Minutes:
The Youth Offending update was given by Kay Weiss, Director of Children’s Services.
It was noted that a third update on the progress of the Youth Offending Services Improvement Plan had recently been presented to the Education and Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee (ED 16019).
The Bromley Youth Offending Service (YOS) was subject to a Full Joint Inspection by HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) in February 2015. The outcome of the inspection was disappointing, with four out of five of six key judgements considered to be poor, 1 unsatisfactory and 1 satisfactory.
In response to the Inspection, the YOS, with the help of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), developed an Improvement Plan. The Plan was presented to a Joint Education, Care Services and Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee meeting on 22nd July 2015. The Improvement Plan had been updated and was subsequently agreed by the YOS Management Board and the HMIP Lead Inspector.
The updated Improvement Plan showed that most planned actions had been progressed or completed. The Service continued to work hard to introduce further improvements identified in the Plan. The Director felt that good progress was being made on the Improvement Plan. Audits of case work show evidence of improved practice.
On 11th February 2016, members of the YOS Management Board attended the YOS Management Board Annual Conference Afternoon. The main aim of this event was for the Board to help shape the Service’s Annual Strategic Plan for 2016/2017. The Annual Strategic Plan would eventually replace the YOS Improvement Plan, as it outlined the priorities and ambitions for the YOS over the forthcoming year. The Annual Strategic Plan 2016/2017 had to be submitted to the Youth Justice Board for approval. This was also a condition of the YOS continuing to receive the annual grant from the YJB.
The Director informed the Group that due to a reduction in the YJB grant during 2015 -16, combined with the need to meet the local savings target, the Interim Head of the YOS had initiated a consultation process with all staff. As part of this process a consultation report which outlined the changes that were being recommended as part of the restructure of the service effective from April 2016 had been prepared. The YJB has recently announced further reductions in grant of up to 25% for 2016 – 17.
The Director noted the importance of partnership working and commented that it was much improved, and in this regard referenced a “Knife Crime Group” for young people that was a partnership involving the Police, Youth Offending Service, and the medical profession. It was also the case that a close partnership had evolved with the Youth Justice Board.
The Director notified the Group that an HMIP Inspection was due later this year and a YJB ‘mock inspection’ would take place in the next few days to help prepare.
The Borough Commander noted the meeting date for the YOS Management Board. He also expressed the view that the police officers allocated to the YOS were not being properly utilised. This view was also expressed by Chief Inspector David Tait.
RESOLVED that the Youth Offending Update be noted.