Praise for Youth Offending Service
Warwickshire’s Youth Offending Service has been rated as ‘excellent’ following an assessment by the Youth Justice Board.
The service was marked for its work and plans for the future using a number of categories including the way it is governed, use of resources and value for money, and involvement of the community – which all received particular recognition.
The Youth Justice Board was also impressed with the ‘restorative justice approach to interventions’, which involves young people undertaking work to make up for crimes they have committed.
The ‘Parents Matter’ scheme – which supports parents of young people, aged between 10 and 17, through informal groups and more structured groups like handling teenage behaviour – echoed this success, according to the report.
In total, Warwickshire’s Youth Offending Service scored 18 points out of a possible 20 in the assessment.
Diane Johnson, head of the Youth Offending Service, said: “This is a fantastic result highlighting the important work that our staff and our partners undertake every day.
“It is particularly pleasing to see our restorative justice work and support given to parents getting the recognition deserved.”
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families, said: “This is a great achievement by the Youth Offending Service and shows their commitment to diverting young people away from a life of crime, as well as helping to make communities even safer.“
For more information about the Youth Offending Service, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/yot.