Inspectors 'encouraged' by progress at youth offending services

Inspections carried out as part of the Inspection of Youth Offending programme found that South Tyneside needed to make minimum improvements to preventing reoffending work and moderate improvements to risk of harm work and safeguarding work. Newcastle needed to make moderate improvements in all three areas.

Alan McDonald, assistant chief inspector, said the South Tyneside results were "encouraging".

"In our 2008 inspection of South Tyneside we were critical of particular areas of its work and it was heartening to find notably improved practice," he said.

Julie Fox, assistant chief inspector, said Newcastle’s results were "broadly encouraging" and added: "This well-managed team has demonstrated by a positive response to the recommendations in the last inspection report that it is on form to implement the further developments identified in this one."

Rod Stapley, lead specialist practitioner for youth at Newcastle, said: "We are pleased with this report which shows us to be performing well above average in the majority of assessment areas."