Every Colleague Matters - Journey of a Young Person through Youth Justice

Aims -

• To explore the journey of a child through the YJS and identify appropriate services and interventions that can support them to move away from criminality.
• To understand the roles of partnership working in Youth Justice

Delivered by Sonia Burton, Natalie Baker-Swift and Simon Newling-Ward

Biographies

Sonia Burton

Sonia has 22 years’ experience within the youth justice service, focusing on early intervention and prevention for the past 5 years. Prior to this Sonia worked in the voluntary sector and the play and youth services for 14 years. Sonia is currently seconded to the Violence Reduction Unit to oversee the setup of the new divert plus project which aims to work with young people when they are first arrested.

Sonia has experience in bid writing, project delivery, partnership working and providing training on a range of subjects connected to young people and criminal justice.

Natalie Baker-Swift

Natalie has over 12 years’ experience working in policing including developing strategy, policy and governance at a local, regional and national level.

Natalie was instrumental in designing and implementing the multi-agency, public health approach to violence reduction in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire alongside the former Director of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Unit. She has led on the day to day running of the VRU since 2019, until her appointment to Interim Head in July 2021.

Simon Newling-Ward

Simon has almost 20 years’ experience in Youth and Criminal Justice having worked and managed in Probation and Youth Justice Services across the country. During this time, he has managed and overseen the service design and delivery of Youth Justice Services and commissioned services providing risk management, support and interventions to some of the highest risk and most complex young people in the country. He has led on partnership working, staff development and project implementation including Trauma Informed Practice, Reducing the use of custody and Quality Assurance.

Simon was appointed Service Manager of Nottingham City Youth Justice Service in May 2021.