System 'fails vulnerable children leaving custody'

Publishing a short review, The Care of Looked-after Children in Custody, Nick Hardwick said that children in the care of the local authority are over-represented in custody but are not getting the right help.

It is estimated there are about 400 children in custody at any one time who have spent time in care. But a third of custody safeguarding teams felt that some social workers tried to end their involvement while the young person was in custody.

The report, commissioned by the Youth Justice Board, found that many establishments needed to improve how they involved local authorities and develop successful links, as they have done with youth offending teams (YOTs).

It also found that several young offender institutions did not feel confident that all looked-after children were identified. And at several establishments, staff were unclear about the entitlements of looked-after children.

The loss of internal social workers, recently addressed with new funding from the YJB, and a lack of national guidance setting out the roles of the YOI, local authority and YOT were identified as issues.

Meanwhile, adequate planning for release was a key concern for staff and young people with accommodation often not confirmed until close to the young person’s release, affecting opportunities for employment or education.

Some young people ended up in unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation, and only half of the young people said they had had a visit from their social worker or that they had received financial support or clothing.

Hardwick said: "This report concludes that far too many of the same findings identified by earlier reports remain a serious concern.

"Some looked-after children were not identified in custody and there was confusion about the assistance they should receive and responsibility for providing it.

"Looked-after children are a particularly vulnerable section of the youth custody population and it is vital that social workers both in the institution and in the community are available and willing to help prepare them for release."

Penelope Gibbs, director of the Prison Reform Trust’s Out of Trouble programme, said: "It is a tragedy that so many children who have suffered abuse and neglect end up in custody despite being under the care of the state.

"It is one of the greatest tests of children's services and the prison system how they look after the most vulnerable and ensure that prison rehabilitates. Unfortunately, this inspectorate report shows that, in the case of looked-after children, the system simply is not working."

Frances Done, chair of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), said that from April 2012 the board will be funding social workers in YOIs to help meet the needs of looked-after young people in custody.

"The 22 social workers will act as the bridge between custody and the home local authority to ensure that young people receive all the support and help that is entitled to them," she said. "Social workers in YOIs will also assist in the vital role of helping these vulnerable young people with their resettlement needs so that their transition into the community is positive and to help them break the cycle of re-offending.

"The YJB is determined that these young people should go on to lead useful and productive lives and to become law abiding citizens."