Council’s youth offending service gets zero rating
CARDIFF’S ‘inadequate’ youth offending service will be reinspected in December
The ‘inadequate’ youth offending service in Cardiff will be re-inspected in December to check the progress made after inspectors gave it the lowest possible score in July.
Inspectors said the service, which works with young people aged 10 to 17 to prevent youth crime, was ‘inadequate,’ scoring 0 out of 36. The shocking rating prompted Tory councillors in Cardiff to table a vote of no confidence in the council’s Labour administration, which the cabinet narrowly won.
Now, HM Inspectorate of Prisons have said they will return to look at the youth offending service on December 2, to see if the situation has improved. They will also most likely come back again next year.
Councillors on the children and young people scrutiny committee quizzed those responsible for the service at a meeting on June 30.
Graham Hinchey, cabinet member for children and families, said: “Everything that can be done is being done, and at an accelerated pace and in a very short period of time.”
Since the inspection, Cardiff Council has brought in a new independent expert to chair the youth justice board – Graham Robb – who is tasked with turning the service around and improving the way it’s governed.
Mr Robb said: “I’m really confident now that the governance structure is working well.” He said quick improvements can be seen on policies and processes, but it would take longer to see the benefits in areas like reducing reoffending rates.
Deborah Driffield, assistant director of children’s services, said she will interview seven candidates later this month to appoint a new operational manager to lead the youth offending service. Ms Driffield also said risk assessments will be improved; departments will communicate with each better; and independent consultants Silver Bullet will be asked to again review the service, having previously done so last summer.
But doubts were raised whether getting consultants back in will actually make a difference, as previous visits didn’t prevent the dreadful HMIP inspection.
Councillor Mia Rees said: “Before the inspection report, I counted five key times where issues were identified but not acted upon. I find that incredibly concerning.”
Cllr Stephen Cunnah said: “Although it’s a great response, it makes you question why that was not being done before. It’s five months now before HMIP comes back. That’s quite a short timeframe and there’s a lot there to put right.”
“It will take time for the service to get from inadequate to the highest possible rating, outstanding”, Mr Robb told councillors.
He said: “We’re not going to get to where we are on the inspection rating to outstanding in two years. We will make serious progress but the process of getting to outstanding will take longer.”
Another concern inspectors and councillors raised was the high workload and shortage of staff. But the service has now recruited extra workers and managers to fill the vacancies.
Ms Driffield said: “At the time of the inspection, there were concerns around the caseloads, and there were a number of posts that weren’t covered.
“But I’m confident now that we have either brought in agency staff or recruited to all of the vacant posts.
“There are still some issues regarding long term sickness that we are addressing. But I’m confident the staffing levels are now appropriate.”
Cardiff ’s youth offending service currently works with around 170 young people.