Issue - meetings

To present the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21. There is a statutory requirement to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the local provision of youth justice services. This report summarises the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21, with a copy of the Plan appended. The Youth Justice Plan needs to be approved by the full Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were requested to endorse the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21, and in relation to this were advised that there was a statutory requirement to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the provision of youth justice services. In relation to this the Portfolio Holder advised that the report had on this occasion been delayed due to priorities relating to COVID, and that as a result a number of the actions to support the plan were already underway.

RECOMMENDED that the Youth Justice Plan be forwarded to Full Council for approval.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Families

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were requested to endorse the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21, and in relation to this were advised that there was a statutory requirement to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the provision of youth justice services. In relation to this the Portfolio Holder advised that the report had on this occasion been delayed due to priorities relating to COVID, and that as a result a number of the actions to support the plan were already underway.

RECOMMENDED that the Youth Justice Plan be forwarded to Full Council for approval.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Families

To present the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21. There is a statutory requirement to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the local provision of youth justice services. This report summarises the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21, with a copy of the Plan appended. The Youth Justice Plan needs to be approved by the full Council.

The Manager of the Dorset Combined Youth Offending Services and Service Director for Children and Young People’s Social Care presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix A to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The purpose of the report was to present the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21. There was a statutory requirement to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which provides specified information about the local provision of youth justice services. The report summarised the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21, a copy of the Plan was appended. The Youth Justice Plan needs to be approved by Cabinet and full Council.

The Committee discussed the report and comments were made including:

• The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Service advised that she would take any recommendations from the Committee on to Cabinet and Council and in response to a query regarding resettlement planning following custodial sentences, the Committee was advised that this was a very problematic area due to behaviours and challenges with individuals but that tighter and more effective planning between the Youth Offending Service (YOS) and Social Care should help to mitigate those issues
• In response to a concern regarding the figures relating to first time entrants to the system, the Committee was assured that rates locally had reduced and that a coordinated approach was being implemented to help reduce it further.  The Corporate Director advised that the whole partnership was committed in working together to make an impact in this area and that the proposed model was currently being reviewed through two children who did receive custodial sentences to ensure lessons were learnt.  A Member requested an update on the progress of this in 6 months.
• The Committee was advised that the YOS response was not being impeded by a reduction in funding and that the service had successfully managed a reduction in funding by finding more efficient and effective ways of working.
• In response to a query regarding transitioning from YOS to the National Probation Service (NPS), the YOS Manager advised that it had a seconded Probation Officer as part of its team and consideration was always given as to when it would be appropriate to hand supervision over to the NPS once a young person turned 18, bearing in mind the services differing aims and focuses. Work was also being undertaken regarding young adults who come into the NPS as an adult, but who had been previously known to YOS and how that young person is dealt with
• In response to a query regarding data relating to the mental health of the users, it was advised that a number of users fell short of receiving an official mental health diagnosis being affected by issues such as early trauma and attachment issues in early years and a significant number of users had cumulative issues which would then build in to a larger problem.  The YOS followed the Youth Justice Boards recommendations to use enhanced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77