Changes made to youth justice system after critical report
INSPECTORS SAID SERVICES NEEDED IMPROVEMENT
COUNCIL bosses say they have made changes to their youth justice service after inspectors deemed they were in need of improvement.
The findings, which were published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation, revealed concerns in the management of the Leicestershire Youth and Justice Service, which works with children between the ages of 10 and 17 in the justice system.
Overall, the service was deemed to require improvement - the second-lowest-possible ranking.
In its report, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation found issues in how the justice service managed children who were serving cautions or community resolutions.
Shortcomings were also found in how the safety and wellbeing of children in the justice system, and the risk they might pose, was assessed.
Chief inspector of probation Justin Russell said he believed change was needed to ensure the problems did not continue.
“A revised process is needed to ensure that a more thorough assessment is undertaken before decisions on cautions and resolutions are taken; that children and carers are fully involved in these assessments; and that contact with the victims is prioritised,” he said.
The report comes two years after the Youth Justice and Youth Services in Leicestershire were combined - a move which Mr Russell said had been “largely successful”, but issues were still present.
He said most of the concerns were at board level within the system.
Inspectors did find good areas within the service, identifying that it worked well with other services across the county area.
Inspectors also said they believed that children within the justice system had good access to education and had opportunities for training.
“Leicestershire Youth and Justice Service builds positive relationships with the children it manages and there are good arrangements in place to enable the continuity of these relationships,” said Mr Russell.
Despite this, the service was still rated as requiring improvement, with six recommendations made.
These include the need for improvements to children’s access to speech and language services, and improved oversight of out-ofcourt disposal procedures. A disposal formally records the offender’s behaviour and imposes conditions that must be met within a specified time, according to Leicestershire Police.
The offender must also admit to the offence and accept the conditions to be imposed.
Failure to comply with the set conditions may result in the offender facing prosecution for the original offence, says the force.
General improvements to the oversight of assessments of children’s wellbeing and their risk of harm were also recommended.
Bosses at Leicestershire County Council said improvements had been made since the inspection, which was carried out in August.
“While we were pleased that the inspection recognised a number of our recent achievements, which include the acknowledgment of the improvement to services following the amalgamation of our youth justice and youth services, as well as the good access our young people have to education and training, we are disappointed by the judgements in the report,” said Councillor Deborah Taylor, the authority’s cabinet member for children and families.
“We have already made significant changes, particularly to our work with young people outside of the court process.”
Coun Taylor added: “These changes have been made in response to the inspection findings and will lead to positive improvements and ensure we can deliver the best quality service to our young people.”
We are disappointed by the judgements in the report... We have already made significant changes
Coun Taylor