Bradford Youth Offending Team 'requires improvement' following visit from HM Inspectorate of Probation

Friday, 17 January 2020 10:28

A West Yorkshire organisation that works with troubled children and young people is performing poorly, according to inspectors.

HM Inspectorate of Probation led a routine inspection of Bradford Youth Offending Team. Inspectors – who were joined by colleagues from the police and health and social care inspectorates – looked at 12 aspects of the team’s work.

The Inspectorate has given Bradford Youth Offending Team a ‘Requires improvement’ rating – it’s second-lowest mark.

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “We had a number of serious concerns about this Youth Offending Team, with performance on eight of our twelve quality standards judged to be ‘Inadequate’ and the service only rescued from an overall ‘Inadequate’ rating by some better-quality work with out-of-court disposal cases.

“Bradford Youth Offending Team has been through a period of instability, particularly among its senior ranks. There has been an absence of strategic leadership, which has affected the team’s ability to work effectively with children and young people who have offended or who are at risk of offending.”

The inspectors informed the team of seven recommendations to improve safety, leadership, information sharing, and work with the police, before urging the team – who have appointed a new senior management team – to act on the recommendations.

Listener Club

Get more with the Listener Club!

Bhangra Nights

Get over the Weekday blues - Every Tuesday night is party night with the best Bhangra and Urban Asian Beats. The Bhangra Show every Tuesday between 8pm-11pm
Remix Saturdays

Every Saturday evening we turn to remixes of hit songs to get you in the Saturday night party mood! Every Saturday between 5pm - 8pm
The Golden Era

The golden era of Bollywood celebrated in this weekly show full of classics taking you back in time. Every Sunday between 5pm - 7pm
Alim OnAir

Have you a question about the religious, cultural or tradition aspect of Islam? Then join Hazrat Maulana Fazal Dad in the weekly show every Friday between 8-9pm.