The latest inspection report of youth offending probation work in Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly has been published – with mixed results.
The HM Inspectorate of Probation report found that safeguarding work by the local youth probation team was carried out well enough 56% of the time.
Alan MacDonald, Assistant Chief Inspector, said: “This Core Case Inspection of youth offending work in Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly took place as part of the Inspection of Youth Offending programme. We have examined a representative sample of youth offending cases from the area, and have judged how often the Public Protection and the Safeguarding aspects of the work were done to a sufficiently high level of quality.
“Over the area as a whole, we judged that the Safeguarding aspects of the work were done well enough 56% of the time. With the Public Protection aspects, work to keep to a minimum each individual’s Risk of Harm to others was done well enough 54% of the time, and the work to make each individual less likely to re-offend was done well enough 67% of the time.”
Staff members of the service received praise in the report for their efforts.
Mr MacDonald added: “We found a committed staff team, who demonstrated a range of skills and were able to engage children and young people and their families. The case managers had been well supported by partner agencies, including substance misuse workers, parenting support workers and employment, training and education workers.
“Work is needed to improve the quality and timeliness of assessments of Risk of Harm and vulnerability, and the production of detailed plans to manage issues that have been identified.
“Quality assurance methods and the risk management panel had not ensured work had been planned in a consistent way according to the needs of the child or young person. Overall, we consider this a mixed set of findings.”