Services
We provide specialist consultancy, leadership development and tailored improvement support to Youth Justice Services and wider partnerships.
From inspection readiness and strategic governance to frontline practice and quality assurance, our services are designed around your organisation's individual challenges, priorities and ambitions.
Consultancy Packages
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A fully bespoke improvement package designed around the specific needs, priorities and inspection position of each Youth Justice Service. Every commission begins with a free, no‑obligation one‑hour consultation to understand your service’s context, challenges and ambitions. You will then receive a detailed written proposal outlining scope, deliverables, timescales and costs.
Ideal for services seeking targeted, high‑impact support that delivers measurable improvement and strengthens inspection readiness.
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A high‑impact, HMIP‑aligned rehearsal of inspection conditions. It includes evidence review, staff interviews, file audits, and recommendations report. The programme assesses evidence in advance, casework quality, management oversight, governance, partnership arrangements, and victim work. Services receive clear, actionable steps to strengthen delivery and reduce inspection risk. Ideal for YJSs seeking a full external inspection rehearsal delivered by an expert with a proven Outstanding track record.
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A package that strengthens the key documents Youth Justice Services rely on including policies, procedures, plans and evidence in advance. It helps improve consistency, clarify governance and partnerships, and ensure your evidence base is strong and inspection‑ready.
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This workshop equips Youth Justice Management Boards to operate at a strategic, high‑performing level. Drawing on Sam’s extensive leadership experience, including her role as Vice Chair of a Community Safety Partnership, the session strengthens the Board’s ability to provide effective oversight, drive improvement and meet HMIP expectations with confidence.
Focus areas include:
High‑impact governance and scrutiny
Understanding HMIP expectations and Outstanding governance
Strengthening partnership accountability
Enhancing Board impact so meetings lead to action
Aligning strategic priorities to inspection domains
Boards leave with increased confidence, sharper strategic focus and a practical, inspection‑aligned framework for delivering strong, effective governance.
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Sam provides independent, experienced Chairing to strengthen Youth Justice Board governance, accountability and strategic oversight. This offer delivers objective leadership, high‑quality challenge and clear alignment with inspection expectations.
Arrangements are tailored to the maturity and priorities of each Board, with options for quarterly, bi‑monthly or monthly chairing, supported by structured pre‑meeting preparation.
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Leadership mentoring tailored to Heads of Service, managers and aspiring leaders. Sessions draw on Sam’s 20 years of experience across youth justice, safeguarding, transformation and partnership leadership.
Focus areas include:
Strategic leadership
Managing complex portfolios
Preparing for inspection
Leading improvement
Building high‑performing teams
Influencing partners
Confidence and resilience
Strategic decision‑making
Ideal for leaders seeking personalised and high‑level support.
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A focused diagnostic of your Victim Standard delivery, led by Sam Matthews and a senior specialist in victim work and restorative justice. The package reviews evidence, casework, systems and partnership arrangements, can include an interactive workshop with practitioners and managers, and provides clear, practical recommendations to strengthen victim‑centred practice. Ideal for services seeking external assurance, enhancing victim work across the partnership, or preparing to demonstrate strong delivery under HMIP.
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We provide robust quality assurance through service, case and thematic audits, helping organisations understand performance, risk and opportunities for improvement.
We coordinate Multi‑Agency Case Discussions, creating space for challenge, shared learning and strengthened partnership practice.
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Flexible, bespoke support for any additional work your Youth Justice Service needs — from extra documents and reviews to tailored pieces of development outside the core packages.
Training Packages
in partnership with Silver Bullet Youth Justice Training
Sam Matthews Youth Justice Consultancy delivers a suite of high‑quality training packages in partnership with Silver Bullet Training, a nationally recognised provider of specialist public‑sector learning.
This collaboration brings together Sam’s sector expertise and Silver Bullet’s established national training platform, offering accessible, high‑impact training for Youth Justice Services, Children’s Services and wider multi‑agency partnerships.
Get in touch today
Whether you're preparing for inspection, addressing specific challenges or planning long-term improvement, let's discuss how tailored consultancy can support your goals.
