YOTs failing to implement reoffending prevention effectively

A joint inspection by HMI Probation, the Care Quality Commission, Estyn, the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Ofsted, found that both nationally and locally not enough attention was given to interventions that tackle offending behaviour. And although YOTs sometimes achieved some success in practice, they were often not clear how they had achieved this and needed a greater understanding of information and research to achieve better results.

The report also found that YOTs need to access and make more use of information about what works in making interventions more effective and that better case planning was needed, as was training and development for practitioners.

In addition, inspectors said that although thorough assessments that address offending behaviour, health and education, training and employment were often carried out, they did not always lead to clear planning and delivery of the right interventions with the right individuals.

Julie Fox, assistant chief inspector of probation, said: "Although it was pleasing to note many examples of good practice, there were aspects that still required improvement by managers as well as by practitioners, and we have made recommendations accordingly."

Penelope Gibbs, director of the Prison Reform Trust’s Out of Trouble programme, said the report shows that health workers and youth justice workers are doing good work with children who offend but can improve. "Individual workers and their leaders need to be more rigorous about planning work with children and assessing whether it is effective," she said.

Youth Justice Board chief executive John Drew said the board was working closely with YOTs to understand how best to support them, and was in the process of carrying out a consultation to establish the priorities of practitioners.

Drew added: "We strongly agree with the importance that the inspectorate attaches to this work and continue to learn about practices that are working both nationally and internationally.

"While there is some good evidence of ‘what works’ in youth justice, this evidence base is not as strong as any of us would like and so we would urge caution as there are not always simple, ready-made solutions to the question of what programme will prevent a young person from further offending behaviour."