YOTs placed under greater scrutiny
Wednesday, January 8, 2003
All 154 youth offending teams (YOTs) in England and Wales are to be put under the microscope by government inspectors, who will assess the impact the teams have on preventing young people from offending.
All 154 youth offending teams (YOTs) in England and Wales are to be put under the microscope by government inspectors, who will assess the impact the teams have on preventing young people from offending.Due to start in April, the five-to-six-year programme of inspections will be carried out by the HM Inspectorates of probation, constabulary and prisons, the social services inspectorate and the education inspectorates. The Home Office and the Youth Justice Board will provide consultation.Areas of scrutiny will include assessment and management of risk of harm and re-offending, resettlement and community integration, and early intervention.Youth Justice Board chairman Lord Warner said the inspection would build on the boards continuing responsibility to monitor the performance of the system and that it was an additional way of informing performance improvement.Home Office minister Hilary Benn said: The inspection programme will ensure that high standards are maintained and that YOTs fulfil their statutory duties to prevent offending by children and young people.www.homeoffice.gov.ukwww.youth-justice-board.gov.uk