked questions concerning transfer of AssetPlus Stages between youth justice services and the Secure Estate. Description: The Youth Justice Board has produced a frequently asked questions document, transferring AssetPlus Stages between youth justice services and the Secure Estate (2018). The purpose is to support practitioners when transferring children to the Secure Estate.
Summary: Link to the standards for children in the youth justice system, which are the minimum standards expected for agencies providing statutory services. Description: The standards for children in the youth justice system, (2019), are the current standards that define the minimum expectation for all agencies that provide statutory services to ensure good outcomes for children in the…