Reflecting on a positive 2024 for Skills for Justice

A hand changing a wooden block with a 4 on to a 5, to show the year 2025.

2024 was a productive year for us here at Skills for Justice. It’s no secret that, throughout 2024, organisations across the justice sector navigated numerous challenges, persistent skills gaps, and cost control pressures. We’re proud, however, to have been able to help and support these organisations navigate systemic challenges and work towards a skilled, resilient, sustainable workforce for the future.

What we achieved in 2024

Before we dive into what 2025 has in store, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the incredible projects we’ve worked on with justice sector organisations in 2024. Here are just a few of our highlights.

Building resilience skills

Against the backdrop of the COVID inquiry, the introduction of Martyn’s Law, and the Grenfell inquiry, we partnered with the UK’s Government’s Cabinet Office to consult on the civil contingencies suite of National Occupational Standards (NOS). Engaging over 30 sectors across all four nations of the UK, this work will help redefine and enhance the core and transferable skills necessary for effective crisis management.

The revised NOS will set a benchmark for competence, shaping recruitment, training and performance management across both public and private sectors, and will strengthen the UK’s resilience to future crises.

We expect the updated NOS will be available for use in April 2025. If you’d like to find out when they are launched, sign up to receive updates from us.

A group of emergency service workers including police and fire service personnel

Supporting survivors of domestic abuse

In collaboration with Women’s Aid England, Respect, Rape Crisis, and sector experts, we developed the Level 4 Apprenticeship for domestic and sexual abuse support workers. This qualification equips learners with essential skills for early intervention, specialist advocacy and comprehensive support of survivors. By fostering a trauma-informed approach and promoting multiagency collaboration, it enhances social care and protective services’ capacity to ensure survivors’ safety, wellbeing and recovery. This initiative professionalises the workforce and supports the Government’s ambitions to strengthen community resilience and response to domestic and sexual abuse across the UK.

Find out more about the project to develop this pioneering apprenticeship standard.

Find out more about this project

Two people holding hands in a supportive way

Evaluating anti-social behaviour immediate justice approach

As part of a two-year pilot scheme funded by the Home Office, West Yorkshire Combined Authority started an Immediate Justice programme which provided a range of tailored interventions for adults and children who have taken part in anti-social behaviour, with a focus on repairing the damage they have inflicted upon victims and communities.

Skills for Justice, as experts in the justice sector and having worked with violence reduction units in recent years, devised and delivered an independent evaluation of this programme using industry leading qualitative and quantitative methods.

Find out more about this project and its outcomes in our case study.

Out of Court Disposals training guide for police forces

Out of Court Disposals (OOCDs) offer an alternative to prosecution in England and Wales helping vulnerable individuals, including those with mental health issues and substance abuse problems, to receive appropriate care and avoid traditional court proceedings.

In collaboration with RAND Europe and Get the Data, we conducted a pivotal study commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to examine the use of OOCDs for adults with health vulnerabilities.

As part of this work, in 2024 we created a OOCD training guide for police in England and Wales. Access the training guide to find out more.

Access the training guide

A person writing on a clipboard in a justice sector setting

Most read of 2024

Throughout 2024, we shared numerous thought pieces, blog articles and reports. Explore our most popular articles of 2024 below.

Key milestones for women in policing

In March, we celebrated International Women’s Day by exploring the key milestones throughout history for women in policing. Women now make up 34.7% of the front-line police force. Catch up on this story to learn about some of the inspirational women who led us to where we are today in this sector.

Two probation service employees having a difficult conversation

Difficult conversations in the workplace

Back in January, we shared an article which delved into the complicated arena of having difficult conversations in the workplace. Navigating difficult conversations in the justice sector can require a delicate blend of empathy and transparency. Being able to embrace these conversations means that justice professionals can create adaptive learning environments. Find out more in this blog post.

Justice sector workforce celebrated at Inspire Justice Awards in London

In September, we celebrated the third annual Inspire Justice Awards and crowned our winners across 13 categories during a glittering ceremony at the QEII Centre in London. You can visit the blog post to discover who all our winners and finalists were in our announcement post. We will be sharing more information about the 2025 edition of these awards in due course.

Thank you to all our clients, partners and supporters who have trusted our expertise and supported our vision to improve lives through better skills and better jobs, delivering better services.

Get in touch

Our expert team are ready to tackle new projects in 2025. Get in touch with us today to discuss your workforce development needs and find the perfect solution for your organisation.

Get in touch with Skills for Justice →