Contact: Philip Sutton, Head of Youth Offending Services. Tel 01962 876100

E-mail: [email protected]

1. Background

1.1 In Spring 2002, the Chief Officers Group commissioned a full independent audit of the operation of the Wessex Youth Offending Team, which has been running as a cross-authority, multi-disciplinary partnership since October 1998. The partnership agreement was due to end in March 2003, and the purpose of the review was to assist Chief Officers to make an informed decision about future arrangements.

1.2 Following a process of competitive tendering, Quality Resource Management (Q.R.M.) were invited to undertake the review, supported by a steering group of senior managers from the Yot's partner agencies. QRM undertook consultation meetings with chief officers, with managers and staff, with victims, young offenders, and with their parents. Members will recall a presentation from Mr Ian Diamant, Chief Executive of QRM, on 19^th June 2002, when he explained the scope of the review.

1.3 The work was undertaken using the principles of `Best Value' reviews. The review also evaluated the performance of the Youth Offending Team using the "Excellence Model" of the European Framework for Quality Management (EFQM). A number of Youth Offending Teams in the South East agreed to participate in this part of the review, in order to provide comparisons with the performance of Wessex Yot.

1.4 Additionally, Chief Officers commissioned an independent report from Mr David Basson in order to satisfy themselves that the review was fully impartial and comprehensive.

2. Findings of the Review

2.1 The findings of the review were reported to the Chief Officers Group in September 2002. The full report is a lengthy document containing over fifty specific recommendations. Attached to this report (App. A) is a summary of these recommendations, together with a proposed action plan for implementing the necessary changes. The action plan has not yet been formally approved by the Yot Management Board.

2.2 The main thrust of the report could be summarised as follows:

_ In comparison with other Yots, Wessex Yot is providing services which are of average quality. It is doing this with a below-average budget, and could therefore be said to be providing value for money.

_ Comparatively little is spent on the management of the Yot - approximately 6% of the total budget. Organisations of similar size would expect to spend over 10% on management.

_ The introduction of a `case management' system into the Yot could provide better quality services and ensure the skills of staff were fully utilised. Case management would require only a proportion of staff to be case holders, with others undertaking specialist roles.

2.3 The cost of the services of QRM was £42,593.

2.4 Mr Basson provided a report indicating that he was content with the independence of the review process.

3. Future Actions

3.1 The presentation of the main findings of the report to the Chief Officers Group was sufficient for them to decide that the Wessex Youth Offending Team should continue as a cross-authority partnership. Chief Officers also agreed that additional senior managers should be appointed, subject to funding being available. It requested that the Management Board of the Youth Offending should develop and implement an action plan in relation to those aspects of the Review which concerned the operational management of the Yot. At the same meeting, Chief Officers nominated Mr Peter Robertson, Chief Executive of Hampshire County Council to chair the Yot Management Board, following the departure of Mr Charles Waddicor, formerly Director of Social Services and Housing on the Isle of Wight.

3.2 Members of the Committee may wish to provide some additional oversight of the action plan as it is put into effect over the next twelve to eighteen months.

4. Recommendation

It is recommended that the Committee:

_ note this report and action plan relating to the implementation of the recommendations of the Operational and Value for Money Review of the Wessex Youth Offending Team, and

_ request a further report within the next twelve months.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents:

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. The list schedules:

i. Published works.

ii. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

Wessex Youth Offending Team : Management and Operational Review. Quality Resource Management, 2002

P. Sutton

13/01/2003

I:/.../cyjc/cyjc Op & VFM Review 03