HM Inspectorate of Probation has praised ‘impressive’ youth justice service (YJS) inspection results on the publication of its Youth Annual Report 2023, and has highlighted the ‘stark contrast’ to Inspectorate findings across adult probation services.

Inspections have consistently revealed high-quality work across the service, with 75 per cent of YJSs being rated as either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ and, overall, the report finds a stable workforce, manageable workloads, sufficient training, and good quality staff supervision, with all these factors are having a positive impact on the quality of work seen.

Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, said: “It is clear what is key for the successful delivery of YJSs is not just localisation itself – it is also important that the right structures and partnerships are in place, with stability in the service and a high standard of interventions and delivery.

“We have seen the impact high-quality work in this area can have but, to maintain this, it is essential YJSs continue to receive adequate funding. We have, unfortunately, seen some cuts to funding and partnership services, and I call for this to be urgently reviewed. The human and financial costs of children unnecessarily entering the justice system outweigh the investment needed to maintain good delivery.”

Despite this positive overview, the report also highlights several areas of concern, including the issue raised in last year’s annual report around the statutory requirement for probation secondees to YJSs. High numbers of vacancies in this area have resulted in significant implications, including a negative impact on effective transitions from youth to adult services, effective information sharing, and the sharing of knowledge and expertise in key areas such as multi-agency public protection arrangements and child protection.

The report also highlights continuing gaps in relation to addressing disproportionality, with a lack of cohesive strategies and approaches in addressing some children’s disproportionate representation within the youth justice system – specifically, children in care and children from Black and minority ethnic groups, as well as children with speech, language or communication needs. Addressing this remains a key area which needs to be a focus for national policy and local strategic planning.

Mr Jones added: “I am pleased to be able to report on the positive practice and achievements that we have seen in YJSs. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of practitioners across the sector and thank them for their effort and commitment. I hope that we will continue to see good results through to the end of our current programme and into our future inspections.”

The Inspectorate will be launching its new programme of YJS inspection at the start of 2025. This follows extensive development work, including consultation events with key external stakeholders, and children themselves, across the youth justice sector and beyond.

The new programme will focus on driving improvement in the quality of critical services for victims through a new youth inspection standard, which will involve assessing delivery and organisational arrangements to support high-quality, individualised and responsive work to drive positive outcomes and safety for victims.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. 20 services were inspected between October 2022 and October 2023. 18 single inspections involved inspectors from HM Inspectorate of Probation only. Two joint inspections were led by HM Inspectorate of Probation along with colleagues from health, police, education and social care inspectorates.
2. The inspected services:

• St Helens – Good
• Coventry – Outstanding
• West Berkshire – Outstanding
• Birmingham – Requires improvement
• Knowsley – Good
• Lincolnshire – Outstanding
• Hackney (Joint) – Good
• Gateshead – Good
• Greenwich – Good
• Northumberland – Good
• Barnsley – Good
• North Lincolnshire – Good
• Isle of Wight – Requires improvement
• Ealing – Requires improvement
• Northamptonshire – Good
• Southwark – Good
• Cambridgeshire – Good
• Solihull – Requires improvement
• Staffordshire – Requires improvement
• Nottinghamshire (Joint) – Good

3. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 05 September 2024 at 00.01.
4. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
5. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications media@hmiprobation.gov.uk. (E-mail address)