Birmingham Youth Justice Service - a guide for professionals

What is an assessment?

  • An assessment is completed to understand what’s happened, what we can do to support the child and how they can be involved in what happens next.
  • This is not a children’s services assessment. Instead, the assessment is conducted under the criteria of the Youth Justice Board who oversee the Youth Justice Service.
  • To carry out our assessment, we might ask children and their families for consent to gain information from other agencies.
  • If we believe there is a safeguarding risk, we might have to share information with other agencies without the family’s consent.
  • We will always discuss this with other professionals.  
  • Typically, we work closely with schools, health services, children’s services and the police.
  • We welcome professionals to be involved in children’s plans, so that we can create sustainable outcomes.