Cwm Taf Youth Justice Service (YJS) has received an overall rating of ‘Good’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “Practitioners at Cwm Taf YJS know their children well and it was pleasing to see staff take the time to understand their lived experiences and incorporate their individual needs into their practice.”

Inspectors found desistance planning for children subject to court disposals to be impressive, with planning to keep others safe focussed on the wishes, needs, and safety of the victim. Inspectors found examples of holistic planning between the YJS and police, resulting in support for the victim that was tailored to the individual’s circumstance. For children subject to out-of-court disposals however, assessing and planning was found to be inconsistent, with too few cases focussing on keeping children and other people safe.

The report found whilst child-first principles were an embedded part of practice at Cwm Taf YJS, strategic partnership arrangements and the management board are not driving the urgent improvements required to keep children safe from exploitation. The absence of an exploitation and extra-familial harm framework was contributing to a lack of shared understanding regarding roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe from harm. The links between exploitation and absences from education also needed to be fully understood by the partnership, with an emphasis on YJS children not in mainstream education or full-time alternative provisions. Learning from the increase in remands, short-term custodial sentences, and the use of criminal behaviour orders needed to be formalised and applied to ensure effective work is delivered with children.

Mr Jones added: “The management board at Cwm Taf YJS was reflective and eager to develop its governance responsibilities. We hope this report and the recommendations made will support the staff and management board in making the necessary improvements to the delivery of its services for children.”

The report makes nine recommendations, three to Cwm Taf YJS and six to Cwm Taf Management Board. These recommendations include that the management board ensures that strategic partners develop an exploitation framework and collective understanding of extra-familial harm.   

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. This service works with children aged 10 to 17. 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 19 August 2024 at 00.01.
5. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
6. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in April 2024.
7. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)