Neath Port Talbot Youth Justice Service (YJS) has received an overall rating of ‘Good’ following an inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “It takes considerable effort to make such significant progress over the past few years, especially through the pandemic, but Neath Port Talbot YJS has achieved it. In real terms this means their efforts to protect the local community, by reducing the likelihood of a child returning to crime, and better the lives of children under their supervision are working.”

Inspectors commended Neath Port Talbot YJS for their professional response to an ‘Inadequate’ rating, when they were part of the former Western Bay Youth Justice Service: for having prioritised the service, got the resources needed and improved performance across the board. Since 2019, the service has achieved a balance of being able to support children under their supervision as well as their own staff. As a result, Neath Port Talbot received a rating of ‘Outstanding’ specifically for their leadership.

The inspection report also notes that the YJS worked closely with education and children’s services, during Covid-19, to make sure children and their families were supported. They also have a consultant social worker who is helping staff in discussing their cases and assisting with their training.

However, the inspection has made a number of recommendations to Neath Port Talbot YJS in order for them to continue to improve. These include better use of data in order to understand issues such as school exclusions and the diversity of children in their area, and to make sure that education, training and employment opportunities for over 16s are of a high quality. Improvements were also required in how the panel for out-of-court disposals operated to ensure that it was robust in its decision-making processes.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. Neath Port Talbot YJS work with children aged 10 to 17. The majority of children under their supervision are aged 15 to 17 (83%), male (76%) and white (97%). The YJS supervise children with complex needs and some in the care of the local authority.
2. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’, rating specific aspects of each service and giving an overall rating.
3. The inspection looked at standards of organisational delivery (leadership, staffing and facilities), their management of children serving court sentences (court disposals) and children serving cautions or community sentences (out-of-court disposals).
4. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 12 May 2022 00.01.
5. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services across England and Wales.
6. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in December 2021.
7. For media enquiries, please contact Corporate Communications Manager Diane Bramall 07929 790 564 or media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)