Agenda item

Report CSD15110

The Committee considered a report providing an update on progress in delivering the Youth Offending Service Improvement Plan.

The Local Authority was notified in early January 2015 that an inspection of the Youth Offending Service would take place from 19^th January 2015, as a result of a number of concerns being identified around the Local Authority’s performance in certain key areas.  Four HM Inspectorate of Probation Inspectors worked with Youth Offending Service Officers during the first week of the inspection to review a short list of 34 cases out of a cohort of approximately 60 young people.  The Inspectors then returned to the Local Authority for a further week from 2^nd February 2015 to review the partnership arrangements in place to support young offenders, after which the Local Authority had been advised that the outcome of the inspection was poor and that there were a number of areas for improvement, including a more robust Quality Assessment Framework and improved performance management and data reporting processes. 

Following publication of the final report of the inspection, a number of actions had been taken by the Local Authority to deliver the required service improvement.  This included the creation of a single, strengthened Youth Offending Service Management Board with senior representation which combined the Youth Offending Service Strategic and Operational Boards, and the development of an Improvement Plan which incorporated the outcomes of ‘Leadership and Partnership’, ‘Quality’, ‘Looked After Children’ and ‘The Voice of the Young Person’.  The Local Authority was working closely with the Youth Justice Board to implement the Youth Offending Service Improvement Plan and improve quality assurance and data processes, and an Improvement Board which met on a monthly basis and reported to the Youth Offending Service Management Board had been established to monitor progress.  The Local Authority was participating in a Youth Justice Board pilot scheme for live data tracking, and could now access up-to-date information on service users.  A staffing review of the Youth Offending Service had been carried out following the Inspection, and a number of new permanent staff were now in post.  A mock inspection would be undertaken by the Youth Justice Board in January 2016 to assess the impact of these changes in preparation for a re-inspection by HM Inspectorate of Probation, which would take place a maximum of one year from the publication of the final report of the inspection.

The Assistant Director: Safeguarding and Social Care advised Members that the Youth Offending Service Improvement Plan had now been approved by the Lead Inspector.  Progress had been made against this plan, but the need to increase the pace of change had been identified.  To support this, a new Interim Head of the Youth Offending Service had been appointed, and a further staff member had been recruited on a six month secondment from the Youth Justice Board.  The Youth Justice Board had recently provided training to Youth Offending Service staff on using a comprehensive audit tool to ensure that casework would meet all national standards, and a development programme was being delivered to all Youth Offending Service staff.

In response to a question from a Co-opted Member, the Assistant Director: Safeguarding and Social Care confirmed that two training events led by the Youth Justice Board had been held in mid-September 2015 and had been well-attended by members of the Youth Offending Service Management Board and senior operational managers from across the Local Authority and a range of partner agencies.  The number of locum staff in the Youth Offending Service had significantly reduced, although there were still some locum staff in post to support the handover of casework to new permanent staff.

A Member was concerned that there was no mention of the role of parents and carers in the Youth Offending Service Improvement Plan.  The Assistant Director: Safeguarding and Social Care advised Members that work was being undertaken with services such as the Tackling Troubled Families programme and the Bromley Children Project to develop a whole family approach to youth offending.  Closer links were also being developed with schools that were likely to have a number of pupils accessing the Youth Offending Service, including the Bromley Trust Academy.  The Portfolio Holder for Education requested that a glossary of terms be included with the Youth Offending Service Improvement Plan.

The Portfolio Holder led Members in thanking Officers for the excellent work being undertaken across the Youth Offending Service to deliver the required improvement.

RESOLVED that progress in delivering the Youth Offending Service Plan be noted.