How we inspect – Youth work

This handbook sets out our approach to inspecting youth work. It explains how we inspect. The guidance is essential reading for reporting inspectors and all other members of the inspection team. It may also be useful for providers to support their understanding of the inspection mind-set and methodologies.

The guidance should be read alongside ‘What we inspect’ guidance for youth work, which outlines the inspection framework. Providers can use this guidance to see how inspections work and to help them inform their own self-assessment and improvement processes.

Where the inspection identifies practice that other providers might find useful, inspectors will invite the provider to write a case study that we will publish on our website. Where the inspection identifies important concerns in relation to outcomes, quality of provision and training or leadership and management, we will arrange follow-up activity to support improvement.