My experience of being a Peer Inspector for an Estyn Inspection in the youth work sector – Nick Hudd

Having recently completed my first Estyn inspection of a local authority youth service, as a Peer Inspector, I’ve taken time to reflect on what was a challenging, inspiring, and professionally enriching experience.
Following the initial peer inspector training, I felt confident in my understanding of the process, particularly how to review evidence in the Virtual Inspection Room ahead of the visit. This early insight proved invaluable as I moved into the on-site phase, where meetings, discussions, and observation visits brought the data to life and enabled me to contextualise the provision in practice.
As a youth work practitioner with over 20 years of experience, I was pleased to find that my fellow inspectors recognised the value of my sector knowledge and frontline insight. The inspection team worked collaboratively, and I felt genuinely respected as a peer whose contribution strengthened the overall inspection process.
The inspection itself was rigorous, transparent, and well-structured. Admittedly, I was initially nervous about navigating the administrative aspects accurately, but the support and guidance from the whole Estyn team was both clear and encouraging. I was consistently reassured that my role was not to become an HMI, but rather to bring my practitioner lens to the work. Something that made the experience both manageable and meaningful.
I believe that Estyn’s role in inspecting youth work provision is not only beneficial, but essential. It supports the continuous improvement of services, enhances the quality of provision for young people, and offers valuable learning opportunities for practitioners.
Personally, the experience deepened my own understanding of youth work in different contexts, broadened my professional perspective, and reinforced the power of collaboration and reflective practice in driving positive change. I would wholeheartedly recommend becoming a peer inspector to any experienced practitioner seeking to make a wider contribution to our field.
Did you know that you can visit our website to register your interest for future recruitment rounds relevant to your experience?
Find out more here.
You can find out more about our work in the Youth work sector here.