Youth offending team makes 'significant progress'

A re-inspection of North Lincolnshire youth offending team (YOT) found “significant efforts” had been made to implement an improvement plan submitted in February last year.

The previous inspection had found that work on safeguarding young offenders was done well just 37 per cent of the time, while minimising each individual’s risk of harm to others was satisfactory just 36 per cent of the time. 

During the re-inspection, safeguarding aspects of the work were found to be done well enough 83 per cent of the time, public protection aspects 77 per cent of the time, and the work to make each individual less likely to reoffend was done well enough 86 per cent of the time.

“The re-inspection was necessary because in the last inspection we found that action to protect the child or young person and the public and work delivered to individuals so that they were less likely to reoffend was insufficient,” Julie Fox, assistant chief inspector, said.

“We found that the service had made significant efforts to implement the improvement plan submitted to us in February 2011 and, as a result, the overall performance is much stronger. 

“The quality assurance systems now in place had ensured that in most cases relevant assessments, plans and reviews were undertaken and the majority were sufficient. 

“These results reflect the management board’s commitment to the process of improvement and the management team’s focus on quality and management oversight. All staff had worked hard to improve the quality of work.”

Separate inspection reports for Hertfordshire YOT found it had performed “reasonably” well, while findings in Peterborough, Thurrock, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk were rated as “creditable”.