Review recommends ‘revision' of YOT funding levels

A stocktake of YOTs, ordered by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), concluded that levels of grant funding they receive from central government can be “adjusted” without jeopardising recent reductions in numbers of first time entrants, and numbers of young people in custody.

YOTs currently receive around a third of their total funding from the MoJ through a grant distributed by the Youth Justice Board (YJB).

The review, conducted by Deloitte, found that overall funding for YOTs fell by around 20 per cent between 2009/10 and 2013/14, from £370m to £300m.

It said that the YOT system has a number of strengths, namely that teams work closely and effectively with partner agencies and in a holistic manner to take account of young people’s wider needs.

However it said that evidence as to whether YOTs have a significant impact in reducing first-time entrants, custody volumes or reoffending rates is “ambiguous”.

“Early correlation analysis suggests that taking a narrow focus on reducing first-time entrants, custody volumes or reoffending rates only suggests that current MoJ funding is poorly allocated and could be revised without affecting these specific youth justice outcomes as measured by the YJB,” the report states.

“However, this risks undermining other outcomes around education, employment and training for young people that YOTs may positively influence.”

The review also recommends that the MoJ consider introducing a bidding process for central funding, whereby innovation or spreading of best practice is incentivised through competition.

“This would give YJB greater control of which YOTs receive funding and what it is spent on,” the report states.

“However, it would reduce certainty of funding and staffing levels for YOTs and would marginally increase YJB overheads.”

The report makes a total of 10 recommendations including that: