Young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are known to appear within the youth justice system at markedly higher rates than in the general population, with research suggesting that such needs are present in the majority of young people who offend. When these communication-related difficulties are not adequately recognised or addressed, they can significantly limit young people’s ability to participate effectively in Youth Offending Services (YOS) and to express their views within justice processes. Ensuring equitable engagement therefore requires services to adapt their delivery in ways that respond to diverse communication profiles. This study adopts a realist methodological framework to examine how speech, language and communication provision can be integrated within Youth Offending Services. Drawing on qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders (n = 15), the research investigates the contextual conditions and processes that support effective responses to SLCN in youth offending settings. The findings illuminate how practitioners’ knowledge of communication needs interacts with service structures and practice approaches to influence young people’s engagement. Seven overarching themes were identified that relate to key requirements for service delivery in youth justice contexts. These themes were used to generate programme theories that explain the conditions under which YOS are better positioned to meet the speech, language and communication needs of young people. The programme theories highlight several interrelated service conditions, including the development of shared understanding of communication needs among staff, the use of accessible and inclusive language within practice, collaborative learning across professional roles, and the active involvement of young people in shaping service delivery. Central to all theories was the role of practitioner awareness of SLCN, which was found to drive changes in professional behaviour and working practices, leading to improved engagement between young people and youth offending services.
