Inspectors praise Blackpool youth justice service for 'remarkable' improvements

A recent visit by HM Inspectorate of Probation, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service, and the Care Quality Commission found Blackpool Youth Justice Service, rated “inadequate” in 2018, had made significant improvements in its work with young offenders and praised its “committed and highly motivated” staff.

• Inspections clinic: Multi-agency working in youth offending services

• Qualifications and Training Guide: Youth justice workforce

In the report, inspectors particularly highlighted the importance of Blackpool Council’s new model of practice, Blackpool Families Rock, for underpinning the “child first” ethos within the youth justice system.

The model, which was launched in March 2020, aims to shift service culture away from a focus on process to one that works with families to achieve optimum impact and outcomes for their children.

The inspection found that staff morale is high, with “skilled practitioners supported by equally committed seconded and partnership staff”, while management have secured sufficient resources to boost provision.  

In the previous inspection, 42 per cent of staff rated their supervision as “poor” or “very poor”, whereas now, all staff reported supervision to be “quite good” or “very good”. In 2018, only 41 per cent of staff felt they fully had the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality services to children – now, all staff perceived themselves to at least “mostly” have the relevant skills and knowledge.

In 2018, court disposal work was judged as weak. At the current inspection, more than three quarters of case records reviewed met the expected standards for assessment, two thirds met all standards for implementation of court disposals, and just over half met expectations for keeping other people safe. Case review work was outstanding, inspectors found.

An extensive review of out-of-court disposal work since the last inspection has also delivered results. Of the records inspected, 80 per cent met all requirements for assessment, two thirds met standards for identifying risk of harm to others, and all met expectations for joint working between agencies.

Gillian Campbell, Blackpool Council cabinet member for inclusion, youth and transience, said: “I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome of this inspection.

“I’d like to thank our incredibly hard-working staff who are praised throughout the report for their commitment to our young residents. The service has entirely transformed since the disappointing inadequate judgment three years ago.

“This is in line with our improvements elsewhere in children’s services. Our Blackpool Families Rock model of practice is transforming the way we create relationships and support families and I am delighted that its success is being acknowledged.”

The inspectorates made seven recommendations for improvements including to reduce the “unacceptably high” level of young people not in education, employment or training in contact with the service by engaging more in further education and vocational training, improve identification of risk to others and where this exists develop contingency plans to mitigate risk.

Chief inspector of probation Justin Russell said: “It is greatly encouraging that the service for children in Blackpool has shown such substantial improvement. We are confident that the foundations have been laid to maintain the quality of services, and we have provided a number of recommendations that should help to improve the service even further.”