Birmingham Youth Offending Service (YOS) must improve the quality of its work “at pace”, according to inspectors.

HM Inspectorate of Probation conducted an inspection of Birmingham YOS during Spring and Summer. The Inspectorate looked at 12 aspects of the YOS’s work and gave an overall rating of ‘Requires improvement’.

Birmingham YOS is the largest youth offending service in England and Wales. The YOS is based in Birmingham Children’s Trust and has an annual budget of over £7 million. The service works with more than 370 children and employs more than 140 staff.

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “Birmingham YOS works with some of the most challenging but also vulnerable and damaged children in the city. The service has a profound impact on their life chances.

“We found just over half of the children known to the YOS were not in mainstream education and 11 per cent of under-16s were not receiving any education at all. This is simply not good enough – children must be supported to access education because it helps them to move away from crime and gives them the key to a better future.

“There is a lack of management oversight and scrutiny across the organisation. It was disappointing to find such inconsistent practice in a significant proportion of the inspected cases.”

The Inspectorate last visited Birmingham YOS in 2016. The inspection process changed two years later so a direct comparison is not available. However – on balance – inspectors concluded the quality of work has deteriorated.

Five aspects of the YOS’s work were rated ‘Inadequate’ – the lowest possible mark.

Mr Russell said: “Birmingham YOS works with children who have been sentenced by the courts. We looked at a sample involving these children and found the planning and reviews of these cases was ‘Inadequate’.

“The YOS also works with children who have come to the attention of the police because of offending behaviour but have not been charged. Three aspects of out-of-court work were inadequate and substantial improvement is required.

“The service must improve the overall quality of its work to keep children safe, ensure there is a sufficient focus on addressing children’s needs, and to protect the public.”

Over the past year, important posts in the YOS had been left unfilled because of funding constraints. The vacancies had a direct impact on the service’s ability to engage with victims of crime. Higher than average sickness levels also added pressure to the service.

Birmingham YOS had identified a disproportionate number of black boys were known to the service, but inspectors found not enough work had been done to understand the needs of this group in order to address them.

Inspectors recognised the service has some strengths. Staff are “motivated and committed to supporting the children they work with”. Inspectors also found examples of positive activity to help children to desist from offending.

Inspectors usually conduct on-site visits with face-to-face interviews and focus groups. The COVID-19 lockdown disrupted this fieldwork, so the Inspectorate gave an interim report to the YOS with early findings and completed the inspection in July using phone and online technology.

Birmingham YOS has used the interim report to create an improvement plan, invest in training and to seek external guidance. The local authority has resolved some financial issues which will now enable the YOS to fill key vacancies.

Mr Russell concluded: “This is critical time for Birmingham YOS. The service was just one point away from receiving an overall rating of ‘Inadequate’.

“We have made 12 recommendations to the YOS. They now need to focus on making these improvements at pace and with a high level of scrutiny.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. The report is available at justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation on 20 October 2020 00.01.
2. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services across England and Wales.
3. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’. The Inspectorate rates specific aspects of each service and also gives an overall rating.
4. In paragraph 7, we say a direct comparison with the previous inspection of Birmingham YOS is not available. This is because the Inspectorate introduced new inspection standards, ratings and methodology in 2018.
5. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications Catherine Chan on 07889 405930 or media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)