About Manchester Youth Offending Service
The Youth Offending Service (YOS) in Manchester co-ordinates the provision of youth justice services to facilitate the sentences and orders of the courts on all children and young people under 18 years.
The focus of YOS work is to challenge offending behaviour and address the vulnerability and risk factors associated with it. These can include:
- Mental health problem
- Poor parental supervision
- Domestic violence
- Truancy
- School exclusion
- Substance misuse
- Abuse
- Peer group pressure
- Gang activity
Success in responding to the risks and vulnerabilities of young people requires a joint approach from a range of local agencies. YOS brings together the staff and wider resources of these agencies including Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Probation Trust, health, education and Children's Services. Manchester YOS also commissions provision from a range of services in public, private and voluntary sector.
In the past year, we have experienced significant changes in structure, staffing and budgets. We will ensure that services offered by YOS are aligned with those that are offered more widely to children and young people within Manchester so that there is a joined up approach, as many of the families and young people known to YOS are also known to Social Work and Education colleagues.
These changes within YOS will continue in order to ensure that the services provided meet the needs of the courts, stakeholders and young people, provide good value for money and increase the impact and effectiveness to deliver better outcomes.