Tameside 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: “Our inspection has placed a spotlight on what can be achieved by a small youth justice service during challenging times and a changing social and economic climate. Tameside YJS has a focus on the needs of children but never take their eye off the importance of preventing further crime, for the benefit of the local community.”

Tameside YJS work with children aged 10 to 17. The majority of children under their supervision are aged 15 to 17 (88%), male (84%) and white (65%). The YJS supervise children with complex needs and some in the care of the local authority (Looked After Children).

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). We also inspected the quality of resettlement policy and provision for children leaving custody, which was separately rated as ‘Requires improvement’.

The service’s strengths lie in the implementation and delivery and reviewing of cases sentenced by the youth courts, and in assessment, planning and delivery of casework across cases dealt with out-of-court. They fully understand desistance(stopping the previous pattern of offending), and work to promote this was evident. However, improvements were required in the assessment and planning to manage the child’s risk of harm to others, alongside more consistent work with victims.

Inspectors found staff are experienced and motivated and this translated into a good quality of practice – children have access to a range of services, with many tailored to complex needs, and this is having a positive impact on desistance.

Mr Russell continued: “Tameside YJS have adapted to the many localised challenges presented by the impact of Covid-19 and have continued to provide good-quality services throughout. Their determination and efforts to remain in contact with children under their supervision, despite pandemic restrictions, is commendable.”

The inspection did highlight areas for improvement around leadership at Tameside YJS. The service has been negatively affected by a high turnover of senior leaders within the wider statutory YJS partnership agencies, which has impacted the continuity and cohesiveness of the management board.

Mr Russell concluded: “Our hope for Tameside YJS is that they can build on their current achievements and, with more consistent leadership, improve further. They are aware of the areas to be addressed and are not complacent about their successes – a promising attitude which is encouraging and bodes well for the future.”

This inspection made seven recommendations, which include: making improvements to board membership, and to work with other criminal justice partners to implement plans and

actions to reduce the over-representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic children and Looked After Children in the YJS caseload.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. The report is available at justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation on 07 December 2021 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. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in September 2021.
5. For media enquiries, please contact Corporate Communications Manager Diane Bramall 07929 790 564 or media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)