HMYOI Wetherby

History and place in the youth custody estate

In shortWetherby is a public sector young offender institution within the Youth Custody Service, one of three in the youth estate.

It is a public sector site run by HMPPS and sits within the Youth Custody Service (YCS). The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) explains that Wetherby is one of three young offender institutions in the youth estate, alongside Feltham and Werrington.

Keppel, which opened as a national resource for more vulnerable children, has since returned to being part of the main site. Our youth custody estate explained guide covers how the three sites fit together.

Who is held and how the site is organised

In shortWetherby holds sentenced and remanded boys aged 15 to 18, and its roll has fallen sharply.

• Held (inspection)97 childrenAn average of three received each week; 10 released each month
• On remand30.9%
• Becoming adults in custody55%On their current sentence or remand
• MoJ bulletin, 24 August 202698 / 154Held against operational capacity; HMIP's report gave a capacity of 288 at inspection
• IMB roll150 to 119About 150 on 1 September 2024 and 119 on 31 August 2025

HMIP states the task of the establishment as holding sentenced and remanded children aged 15 to 18, including restricted status children. The IMB says it serves courts in Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and designated areas of Lancashire and Greater Manchester, with children from other parts of the country too.

Benbow

Segregation and restricted status.

Collingwood, Drake, Exmouth and Frobisher

Mainstream.

Keppel

First night, induction and children who work.

Napier

Enhanced support unit. Anson was closed for refurbishment.

What inspectors found in 2025

In shortHMIP rated safety and purposeful activity not sufficiently good, care reasonably good and resettlement good, with many outcomes frustratingly unchanged since 2023.

HMIP inspected unannounced from 27 October to 6 November 2025 and the report was published on 9 February 2026. It was the first full inspection since November to December 2023, and an independent review of progress took place in October to November 2024.

Six of the 11 concerns raised in 2023 were addressed and four were not, with the concern about girls no longer relevant.

The Chief Inspector wrote that the governor had begun to address earlier concerns but that many outcomes were frustratingly unchanged since 2023.

Safety, staff and children

In shortViolence was slightly higher than at similar institutions and staff-child relationships were inconsistent, though use of force was the lowest among similar institutions.

• Assaults in 12 months49163 serious; 199 on staff and 163 between children
• Weapons found742Children told inspectors they made weapons to feel safer
• Children feeling cared for49%54% reported verbal abuse from staff
• Uses of force950In the year; the rate was the lowest among similar institutions, but about 80 a month was still a concern for an establishment holding 97 children

Inspectors also credited improvements in how incidents were recorded and investigated, and a fall in keep-apart arrangements from 520 to 252. They saw good interactions during enrichment activities and in Q Branch, a repairs and horticulture working party.

Staffing ratios were very high because of the smaller population, and leaders had introduced team leaders to improve visibility and support.

Education, work and resettlement

In shortEducation was rated inadequate by Ofsted, but resettlement was a strength.

• Children in paid work29%Compared with 5% at other young offender institutions
• ROTL occasions407For 26 children in the previous 12 months
• Moved to adult estate73In the year, with delays

Recent developments

In shortThe IMB thought things may be moving in the right direction, while HMPPS data shows Wetherby met expectations on 31.3% of indicators.

• YCS annex 2025/2631.3%Of indicators where Wetherby met expectations; a different measure from the 1 to 4 adult ratings and should not be compared with them

The IMB's annual report for 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025, published in January 2026, welcomed a YCS Roadmap aimed at more child-centred, trauma-informed sites, set over three years. The Board said its view was that things may be moving in the right direction.

• A violence reduction officer role was created in April 2025
• PAVA incapacitant spray was authorised for the three young offender institutions for a 12-month trial from April 2025, introduced at Wetherby in August 2025
• Concerns raised: the condition of the separation unit Benbow, weapons found, and the loss of the Novus education leadership team in January 2025

Working at Wetherby

In shortThe Youth Justice Worker role at Wetherby is listed at Grade 3 with national zone pay and no market supplement as at 3 October 2026.

• Starting range£34,928 to £39,334Youth Justice Worker, Grade 3; 37-hour contract, with a choice of 39 or 41 hours after training
• Band 3 to 5 officers (FTE)227 / 278Band 3 to 5 officers against target, 51 below; 30 June 2026

The official recruitment page advertises the role working with 15 to 18 year olds, and mentions a free on-site gym, extensive free on-site parking and staff canteen access. Pay is national zone with no market supplement on the list opened on 3 October 2026.