Youth Justice Service in Rotherham branded as 'requiring improvement'

A justice service branded as requiring improvement still has a “sense of optimism”, inspectors have concluded.

Rotherham Youth Justice Service was visited by a team from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation to look at its work with children and crime victims.

Despite being rated as “outstanding” for its work with victims, Rotherham Youth Justice Service was judged “inadequate” for assessing children and “requires improvement” for planning and delivery with children, giving an overall “requires improvement” grading.

The Inspectorate’s report makes seven recommendations.

Four recommendations are for Rotherham Youth Justice Service and include improving assessing, planning, and delivery of casework to ensure individualised, consistent and high-quality activity to keep children and communities safe.

Three recommendations are for the Rotherham Youth Justice Partnership Board, including to continue to support the review of the Rotherham Youth Justice Service to ensure it is appropriately structured, resourced and supported.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “Practitioners were skilled and committed to building relationships and identifying the strengths and goals of the children. However, we found inconsistencies in the practice and oversight of casework to promote the safety of the child and the community.

“We recognise that this inspection took place during a period of significant change for the service. Despite this, there was a sense of optimism that the proposed changes would create opportunities to strengthen services for children and victims.

“I wish the team every success for the future.”