Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services – presented by the Head of Early Help, Inclusion and Vulnerable Children and the County Durham Youth Justice Service Manager, Children and Young People’s Services.

The Chair welcomed the Head of Early Help, Inclusion and

Vulnerable Children, Martyn Stenton and the County Durham Youth Justice Service (CDYJS) Manager, Dave Summers who were in attendance to provide the Committee with an update in respect of the County Durham Youth Justice Service, Annual Performance Report 2019/20 and Service Improvement Plan 2020/21 (for copy see file of minutes).

The CDYJS Manager noted the agenda pack contained a covering report and the Annual Performance Report and explained that in normal circumstances a Youth Justice Plan was a statutory requirement, and a requirement in terms of a Youth Justice Board grant, however, as a consequence of COVID-19 Youth Offending Teams were instead only required to submit a brief improvement plan and recovery plan, to allow them to focus on the COVID-19 response.  He explained that the CDYJS Management Board had wished to maintain appropriate oversight and accordingly an Annual Report was still produced.  He added that in addition there was a desire to maintain the strategic direction and therefore alongside the Annual Report a Service Improvement Plan was produced.  It was noted that while in 2019 a two year Service Improvement Plan 2019-21 had been produced, normally a refresh would be undertaken after one year.  Members noted that a refresh had been undertaken, however, as the Youth Justice Plan had not been a statutory requirement, it had not been considered by Council and was at Overview and Scrutiny for information.

The CDYJS Manager explained in terms of performance for 2019-20 there had been a significant decrease in the number of first-time entrants (FTEs) to the criminal justice system, very low use of custody in County Durham, however, there had been an increase in reoffending rate, however, concerns had been raised with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as regards the accuracy of those figures.  Members noted the Service Improvement Plan included information as regards the service response to COVID-19.

The Committee noted FTEs to the criminal justice system had fallen to by 14.6 percent year-on-year to 213, the national figure being 219 and the regional average being 299.  Members were asked to recall the figures in the thousands a few years ago.  In reference to reoffending, MoJ statistics showed a rate of 51.9 percent for County Durham, against a national rate of 38.4 percent and a regional rate of 41.8 percent.  The accuracy of the statistics was queried, given lack of collection due to COVID-19 and revised figures gave a rate for County Durham of 39.2 percent, in line with national figures and ahead of the regional rate.  The CDYJS Manager explained that the use of custody was the lowest in the North East and the use of remand bed-nights had reduced, with a 56.6 percent reduction year-on-year, from 11 to four, also representing a reduced cost to the Local Authority.

Councillors learned of the work of the service in terms of working with victims and young victims, engaging with 100 victims through restorative approaches and 57 young victims through “With Youth in Mind”.  The CDYJS Manager noted 1,500 hours of unpaid work had been undertaken by young offenders and items such as Christmas wreaths had been produced, with £1,000 being donated to the Great North Air Ambulance and the North East Autism Society, those charities being chosen by the young people themselves.

Members were informed of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions in terms of delivering services, wit the changes to how this was achieved. 

The CDYJS Manager noted no backlogs with all young people having received some form of visit, with high-risk young people having been identified and actual visits having been maintained, with lower risk young people being engaged through video and phone calls

In respect of the Service Improvement Plan, there had been continued improvements year-on-year and interviews had continued, albeit delivered remotely, impact assessments carried out and intervention plans produced.  The CDYJS Manager noted data showed the work had been successful and that targeting the most prolific and serious reoffending cohort, receiving an enhanced level of service was making the greatest difference for communities.  He noted that the service was listening to young people as regards its services with surveys for staff, young people cares and parents with the majority of feedback being very positive.  Members noted further development of the work with victims, ensuring volunteering was central, the inclusion of mentoring as a means of developing social responsibility.  The CDYJS Manager concluded by noting the need for the top quality frontline staff to have top level support and noted the management in place, databases and resources, and the support staff all in place in that regard.

The Chair thanked the CDYJS Manager and noted change in the reoffending rate from 51.9 percent to 39.2 percent and asked if the new rate had been shared with the PCVC for example to help inform their work.  The CDYJS Manager noted the information was “hot off the press” and once signed off by he MoJ and Youth Justice Board the information and statistics would be shared.  He noted that the service had always felt the rate had been in the 39 percent area and would work with the Police, PCVC and other agencies to continue to try and reduce the rate further.  The Chair asked if the national and regional rates had saw similar changes to statistics, the CDYJS Manager noted the national rate and regional rates had increased, with the rate for County Durham having saw the significant decrease as described, with County Durham being one of the top performers. 

The Head of Early Help, Inclusion and Vulnerable Children added that he had been very pleased with the work and performance of the CDYJS and therefore the initial figure in terms of reoffending was queried with the MoJ, though the figures tracked reoffending around two years ago and was somewhat out of date.  He added that while the updated figures were pleasing and more in line with where the service believed it was, figures would be tracked quarter-on-quarter to ensure the figures remained at the lower numbers.  He added that the methodology in terms of calculating figures was very complex, with one high quarter continuing to influence figures where others were tracking lower.  The Head of Early Help, Inclusion and

Vulnerable Children added he could share the Government source for the information.  The Chair noted that would be useful and thanked the Officers, noting he as Chair and the Committee were reassured by the report in terms of the reoffending rate and work of the service.

Resolved:  

(i)      That the content of the report be noted.

(ii)      That the County Durham Youth Justice Service Annual Performance Report 2019/20 and Service Improvement Plan for the period 2020/21 be noted.