YJB moves to improve services for girls who offend

In a bid to improve services, the quango has set out a list of key targets for YOTs to achieve in the form of the Working With Girls Who Offend healthcheck document.

The healthcheck is designed to help YOTs assess their ability to provide a distinct service for girls.

The checklist includes having a named champion for girls’ issues on the YOT management board and a written policy on working with female offenders.

Other areas the YJB is calling for improvement in are ensuring gender specific data is available to senior managers and that each YOT is represented at multi-agency child sexual exploitation meetings.

The move follows the inquiry into child sexual exploitation by gangs and groups by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. It found that treating female and male young offenders as having the same needs can have a detrimental effect on outcomes for girls and young women.

The document's publication also comes as the government considers whether to hold girls alongside boys in secure colleges, the first of which is due to launch in 2017.

Last month Paul Candler, deputy director for youth justice at the Ministry of Justice, conceded a decision on whether girls and boys will be held together has yet to be made.

Other improvements listed on the healthcheck are that all YOT members have gender-specific training, which should include spotting the signs of sexual exploitation and supporting victims.

All YOTs need to have a safe space to work with girls, and girls should also routinely be offered a female case worker. YOT staff also need to have a good knowledge of specialist support available to girls who have been affected by violence.

Lucy Dawes, director of operations at the YJB, said: “The recent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by gangs and groups by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner found that treating female and male young offenders as having the same needs may adversely affect the outcomes for girls and young women.??

“Therefore, to help YOTs we have produced a healthcheck document to enable youth offending teams to assess their ability to offer a single-gender service for girls and provide safe spaces to ensure engagement.”

Among the best YOTs at supporting girls are those in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, which were praised by the YJB following a visit last year.

Their focus on gender-specific support and building self-esteem among female offenders was particularly praised.