Contact: P. Sutton, Head of Youth Offending Services, Tel No 01962 876100

[email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 This report aims to bring the Committee up to date with the implementation of the Effective Practice monitoring and inspection regime for Youth Offending Teams. Members were provided with a report setting out the background to Effective Practice for their meeting on 26 March 2003. The item had to be deferred. A copy of that report is appended to this report (Appendix I) for ease of reference.

2. Self Assessments

2.1 The first three "self-assessments" have now been undertaken. This involved an assessment of eighty case files drawn from across all of the operational units within Wessex Youth Offending Team. The self-assessments were submitted electronically to the Youth Justice Board using a prescribed format. A printout of the summary of the self-assessments is attached, together with the action plan, which aims to ensure performance is improved before the next self assessment in April 2004.

2.2 The submission in relation to final warnings (Appendix II ) shows an overall rating of 1, meaning that there is "evidence of effective practice being followed, but in a minority of cases". The following abbreviations are used in this document.

FW = Final Warning

PM3 = National Performance Measure 3, namely that 80% of Final Warnings should be accompanied by an intervention programme.

Viewpoint = An interactive computer programme which aims to guide young people through questionnaires.

2.3 The submission in relation to Assessment Planning, Intervention and Supervision (Appendix III ) shows an overall rating of 2, meaning that there is "evidence of effective practice being followed in the majority of cases, but it is not system wide". The following abbreviations are used in this document.

PSR = Pre-sentence report prepared for courts to assist them with sentencing decisions.

CAMHS = Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

2.4 The submission in relation to Education, Training and Employment (Appendix IV) shows an overall rating of 1. The following abbreviations are used in this document

PM11 = National Performance Measure 11, namely that 90% of young offenders should be in full time education, training or employment.

V.P.P. = Portsmouth's Vulnerable Pupils Panel.

ISSP = The Youth Justice Board's Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (currently operating in Portsmouth and SE Hants).

F.E = Further Education.

L.S.C. = Learning and Skills Council.

Connexions = A personal adviser working with the Connexions

P.A. Service.

Y.O.I. = Young Offender Institution.

L.A.S.U. = Local Authority Secure Unit, (now more often referred to as `Local Authority Secure Children's Home).

L.E.A. = Local Education Authority.

3. Validation Process

3.1 Having been submitted to the Youth Justice Board, the three self-assessments now await validation by the Board's Regional Manager, who visits the Wessex Youth Offending Team on 23/24^th June. A verbal report of this visit will be provided.

4. Future Work

4.1 The self-assessment of the Youth Offending Team's work using a set of well defined, evidence based criteria was a worthwhile exercise. It helped to highlight for practitioners and for managers some areas of good practice, and the need to ensure greater consistency.

4.2 In April 2004, the three action plans will be reviewed and three new areas of the Youth Offending Team's work will be assessed for the first time.

5. Recommendations

i. Note the report into Effective Practice in the Youth Justice System.

ii. Receive a progress report on the implementation of action plans prior to their submission to the Youth Justice Board in Spring 2004.

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.

NB. The list schedules:

(i) Published works.

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

(i) Key Elements of Effective Practice, Edition 1, Youth Justice Board, 2003.