A joint inspection carried out by the Probation Inspectorate (HMIP), alongside HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, found that Croydon youth offending team (YOT) staff were not assessing the risk young offenders posed to others well enough when supervising them in the community.
The inspection report said that previous convictions and behaviour of young offenders were often either ignored or “not seen as relevant” when staff were working with them, and little attention was given to the victim or sometimes they were not even identified.
Meanwhile, inspectors found that work to reduce reoffending suffered because managers were carrying high caseloads of young people who often had complex needs involving both vulnerability and a risk of harm to others.
Overall, the YOT achieved just one out of four stars (poor) in terms of protecting the public, and two out of four stars (unsatisfactory) for three inspection areas: reducing the likelihood of reoffending, protecting children and young people, and governance arrangements.
It scored three out of four (good) on ensuring sentences are served.
Liz Calderbank, chief inspector of probation, said: “Successful diversion through triage of those children and young people with more minor offences had resulted in Croydon youth offending service working with a small group of children and young people with entrenched patterns of offending behaviour.
“Work with these children and young people and their parents or carers, both in terms of engagement and the delivery of interventions, was good and we saw case managers who were committed to the individual’s interests and ensured that, wherever possible, they completed their sentence successfully.
“We did, however, identify shortfalls in practice, particularly in the assessment and management of both vulnerability and the risk of harm posed to other people.
“These issues had been identified in previous inspections, but the Youth Crime Prevention and Youth Offending Service Management Board had not held the team to account for implementing the recommendations and performance continued to be unsatisfactory.”
Lin Hinnigan, chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, said: "This inspection makes it clear that wide-ranging improvements are still needed in a number of important practice areas within Croydon Youth Offending Service (YOS).
“However, there are signs that practice and systems are improving and we would expect this to be reflected in due course.
“Staff from the YJB have been actively working with Croydon YOS to develop and implement a post-inspection plan, which will address short-comings.
“The YJB will monitor the delivery of this plan to ensure the HMIP’s recommendations are fully implemented."
