Agenda item

Report from Councillor Smith Cabinet Member for Children and Young People attached.

Councillor Smith, Cabinet member for Children and Young People provided a brief overview of the reports. The update comprises two reports, one which details what happens tour young people when they enter the youth justice system and the other about how we do crime prevention for young people and these are the annual reports.

Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council provided an overview of the report which covers Rochdale and Bury.

The six priorities of focus are:

1.    Prevention

2.    Disproportionality and diversity

3.    Adolescent offer

4.    Voice of the child

5.    Induction and development of Board Members

6.    Quality assurance and implementation oversight

Members were invited to ask questions.

Councillor McBriar sought assurances regarding the number of children under investigation in Bury compared to national averages and how long on average do investigations take. In response Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council advised that Greater Manchester numbers are comparable but nationally our numbers are higher.  When Greater Manchester Police had their inspection the Head of the Police had an arrest approach so numbers went up significantly for people. The consequence of this is that more people were waiting to be interviewed and investigated and investigations take from two months to three years.

Councillor Rydeheard sought assurances regarding the scope of the Service Level Agreement review and when will see results. Members were informed that the Service Level Agreement should be completed by the end of the year.

Councillor Rydeheard asked if there is a way of knowing comparable authorities stance on data analysis capacity and when will the training support take place to increase this capacity. In response Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council advised that it is not an uncommon issue and Bury and Rochdale’s particular problem was highlighted in the year as a person was unable to attend work and therefore the plan was reviewed in April to move data analysists into the wider ICT service so they are now training staff.

Councillor Rydeheard sought assurances on the turn-around programme. Sandra Bruce, advised in bury we lead on the prevention element for Children and Young People. The Government sets numbers we should reach and in Bury in the 1^st quarter we are ahead of what was requested. However, whilst we have turned around young people we have no longevity yet to see if they do enter the youth justice system.

Councillor Berry sought assurance regarding no transfers of young people who are in detention in police custody. In response Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council advised across Greater Manchester we have two out of hours provisions:

·         Barton Moss, this bed should only be used when the young person is a risk to others and themselves and the person has to be at the unit for 10pm and under 16 provision. Sometimes children are arrested at night and they must remain in police custody until court the following morning.

·         Safe Pace Bed at Burnage, this can be accessed through the night but it is not a secure provision.

The Greater Manchester youth justice service does receive a monthly report and scrutinise the data and provisions used.

Councillor Berry advised that reoffending occurs at around 30%. The best countries for low reoffending rates are Scandinavian countries at around 20%; what would need to be done to reach the same rate and would it be cost effective. Rachel Meyrick responded by advising she doesn’t have the reoffending data this evening  but the way the system reports on data is around 12 months behind. However, early prevention and getting to young people at the earliest opportunities is the best way for reducing offending rates.

Daniel Lewis, Youth Representative sought assurance on how officers will ensure the voice of children and young people is heard. In response Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council advised the service has recruited a participation worker to speak to children and young people and those who or in or have been through the youth justice service. The role will also include establishing a parent and young people forum to ensure lived experience is fed into any new service delivery going forward. In addition there are joint decision making panels, out of court panels and scrutiny.

Councillor Farooq sought assurances that the services provided are culturally sensitive and cases are considered individually. In response Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council advised that the service is culturally sensitive and does second other members from different workplaces and services into the support for children and young people Councillor Farooq asked if there is an opportunity to see the work that is done within the youth justice system that would be welcomed.

Councillor Boles sought assurances on what will happen if the amended policies and strategies to combat over representation do not work. Councillor Smith advised that next years annual plan will have better methods of measurement to show if polices transpire into better outcomes for individuals.

Councillor Staples-Jones questioned, considering children and young people from ethnic minorities are over represented in the youth justice system, what tailored support is being looked at in that area. In response Sandra Bruce, Assistant Director (Early Help and School Readiness) advised that the 11,000 young people involved in diversionary activities is when staff go out to places that we look at in terms of intelligence with police and early break where there may be drug and alcohol abuse. We do have the details of all young people we engage with in these places which can be broken down.

Helen Chadwick, Union Representative questioned regarding the CAMHS practitioner and Education Worker and it only being available to Rochdale Children. In response, Sandra Bruce, Assistant Director (Early Help and School Readiness) advised this matter has been picked up in the plan this year and they do work with bury children but funded by Rochdale Council in terms of the Education Worker, Bury Council has restructured and the education welfare attendance workers will be linked into MASH and the early help teams. In addition Helen Chadwick stated that the speech and language therapy is a good and creative use of funding.

Councillor Whitby sought assurance on governance considering challenges faced by the youth justice system.  In response Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council advised there is a youth justice partnership board, in addition we have a development morning upcoming to go through the detailed action plan’s that are responsible for delivery.

Councillor Rydeheard sought assurances on the improvement identified and the scope of the review identified in the report. In response Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council advised the team is confident the plan is being developed with all partners and is achievable. In addition Sandra Bruce, Assistant Director (Early Help and School Readiness) advised there is an SLA governance meeting to look at this in light of action on the 29^th September to develop action plan.

It was agreed:

1.    Rachel Meyrick, Rochdale Council to provide the data on children under investigation.

2.      When possible, for best practice globally to be considered in how we can improve youth justice rates.