A youth offending service in Yorkshire has become the first in England and Wales to score full marks in an official inspection.

HM Inspectorate of Probation has given East Riding Youth Offending Service (YOS) an overall ‘Outstanding’ rating. Inspectors looked at 12 aspects of the service’s work and – for the first time – awarded the top rating for all areas.

Today’s report represents a significant achievement for the service. Inspectors last visited East Riding in 2010 and 2013, and found the quality of work needed to improve.

Chief Inspector of Probation Dame Glenys Stacey said: “East Riding YOS has made steady and continuous progress since our previous inspections. Leaders have set out a clear vision for the service and have made improvements a top priority.

“Staff at the organisation are skilled, impressive and highly motivated. They take the time to gain a thorough understanding of the children and young people that they work with, and are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for them.

“Everybody at East Riding YOS should be justly proud of their hard work and commitment. They deserve to be congratulated for this wonderful achievement.”

The YOS works with 10 to 18-year-olds who have either received a court sentence or who are being dealt with outside the court system. Inspectors have praised the quality of the service’s work with both groups.

Staff build fruitful relationships with children, young people, parents and carers, and partner services. Inspectors noted: “It is evident that children and young people are listened to and their goals and aspirations are taken seriously and acted upon.” This view was backed up by one young person who received a court sentence. He said staff “always treat me with respect. [They] help me to look forward to my future. Their guidance is invaluable”.

Inspectors found the YOS struck a good balance between preventing offending behaviour and its statutory work in delivering court and out-of-court orders. The YOS has partnered with the police to develop an early intervention project. This sees officers working in the community with children, young people and families that have been identified as at risk of offending.

Restorative justice is a strong feature at the YOS. One example involved a young person who had committed robbery. Staff supported the young person to complete sessions about knife crime, and access help with mental health and substance issues, before making amends with the elderly victim.

Inspectors found the YOS’s handling of out-of-court cases was “exemplary” and included excellent work to incorporate the needs and wishes of victims. The panel that decides how to handle these cases includes representatives from a wide range of local services and a volunteer from the local community. This ensures all relevant information about the child or young person is considered before a decision is made.

Dame Glenys said: “East Riding YOS has a very positive attitude towards learning and development. Leaders and staff have been proactive in learning from research and evidence, and the Inspectorate’s thematic reports on youth offending matters. They have also visited other youth offending services to find out more about what works for them.

“I hope other youth offending teams will now look and learn from the good practice in this report.”

ENDS

Notes to editor
1. The report is available at www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation on 16 May 2019 00.01.
2. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services across England and Wales. The Inspectorate rates individual aspects and the overall performance of services using a four-point scale: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate.
3. Youth Offending Teams, which deliver youth offending services, supervise 10-18-year olds who have been sentenced by a court, or who have come to the attention of the police because of their offending behaviour but have not been charged and instead are dealt with out of court.
4. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in March 2019.
5. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications Catherine Chan on 07889 405930 or media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)