Politicians to debate plans on private management of youth offending services
Neil Puffett
Monday, June 18, 2012
Plans that could result in the merger of youth offending teams (YOTs) across three counties, managed by a private organisation are set to be discussed by local politicians.
Worcestershire and Herefordshire YOT is planning to link up with Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin YOT to create a West Mercia youth offending service, in an attempt to save money in the face of cuts.
Proposals outlined in a report set to go to Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet on Thursday (21 June), involve merging core statutory youth offending services and handing management of the service to the West Mercia Probation Trust.
The report reveals that the new arrangement could be implemented from April 2013, and would be subject to review after 18 months. The review would include exploring the possibility of commissioning out the service to a “third party provider”.
Gareth Jones, vice chair of the Association of Youth Offending Team Managers (AYM), said the West Mercia plan is the most advanced example of potential privatisation that he is aware of.
“The concern would be that by moving youth offending services away from children’s services and into a probation trust, the children and young people would get lost within the justice system,” Jones said.
“The AYM has greater concerns about private sector bodies providing services because there is a profit element that comes into it.
“We would be very worried about a profit motive when dealing with the welfare of vulnerable children and young people.”
News of the possible West Mercia merger emerged from the findings of a CYP Now survey, published last week that revealed changes to the structures of a number of YOTs in response to funding cuts.
