Youth justice service 'requires improvement'

A youth justice service needs to improve how it supports victims and their safety, a watchdog has ruled.

The Inspectorate of Probation rated Gloucestershire Youth Justice Service (YJS) as requires improvement due to concerns about the way staff identify a child's previous harm-related behaviours.

Martin Jones, the chief inspector, said they found "many elements of strong practice", but an inconsistent approach to identifying a child's harm-related behaviours had resulted in undeveloped analysis of what was needed to keep children and communities safe.

Gloucestershire County Council, which runs YJS, said it accepted the findings and was already working on an improvement plan.

The service works with young offenders aged 10–17 and also supports victims of crime.

Jones added: "Work with victims needed to be strengthened, with the YJS having a limited understanding of the demographics of victims and no systematic victim feedback loops in place to inform and improve service improvement."

The inspector also recommended that the service works with Gloucestershire Constabulary and Restorative Gloucestershire to find out why victims do not engage with the youth service after giving consent.

He added: "I am confident Gloucestershire YJS has what it takes to thrive, and I wish them every success for the future."

Ben Evans, the council's cabinet member for children's safeguarding and care, said the council recognised the findings and is encouraged that many of the improvements highlighted are already "well under way".

"We accept the areas which have been identified as needing greater consistency and we will continue to drive these improvements forward at pace," Evans added.

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