An organisation that works with troubled children and young people in North West London is performing well in challenging circumstances, according to inspectors.

HM Inspectorate of Probation conducted a routine inspection of Brent Youth Offending Service (YOS) and looked at 12 aspects of the service’s work. Inspectors awarded an overall ‘Good’ rating – the second-highest mark.

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “There are relatively high levels of serious youth crime, knife crime and involvement in county lines drug-dealing across the borough.

“Staff at Brent YOS are working hard to support 10 to 18-year-olds who have offended or who are at risk of offending. They also provide vital support to their parents and siblings too. We have concluded the YOS is doing a good job in a tough environment.”

Inspectors found skilled and committed staff worked hard to build positive working relationships with children and young people.

Staff are particularly strong at supporting individuals to stop committing offences. They work well with other agencies such as social care and the police to share information and identify opportunities to support children and their families.

The inspection found staff tailor support to build on the child or young person’s strengths. In one example, staff worked with a young man to develop his interest in fitness – this helped him to channel his time and energy in a positive way and avoid potential fights.

More than half of the children and young people known to the YOS pose a high risk of serious harm – one of the highest proportions that inspectors have seen over the past 18 months.

Mr Russell said: “Many of these children and young people are vulnerable and have multiple needs. Staff work to manage the risks to the individual’s safety and wellbeing, as well as the potential risk they could pose to others.

“We were pleased to find safety is taken seriously. For example, staff work with all children and young people to identify places in the borough where they feel safe to meet. In some cases, staff conduct home visits so they can work with children on a one-to-one basis.

“While this approach is laudable, we recommend the YOS secures more appropriate facilities so staff spend less time travelling and trying to find alternative meeting rooms.”

Inspectors also expressed some concerns about the YOS’s handling of less serious offences.

Mr Russell said: “Children and young people who commit lower-level offences can be handled outside the court system. We found Brent YOS does not have sufficient capacity to administer and deal with community resolutions properly and recommend that the borough should review its resourcing of this area of work.”

“In Brent, we were also concerned that the decision-making process may unintentionally be drawing individuals into the criminal justice system when they have substantial welfare issues which could and should be dealt with elsewhere.

The Inspectorate has made four recommendations with the aim of improving Brent YOS’s work with children and young people.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editor

1. The report is available at justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation on 18 December 2019 00.01.
2. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services across England and Wales.
3. Youth Offending Services supervise 10 to 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 June 2019.
5. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications Catherine Chan on 07889 405930 or media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)