Agenda item

To provide Members with an update on the Youth Justice Service

The Chair welcomed Councillor Graham Hinchey (Cabinet Member for Children & Families), Sarah McGill (Corporate Director & Director of Social Services), Deborah Driffield (Director of Children’s Services), Graham Robb (Independent Chair, Youth Justice Board), Angharad Thomas (Operational Manager, Youth Justice Service), and Hannah Williams (Probation Service, Chair of the Youth Justice Partnership Sub-committee) to the meeting. 

Councillor Hinchey was invited to make a statement during which he outlined the information presented within the Youth Justice Service Update. 

Members were asked to comment or raise questions on the information received.  Those discussions are summarised as follows:

·       Members sought clarification on the priorities for action if the anticipated risk of more children coming to the attention of the Youth Justice Service post-pandemic is borne out, whether there is good collaboration with the Education Department’s Youth Service and whether the Youth Service has the capacity to deal with a possible increase in demand. Members were advised that an increase in the amount of people coming to the attention of the Youth Justice Service is envisaged. Partnership working with other services is key to managing the increase in demand.

·       Members sought clarification on how partnership working had impacted on the trajectory of individual cases. Members were provided with an outline of a case where partnership working had resulted in a successful outcome.

·       Members enquired as to the extent to which substance misuse was a factor in the young people coming to the Service’s attention, and how far the Service was able to work with partners in educating young people and contributing to prevention. Members were advised that there had been a decrease in the number of young people being referred to Substance Misuse Workers. There appears to be fewer young people using substances although there had been an increase in the numbers possessing and dealing them. There has also been a shift in the type of substances being used. There is work underway with schools to contribute to the health and wellbeing of the wider community.

·       Members were concerned about the number of young people who are criminally exploited who are not engaged with education. There is concern that young people who are not engaged with schools do not appear on the Vulnerable Assessment Panel list and are not open to interventions. Members were advised that additional funding has been secured from the Pupil Development Grant to look at gaps in service provision. It has been suggested that extra work be done around young people who are not accessing the full timetable. It is recognised that young people who are not accessing the full timetable are more vulnerable to criminal exploitation. The work will allow an evidence base to be built.

·       Members were concerned about young people who are unknown to Education and other services.

·       Members enquired as to whether the reduction in reoffending indicated a long-term trend. Members were advised that this year has seen a very large reduction in both reoffending and first time entrants, however there is a small cohort who reoffend frequently.

·       Members enquired as to the usefulness of comparison with other local authorities. Members were advised that local authorities helped each other in various ways and shared good practice.

·       Members were advised that key partners are committed to driving forward the work of the Youth Justice Service, scrutinising data regarding service delivery and providing solutions. The benefits of the group approach are beginning to be seen.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations during the Way Forward.