Jessica Kelly

Jessica Kelly is currently the Senior Policy Officer (Positive Action) for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Children & Young People’s Safeguarding and Support Service. She also volunteers at a start-up company that delivers soft skills workshops in secondary schools.

Within her role at East Riding, Jessica has created a bespoke training program to give staff access to the voices of those with lived experiences, provide a space for reflection and encourage new perspectives. She has also created an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy and Anti-Racist Guidelines to put emphasis on building an inclusive learning culture that challenges and dismantles systemic racism.

Jessica is also involved in various groups such as the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force Group, Violence Against Women and Girls Group and the Humber Social Work Anti-Racist Practice Group. She is the co-chair of the Humber Social Work Teaching Partnership Cultural Competence Group and is also a Diversity Champion within the council. Jessica is passionate about implementing positive social change by updating policy and practice at all levels.

Jessica believes that we must all strive to understand and appreciate the diversity of the human experience. She is dedicated to promoting this in all aspects of her role and is continuously driven by a deep commitment to creating positive change in the lives of young people and families.

What Matters To You? In this session Jessica will give an overview of the innovative approach the East Riding of Yorkshire’s Youth Justice Service is taking to ensure that the identity and voice of each child is captured and utilised throughout their journey with the service. As well as sharing an overview of the approach, Jessica will discuss how the service has adapted to embedding a personalised approach and how data is used to evidence impact and outcomes.