YJB to thrash out ways to improve inter-agency links with council representatives

The report, A Review of YOTs and Children’s Services’ Interaction with Young Offenders and Young People at Risk of Offending, found that only 65 per cent of Asset assessment forms completed by YOTs detailed whether a young person was known to children’s services.

It also uncovered concerns within YOTs that children’s services support for young offenders was "often reactive" and "consisted of the minimum practical support around money, benefits and accommodation".

The report makes a series of recommendations as to how improvements can be made including better information sharing and joint planning, and a need for improved understanding of what each agency does among practitioners.

John Drew, chief executive of the YJB, said the report contained a number of "important and eminently practical" proposals about how to improve these links between the agencies.

"At a national level, the YJB will be talking to the Association of Director of Children's Services and the Local Government Association about how to take these forward," he said.

"There is also scope for practitioners to use the report at a local level. We are already engaged on a fundamental review of Asset and the national framework for assessment, about which the report makes important points."