Justice for children and young people: vision and priorities 2024-26

4. Delivery and Governance

The development of the previous vision and priorities was set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 challenge. Long term monitoring and evaluation will be necessary to fully understand and recognise the extent of the post pandemic challenges for children and young people to ensure that timely intervention and support is provided.

Multi-Agency Partnership Working

Continuing to build on the strong partnerships which have been developed over the years will be key to delivering these refreshed 2024-26 priorities. We need to be clear about where we fall short and work to address inconsistency. Attention needs to be paid to ensuring that the crisis facing the workforce can be addressed and that the workforce continues to develop and that professionals are skilled, qualified and confident to provide the supports children, young people and families need.

Easy read version

A child-friendly version of the 2021 vision was developed by young people, and this will be updated to an easy read version, which will reflect the changes within this updated version.

Youth Justice Standards

Standards for youth justice were published in 2021. The standards outline minimum expectations for all strategic and operational services delivering youth justice in the community and secure care. These will be reviewed with key partners and children and young people during 2025, to reflect intervening policy changes, including through the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024.

Governance/Collective Leadership

The Youth Justice Improvement Board (YJIB) comprises members from Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS), Police Scotland, Third Sector, CYCJ, COSLA and Social Work Scotland. Consideration will be given to additional membership to represent interests around mental health and neurodivergence. YJIB will continue to work together with those who have lived experience, to support and oversee delivery of the vision and action plan.