Youth Offending Service - Update
To receive a verbal update from the Deputy Director of Children’s Services.
Minutes:
Penny Kay, Head of Cheshire East Youth Offending Service, attended to provide a verbal update on the Youth Offending Service (YOS). Penny Kay reported that from 1 October 2012, Cheshire East had established its own YOS after formerly being part of a shared service with Cheshire West and Chester. The Cheshire East YOS had recently received a visit from John Drew, the Chairman of the Youth Justice Board. Following this visit, John Drew had written to compliment the Council’s YOS arrangements, noting the considerable improvements that had been made.
Penny Kay described how this had reflected the work and effort that gone into reducing the number of young offenders and re-offending rates since Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). This success was attributed to the innovative preventative and multi-agency practice that had been developed. Penny Kay noted that these improvements had also been made in the context of reducing the YOS staff by a third since LGR.
It was queried whether the YOS did any work with those young people classified as being ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)’. Penny Kay reported that NEET was a key risk factor and therefore the YOS had a worker based in the Virtual School which had proved to be a helpful arrangement.
It was questioned whether the Council compares its Youth Offending performance with other authorities. Penny Kay confirmed that Cheshire East YOS was recognised as being in the top two performing authorities in the North West.
A number of comments were made about investing in community assets and activities in order to help prevent youth offending. Tony Crane explained that this was difficult in the current funding environment but that the Council was working closely with community groups to deliver activities. It was asserted that there would be a strong ‘invest to save’ basis for providing a small budget to support youth activities in communities and community centres.
RESOLVED –
a) That the update be noted
b) That it be recommended that a small budget be made available to support youth activities in communities and community centres in line with a preventative and ‘invest to save’ agenda.