AWARD WINNER 2023-24: Justin’s Award is for all-round excellence as a Youth Justice Worker with North Tyneside YJS; for the boundless energy, passion, and positivity he brings to his role; and for his ability to build trust, and inspire hope, in those who others struggle to reach – ”every service should have a Justin”.
[Justin’s Award is supported by Sodexo Government.]

Justin’s nomination

Justin was nominated by: Pete Xeros – YJS Manager, North Tyneside Youth Justice Service.

Justin has always gone above and beyond for the young people and families he works with, previously as a Youth Justice Worker, and over the last 18 months seconded as a Child Exploitation Worker (within Youth Justice).

Justin works with some of the most difficult to engage and challenging young people but he does not give up on them (even when faced with abuse or threats). He is persistent, shows he cares, goes out physically looking for them and finds the most creative ways to engage them – usually finding out their interests and engaging them via music and arts.

Some funny examples we have recently are Justin offering to feed a young person’s pet snake so he could go away on a residential, Justin offering to transport pet goldfish from North Tyneside to Cumbria for a child living out of area, and Justin rapping with a young person’s Grandad while trying to explain to the grandparents how music can be a form of expression.

He has also currently engaged a young man in an art qualification including taking the young man to educational visits at the Baltic gallery (this young man has been refusing education for around one year).

Justin has consistently offered Arts Award qualifications to young people over the years and this is often the only qualification they have and something they are very proud of. He recently passed his Gold Arts Award Advisor Training so that he can now offer a higher level qualification to young people (at their request).

Our family hub at Riverside is now like a mini art gallery, walls adorned with art work created by young people over the years. Not to mention that in his free time he runs a disability football team which having attended myself and seen him in action and he is nothing short of inspirational. To see all of those young adults in a safe space where they are accepted, doing what they love is amazing. Justin invited one of our cared for children along and he has been loving going along.

Some not so nice examples include Justin physically removing children from dangerous situations like adult hostels where they should not be by persistently going looking for them and not giving up until they are safe. I think it is fair to say on some of these occasions he has saved the young people from coming to serious harm.

Justin is able to build positive relationships with young people and their families and they tend to still reach out to him and keep in touch years after they have officially finished working with him.

Justin is an excellent advocate, sharing the views of customers, while still challenging them and explaining fully if he does not agree with their decisions or think they are safe. He sees past behaviours and understands what the young person is going through and trying to tell us.

Justin has specific expertise in working with young people with ASD and learning disabilities and is skilled in supporting those around the child to explain their needs and their behaviours and how best to work with them, myself included. He works closely with our Participation and Advocacy Team to ensure the voice of the child is heard.

Justin has worked alongside PREVENT for a number of years now and seeing Justin support young people at risk of being radicalised, often young people with additional needs has been a great learning experience for myself and others (he actually received a separate award for his work with PREVENT).

Justin has shown lots of young people and families that professionals can be trusted, will stick around and can be fun too.

After working with Justin for nearly 18 years, to see ongoing dedication and passion for that period of time in a job that can be emotionally difficult is pretty amazing.

 Julie Firth, Director, Children’s Services, said:
Justin is an amazing part of our team. Without exception young people, parents and partners feedback to us on the very real difference he makes to their lives. Whether as a trusted adult working alongside young people who are being exploited, running our arts aware project as a way of engaging and diverting young people or as a colleague, he is highly respected for his engagement skills and ability to make a positive impact. This has been illustrated both by the outcomes achieved with young people who are being exploited but also by the award he received from Northumbria Police for his work with a young person subject to Channel panel oversight. I cannot commend Justin highly enough for this award.

In conclusion

Justin is an exceptional worker. His determination to enable changes for children is evident in everything that he does, that being always searching for the way to engage in the best way for the child.

The relationship is absolutely key to this and there is a common acceptance that across the children’s workforce, Justin is the one who is most likely to make a relationship with the most disenfranchised children.

He uses arts as a medium and has run successful art award programmes for many years. He uses music to encourage communication knowing that many children will use lyrics to express themselves which in turn opens up dialogue.

Justin has a real passion for children with additional needs and again is extremely creative in how he works with this group. An example is when he and the child cut out 100 different emojis which the child used to express feelings.

Every service should have a Justin.