Council and democracy

Jason Read the Team Leader (Operations & Performance) of the Youth Offending Service introduced the report to members and highlighted the following points:

·         Thurrock Youth Offending Service (YOS) made considerable efficiency savings this year with further savings to be made next year.

·         Thurrock was the smallest YOS in the country and generally achieved a lower re-offending rate than the national, regional and statistical family averages.

·         YOS had successfully moved into Corringham’s old police station. Health & Safety issues had arisen. A full health and safety inspection was in place. Essex Police agreed an extension until November 2016.

·         One emerging issue locally was the migration of young people and their families, primarily from the London Boroughs.

·         Knife crime accounted for less than 1% of offences committed in 2013/2014. However this year there was a small increase and what appears to be a number of firearms offences although these relate to a single incident with one offender.

·         Last financial year Thurrock YOS worked with 68 young people as part of our prevention service, with 51 being subject to TRIAGE and 17 interventions via Youth Inclusion and Support Programmes.

Reverend Barlow showed a concern as to whether pressures on the service had risen due to a reduction of staff. The Youth Offending Service Team Leader assured Members that the dedication of the staff overcame the savings and results were positive, to raise their performance they would continue to stride and work with external companies to improve post 16 young people’s opportunities.

Councillor Redsell thanked YOS for their excellent service and queried why young people re-offend. The Youth Offending Service Team Leader explained that by carrying out background checks of individuals they can indicate if young people were going to reoffend. It was explained that YOS support the young people to make sure that they are there to facilitate the change when they stop offending.

Discussions took place regarding the YOS Office; Members were informed that the layout of the building was good although there were issues regarding leaks in the roof and the presence of asbestos. The Director of Children’s Social Care explained that the Council would invest into the building, but due to the short lease it would not be possible. The Youth Offending Service Team Leader raised a point that the location would be better suited if situated in Grays as this would enable better access via public transport when. It was explained that there was a concern when the YOS moved to Corringham that Offenders would not turn up to their appointments due to a train station not being near, although this was not the case.

Councillor Pothecary asked for clarification on the HMI report and stated that the record for the reoffending rate was 39.6% and that the YOS report stated that it was 27%. It was clarified that the HMI used statistics from national records which were 3 years old. A Member questioned where the youth offending service received their referrals from, the Youth Offending Service Team Leader explained that thecore work is referred by the Courts and other youth offending services, which are young people who have been convicted and made subject to either community & custodial sentences or are remanded in custody pending a Court outcome. It was explained that some young people were referred by the police or multi Agency action groups which were young people on prevention programmes. Once a young person was referred; YOS would work as a triage and would closely work with the young person for 4-6 weeks.

The Chair questioned whether there was a relation between unemployment and reoffending. The Committee was informed that the number of young offenders engaged in education, employment or training had risen above 55%. It was explained that in previous years there has been a relationship between unemployment and reoffending, although this was no longer the case as the service was aware of many offenders currently in education. It was questioned how the service could stop reoffending, Youth Offending Service Team Leader explained that the service could not stop the youths reoffending as it was down to the individuals own life choices, but by working closely with offenders YOS make sure they are supportive to facilitate the change when they do decide to stop offending.

Resolved:

1.    To note the Overview & Scrutiny Committee comment on the function and performance of the YOS and review plans to address the two areas of improvement as set out in the HMIP, Short Quality Screening Report dated 20th May 2015:

2.    To note that Intervention planning should genuinely involve children and young people and their parents/carers.  The plans should be constructed in such a way that they are effective tools to drive successful interventions.

3.    Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements need to be fully understood by all staff and managers.

4.    Chair and Director Children’s Services to write to the Police and crime commissioner to extend the lease for a longer term on the old Corringham Police Station.