Agenda item

Barbara Merrygold, Head of Early Years and Andy Dukes Youth Justice Team Manager 

Considered – A annual performance update on the Youth Justice Service from the Head of Early Help providing an overview of the Services’ overarching vision and key objective to reduce the number of children getting into trouble and where ever possible to divert them to positive support.

Barbara Merrygold- Head of Early Help and Andy Dukes – Youth Justice Team Manager, were both in attendance at the meeting to answer members questions arising from the report, as follows:

Members welcomed the good news report.  The terminology in the report was queried and it was confirmed that ‘Binary reoffending’ referred to the measuring of proven reoffences over a one-year follow-up period following an initial offence.

Councillor Richard Foster questioned whether the reduction in custodial sentencing was due to offenders moving on to being classified as adults or as a result of the prevention and diversionary activities being delivered.  In response it was confirmed that the more prolific young offenders were likely to have journeyed through to probationary services.  Transitional arrangements were in place for those young offenders. 

Councillor Andrew Williams expressed concern about the levels of multi-generational social exclusion and asked what work was being done to break the cycle of multiple deprivation that led young people into anti-social behaviour and other crimes.  In response it was confirmed that the Early Help Service took a whole family approach ,not just working with young people in jeopardy of offending/re-offending but also with parents.

It was noted:

·          The number of young people returning to custody had markedly dropped across the County - the work of a Multi-Agency Resettlement Panel was highlighted as being a key factor in ensuring the right support was in place for young offenders on release in order to help steer them away from re-offending;

·          The education offer in Wetherby Youth Offenders Institution had been improved in recent years;

·          In the last year only one young person had returned to a custodial setting;

·          Vulnerable young offenders in North Yorkshire were often placed in secured children’s homes or secured training centres rather than in Wetherby Youth Offenders Institute, which enabled them to receive a higher standard of education and support;

·          The disparity between boys and girls committing violent offences (63% girls and 39% boys) – it was confirmed that use of social media was often a catalyst for girls behaving in that way.  The position in North Yorkshire reflected the national picture; 

·          Prevention and diversion work was underway, working closely with schools on pupil referrals, with a number of ongoing intervention programmes;

·          A Participation Group was being set up to look at the issues affecting girls living in the Eastfield area – Councillor Tony Randerson expressed an interest in contributing to the work of that group.

·          The Youth Justice multi-agency team sat within NYCC’s Early Help Service and as a result of significant investment in the Early Help Service in recent years the workforce had been retained and remained stable.

The Chair thanked the officers for attending, and it was

Resolved – That the report be noted.