YJB’s new three-year strategy: The role of digital and risk of failure

It highlights how improving national data collection and the sharing of information between children’s services and supporting agencies can prevent and reduce serious crime. Likewise, it acknowledges the significance of links with education and social care to identify and support those at risk of becoming involved in the youth justice system.

Unfortunately, it fails to recognise the role of digital in enabling and supporting any of its recommendations. Technology is only referenced twice in the strategy; once in the foreword to highlight the increasing use of digital in a post-Covid world and a second time to outline how children’s misuse of new technologies can be a risk factor for offending.

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With digital solutions being at the heart of councils’ children and young people’s services, it seems like an obvious omission to not recognise the impact technology is having in this context. Plus, the opportunity it presents to deliver the strategy’s recommendations, now and over the next three years when technology will advance even further.

Showcasing digital best practice

The YJB sets out how it will work with its partners to improve the response for children involved in violent crime, by ensuring intelligence is shared appropriately and data about incidents are collected and published. Councils, such as Derbyshire and Buckinghamshire, are already using a single database to collect and share its data (locally) on young people under its care or at potential risk of committing a crime. By having a single version of the truth and cross-service reporting means the children’s services departments at these councils are set-up to effectively share the information with the YJB and other relevant national and local bodies.

Similarly, the strategy talks about collaborating with youth justice services to help with diversion across the country. Specifically, establishing processes for national data collection on diverting young people. The solution that Derbyshire and Buckinghamshire are using (called Core+) collects information from youth workers who have regular contact with young people - for example at youth clubs – which provides vital insight into red flags and risk factors for when a child might engage in criminal behaviour. And with it being contained in a single record for that individual, it can be quickly and easily shared – in adherence with the necessary data security requirements – at a local and national level.

Whilst technology like Core+ is helping improve local youth services, the benefits can be scaled significantly when integrated with other solutions across other public services, particularly with education and social care.

The strategy highlights the vital role of the education setting in identifying and supporting children who are at risk of becoming involved in the youth justice system and it’s another area that councils have seen the value of digital solutions. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP), for example, use; an integrated database solution for managing its youth services; an education management system that covers everything from admissions to pupil support services and SEN management; and a children’s social care case management platform. This means that information – such as failing attendance at school or exclusions - can be recorded by the respective professionals and shared in real-time amongst relevant staff without the need to log into multiple systems. More importantly, it can be considered as part of a holistic view of a child and their environment, enabling the multi-disciplinary team to put in place safeguards or actions that can mitigate or even better, prevent criminal behaviour.

Risk of failure

The YJB strategy has identified the most important priorities for supporting young children in the coming years and the importance of national and local organisations working together to achieve these. However, without recognising the role of technology in supporting these goals and incorporating them into the actions that are taken between now and 2027, there is a real risk that the strategy’s objectives won’t be achieved. Moreover, sadly, it will fail to acknowledge the successful steps that services have taken across the country to meet these shared goals for children and young people.              

Jason Stevens is head of product for local government at Access HSC