YOTs receive recommendations for improvement

A re-inspection of work in Bournemouth and Poole was labelled "disappointing", Slough was classed "worse than average", Medway "average", and Milton Keynes was classed "creditable".

In Bournemouth and Poole safeguarding aspects of work were found to be done satisfactorily 36 per cent of the time, work to keep to a minimum each individual’s risk of harm was done satisfactorily 36 per cent of the time, and work to make each individual less likely to reoffend was done satisfactorily 45 per cent of the time.

Julie Fox, assistant chief inspector of probation, said: "At the time of the previous inspection, published in 2010, the management board was already aware of the poor performance of the YOT and, while attempts had been made to bolster operational management, a permanent YOT manager was not appointed until August 2010.

"Disappointingly, at the time of the re-inspection, there was still no full, permanent management team in place.

"This needed to be resolved as a matter of urgency to support both the staff and the YOT manager to take forward the necessary improvements in service delivery to children and young people, their parents/carers and the public."

In Slough case managers were said to be keen to learn from the inspection feedback after safeguarding was found to be done satisfactorily 62 per cent of the time, public protection aspects 54 per cent of the time, and reoffending work 61 per cent of the time.

In Medway, the YOT was found to have gone through a significant amount of change over the previous 12 months, including some at middle management level.

"Staff demonstrated a high degree of commitment to the children and young people under their supervision and were achieving positive results in many cases through quality interventions," Fox said.

"However, the quality and timeliness of assessments and reviews needed to improve so as to ensure that interventions were targeted appropriately."

Milton Keynes YOT was praised as having a committed staff group and management team. "There are strengths in its review process, documentation and the range of high quality interventions it provides," Fox said.

"However, there is scope for improving management oversight as well as the timeliness and quality of reviews of assessments and plans, particularly when there is a significant change of circumstances."