Agenda Item No

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee Meeting: 1 June 2009

Report of the Chief Executive

Re-inspection of the Youth Offending Service

Purpose of the Report

1.             To advise members of the outcome of the re-inspection of the Youth Offending Service.

Recommendations

1.             That the inspection report be noted.

2.             That the staff and Management Board of the Youth Offending Service be commended for their hard work in turning the service round in such a short space of time.

Reasons for the Recommendations

1.             To be aware of the improvements in the Youth Offending Service and note the continued work that is required.

2.             To recognise the commitment and hard work that has taken place.

Background

2.             The Youth Offending Service (YOS) is a multidisciplinary team that was established in 1998 following the enactment of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Its purpose is to reduce reoffending by children and young people who are referred by the Court system. The YOS is made up of staff from the Council, police, health, probation, careers service and voluntary sector. The YOS's work is directed and monitored by a Management Board made up of partners to the service.

3.             The Service was the subject of an inspection coordinated by HM Inspectorate of Probation in October 2007. Early indications from the feedback indicated that the inspection was poor, with significant criticism of the management of the service, particularly the Management Board.

4.             The service was, at the time of the inspection, based in Social Services. On receipt of the feedback from inspectors, the Chief Executive, as a matter of urgency, brought the service within the Chief Executive’s Department under the management of the Operational Manager – Corporate Policy and Communications. The Chief Executive began chairing the YOS Management Board in November 2007 in order to provide improved leadership and direction. Previously the service was line managed by the former Head of Children and Family Services who also chaired the Management Board.

5.             Cabinet received a report on 5 March 2008 regarding details of a restructuring of the service. It received a further report on the detailed recommendations from the inspection report in June 2008. Further updates have been made regarding the implementation of the inspection action plan.

6.             Following the original inspection, HMI-P advised that a re-inspection would be required to ensure that the required improvements were being made. The re-inspection took place in December 2008. The final report of the re-inspection was issued on 1 April 2009.

Relevant Issues and Options

7.             The re-inspection report outlines that:

"The inspection of the Vale of Glamorgan YOS, conducted in October 2007 under phase four of the YOT inspection programme revealed a number of shortcomings. We therefore conducted a re-inspection in December 2008, focusing on the recommendations contained in the original report.

"We were pleased to see that the Management Board had responded positively to the action plan following the original inspection. New Terms of Reference had been agreed, membership had been reviewed and new staff appointed including a new YOS manager. The Management Board had a better understanding of its role and responsibilities and the staff team impressed the inspectors with their enthusiasm, knowledge, skill and overall commitment. Improvement in the quality of practice was evidenced, but further work was still required in some key areas of service delivery, such as the assessment and management of Risk of Harm and safeguarding.

"Although the process of change and progress in management and practice was still at a formative stage we believe that the YOS has the foundations in place and the potential to continue to improve."

8.             A copy of the full inspection report is available on the Council's website http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/our_council/achieving_our_vision/improvement.aspx.

9.             The overall finding was that, while 'significant change' and 'massive improvement' have occurred, these are at a critical phase and need to built upon is lasting change is to continue. The three year action plan, developed in 2008, continues to be challenging.

10.        With regard to education, the inspectors found 'evidence to show that children's services, education and health colleagues were making an improved contribution to both assessment and intervention plans'. The Children and Young People's Partnership is represented at a senior level on the Management Board. Members of the YOS staff had participated in the development of the Children and Young People's Plan.

11.         The re-inspection report also reported that the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee had taken on the concerns of the inspection report, and that more effective arrangements were being made for identifying and providing services for children and young people at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training).

12.        The report outlined that 'There had been significant changes in [NEETS] that had been pro-actively led by the Director of Learning and Development. A passport to learning project for young people aged 14-19 and at risk of becoming NEET had been arranged and implemented, and included arrangements for children and young people referred by the YOS. A direct link had been established between the director and the YOS education officer to facilitate service improvements. Headteachers of secondary schools had been made fully aware of their responsibilities with regard to NEET children and young people.'

13.        Where employment, training and education needs had been identified for children and young people of statutory school age, an appropriate referral for assessment followed by an intervention had been made in all of the relevant cases compared with 75% previously. For post-16 education and training, appropriate referrals for specialist assessment had been made in 75% of cases. The content of the intervention had promoted learning opportunities and attainment in 94% of the relevant cases compared with 80% in the first inspection.

14.        Children and young people under 16 years were now being provided with educational provision where previously they had frequently been left without it for weeks at a time. Formal processes were in place involving the YOS and the local education authority to identify, discuss and resolve the educational placements of children and young people causing exceptional concern. and, therefore, difficult to place.

15.        Provision for education, employment and education is met through partnership working, with the education service, pupil referral units, lifelong learning service, Careers Wales, Barry College and a variety of voluntary and private sector training providers. In addition, Visible Services provides a number of work experience placements for young offenders, which can result in permanent employment for them.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

16.        The YOS was transferred from Social Services Department to Chief Executive's with a deficit of £20,000. This deficit has now been reduced and the service is operating within budget. The Youth Justice Board has reduced its financial investment in the YOS by £38,500 in 2008/09.

17.        The Safer Vale (Community Safety) Partnership has contributed a further £86,000 to begin preventative work, to reduce the number of first time entrants to the youth justice system. Further sources of funding are being sought to further extend the work of the team.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

18.        The YOS is a statutory service as required by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. It is a highly regulated, non-devolved service overseen by the Ministry of Justice via the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

Crime and Disorder Implications

19.        The work of the YOS assists in the reduction of crime by children and young people.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

20.        Some equalities issues were highlighted in the original inspection report and these have now been addressed.

Corporate/Service Objectives

21.        A safe environment is one of the key aims of the Corporate Plan.

Policy Framework and Budget

22.        This is a matter for Executive decision.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

23.        None.

Background Papers

Joint Inspection of Youth Offending Teams in England and Wales: Report on Vale of Glamorgan Youth Offending Service, March 2008

Youth Offending Service Action Plan, April 2008

Joint Inspection of Youth Offending Teams in England and Wales: Report on Vale of Glamorgan Youth Offending Service, March 2009

Contact Officer:

Beverly Noon, Operational Manager, Corporate Policy and Communications, Tel: 01446 709746, banoon@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Officers Consulted:

Director of Learning and Development

Head of Lifelong Learning

Responsible Officer:

John Maitland Evans, Chief Executive