HMI Probation visited the service in January and praised its “dedication” to preventing young people from reoffending in a recent report.
The report highlights “effective” work in “ensuring each child can swiftly access vital support”.
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“This includes health, mental health, substance misuse and speech and language services, working alongside case managers,” it states.
Good management of staff “who are empowered to deliver a high-quality, personalised, and responsive services” and the employment of two new case managers to reduce caseloads in out-of-court disposals are cited as reasons behind the service’s success.
Chief inspector of probation Justin Russell said: “Lincolnshire YOS is built on a strong and effective team of people dedicated to preventing children from reoffending. They understand each child under their supervision and know how to provide the best support to improve their lives. All of this important and impressive work is for the benefit of not only the children, but for victims and the local communities of Lincolnshire.”
In 2016, inspectors noted that the quality of services had “dipped” since a previous inspection in 2012, which saw Lincolnshire YOS rated “requires improvement to be good” in a number of areas.
Following the 2016 report, Lincolnshire YOS moved from the finance and public protection directorate of the county council into the children’s services directorate.
In 2019, Lincolnshire children services redesigned its approach to working with adolescents under its Future4Me programme.
Councillor Patricia Bradwell, executive member for children’s services for Lincolnshire, said: “The children supported by the service often have complex needs, and partners collaborate closely to provide a wide range of both mainstream and specialist services to address these. By integrating this support into our Future4Me service we can intervene early and successfully help these young people turn their lives around.”
She added that the service is now looking at ways to implement recommendations put forward by HMI Probation that include looking to increase the number of children in education, employment or training and ensuring the consistency of safety and wellbeing practice in out-of-court disposals.
