The Youth Justice Conference 2025: Implementing a Child First Approach
Past and Present Supporters Include:
Overview:
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales has set out a strategy for 2024–2027, placing the safety and wellbeing at the heart of youth justice reform. Key priorities include tackling racial disproportionality and adultification, ending the use of custody for girls, and improving support for those with complex needs. It is essential that multi-agency partnerships are leveraged effectively to reduce rates of offending and provide the best outcomes for those within the youth justice system.
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Dr Sean Creaney, Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice, School of Law and Criminal Justice (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: The Youth Justice Board strategic priorities: Supporting Girls in the Youth Justice System
- Outlining the Youth Justice Board strategic priorities and best course for implementation from 2024-2027
- Exploring the unique challenges facing girls in the youth justice system and the best course of action for supporting them
- Strategies for providing mental health support for those within the youth justice system and addressing complex needs
Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, Under Secretary (Ministry of Justice) & Government Whip Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Using a Child-First Approach
- Understanding the complex challenges and disadvantages that children within the YJS may face
- Using the lived experience of children to shape service delivery and improve outcomes for children
- Strategies for building pro-social identities that empower children to make positive contributions to society
Senior Representative, Youth Justice Board (invited)
Case Study: Safeguarding and Child Criminal Exploitation
- Identifying individuals who may be vulnerable to child criminal exploitation and understanding how to spot the signs that a child is being exploited
- Ensuring understanding and empathy towards the experiences of children in the YJS due to child criminal exploitation
- Strategies for breaking down exploitative relationships between children and adults
- Collaborating with parents and schools to provide the best possible outcomes for victims of child criminal exploitation
Senior Representative, Youth Justice Legal Centre (invited)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Working with Schools to Keep Children out of the Youth Justice System
- Outlining the long-term impact of exclusion and suspension on children
- Strategies to prevent children being excluded or suspended from school including mental health services, therapy, mentoring, and academic tutoring
- Best practice examples of creating effective single-child plans that coordinate multi-agency support
- Building pathways to education for those within the youth justice system
Children’s Commissioner (invited)
Keynote: Addressing Racial Disparities in the Youth Justice System
- Outlining the impact of racial disproportionality and adultification bias on black and ethnic minority children in the youth justice system
- Understanding how adultification can lead to a child’s rights not being upheld
- Strategies for reducing adultification bias and embedding culturally competent practices
- Creating psychologically safe spaces within the YJS
Senior Representative, Listen Up (invited)
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote: Utilising Multi-Agency Working to Provide Comprehensive Services
- Understanding how to coordinate cross-sector collaboration that ensures wrap-around support for young people
- Identifying serious youth violence as a safeguarding issue
- Strategies for overcoming inconsistencies across national service delivery
- Creating strong partnerships between parents, the community, the education sector and statutory partners to leverage positive outcomes
Senior Representative, HM Inspectorate of Probation (invited)
Case Study: Supporting SEND Children and Young People in the Youth Justice System
- Identifying and understanding the needs of SEND children in the justice system
- Understanding how admission of guilt, acceptance of responsibility and remorse may manifest differently in SEND children
- Developing tailored support plans that reflect individual learning, communication, or behavioural differences
- Implementing trauma-informed approaches that recognise the vulnerability of neurodivergent children
Senior Representative, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (invited)
Questions & Answers
Breakout Networking: Working Collaboratively to Improve Outcomes for Children and Young People in the Youth Justice System
Comfort Break
Case Study: Identity Based Interventions
- Using the 5Cs Framework to Rebuild Self-Worth
- Strategies for building strong relationships with youth offenders to help them to create a pro-social identity
- Sustaining progress through participation that supports identity shift
Senior Representative, Swindon Youth Justice Service (invited)
Case Study: Reducing Youth Reoffending Rates
- Outlining the 7 step model and the importance of providing offenders with role models
- Guidance on providing effective mentoring programmes for young people at risk of becoming involved in crime
- Highlighting the importance of providing emotional support services that build resilience
- Strategies for creating effective rehabilitation programmes that prevent reoffending
Senior Representative, Key4Life (invited)
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers
Susannah Hancock
Board Member
Youth Justice Board
Angus Mulready-Jones
Team Leader-Children and Young Adults
HM Inspectorate of Prisons
Alison Sabaroche
Head of Service
Hammersmith and Fulham Youth Justice Service
Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy
Head of Change for Policing and Youth Justice
Youth Endowment Fund
Testimonials
A fantastic insight into the innovative practice covered by a number of country-wide Youth Justice Teams
Excellent skills and practice development opportunity. Invaluable to hear about practices that challenge and address discriminatory practices within the YJS
Great day with really knowledgeable and passionate speakers who really understand the needs of young people and how having their voices heard has to be at the heart of our roles
Really great online event, informative, engaging and motivating
Why You Should Attend
Why Attend:
✓High-level keynotes from leading policymakers and practitioners improving outcomes for those in the youth justice system
✓Hear the latest national updates and evidence-based approaches to tackling reoffending and safeguarding vulnerable children
✓ Gain practical tools and strategies to embed culturally competent, trauma-informed, and child-centred practices
✓Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues across the youth justice sector
✓8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend?
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Examples |
| Police Officer | Police Force |
| Service Leads | NHS |
| Counsellor | Schools |
| Youth Justice Worker | Charities |
| Safeguarding Lead | Youth Justice Service |
Pricing Options
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us using the enquiry form below.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
