The Youth Access Quality Framework is a shared structure that defines what good looks like for hubs. It sets out clearly defined areas of quality and identifies ways of measuring whether high quality services are being delivered consistently and meaningfully.
Led by Dr Isabel Hanson, a GP and researcher at the University of Oxford specialising in youth mental health, implementation science, and health policy, the quality framework was developed over six months. It was created through a co-design process with young people and hub services, combining research evidence, practice knowledge, and lived experience.
We believe that the quality framework will:
- Enable hubs to demonstrate the breadth, depth, and impact of their work using a nationally recognised model
- Support continuous improvement and service development in ways that are locally responsive and meaningful to young people
- Provide government and system leaders with a clear tool to inform policy, commissioning, and oversight
- Preserve the youth work ethos and relational strengths of existing hubs
- Help aspiring hubs develop models in underserved communities
The quality framework comprises 18 areas of quality, organised into three categories:
- Principles – the ethos, values, and relational foundation of the Youth Access model, describing how services build trust, equity, and partnership with young people.
- Foundations – the operational and organisational elements essential for services to be safe, effective, and sustainable.
- Services – the specific types of support offered, and how these are delivered and coordinated both within the hub and with external partners.
Hubs vary in size, context, and local need. The quality framework is designed to recognise and celebrate this diversity: quality is not defined by how many services a hub provides, but by how well each area is delivered in response to local needs.
To find more and explore what good looks like, download the Youth Access Quality Framework.
Youth Access Quality Framework (January 2026)
We have designed the framework to be accessible using the two-page view PDF function for easier on-screen reading. You can also download a black-and-white printer friendly version here.
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