Agenda item

Paul Axon (Chief Executive Officer) and Kelly Rennie (Operations Manager) both from Positive Steps presented a statutory report, which had been approved nationally by the Youth Justice Board about the Youth Justice Plan 2023/24. Which was presented to the Scrutiny Board over the delegated responsibility and service provisions provided by Youth Justice.

An overview was provided to members about what Youth Justice Services do and what the main objectives are for Positive Steps, these were the following:

• Reducing the number of first- time entrants (FTE) into the criminal justice service
•  Reducing re-offending by children subject to statutory Court Orders or Out of
• Court Disposals
•  Reducing the use of custody for Children

While additionally:

•  Effectively safeguarding the children, we work with
•  Effectively protecting the public from harm
•  Enhancing the voice and experience of victims of crime committed by children

It was also noted by Members that the vision of Oldham Youth Justice Services is to provide provisions which is the following:

• Child First in its effective partnership approach
• Ambitious and inspirational for the children and families it works with
• Truly collaborative and led by the voice of the child
• Pursuing excellence in governance and leadership
• Achieving outstanding outcomes in inspection programmes

Members were informed about the crime figures around ethnicity. With a discussion taking place around the data and training being conducted by Positive Steps to tackle unconscious biases in the justice system. It was noted that the Youth Justice Services have carried out exercise and training around            Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) related issues, even having a serving Police Officer who was currently on secondment undertake diversity and unconscious bias training. It was noted that in general children involved with the Justice System, can have difficult relations with the Police Force, with positive steps trying to encourage one to one session with said Police Officer to try and remove any stigma children using the service may have.

Cllr Colin McLaren raised questions around implementing recommendations on the experience of BAME children within a review, with it being noted by Paul Axon that a review was still currently underway with multi-agency partners, who are aiming to feedback voices to the Youth Justice Board.

It was noted that black and minority ethnic backgrounds are over-represented at all stages of the criminal justice system in Oldham.

Cllr Colin McLaren asked questions concerning prevention and targets that Youth Justice was taking to tackle criminality at a young age. It was noted that an early intervention programme for children who had received no further action taken against them by the Police and Crown Prosecution Services had been underway with the hopes of being able to help 52 children throughout the year.

Reverend Jean Hurlston asked a question expressing a keen interest to see Youth Justice Services work with families as well as Children, with Kelly Rennie informing members that caseworkers will work with children and families in a two-sided attempt at approaching a child’s circumstance and understanding their family background.

There was a discussion around the training being provided for Speech and Language Therapy as we well as Neurodiversity training. The Chair felt strongly that if early intervention in life can be carried out for speech and language, it could stop issues later in life. It was also noted that as well as training, counselling sessions are being offered to youths to discuss any issues which may affect them, as well as Nurse Health assessments and Specialist Education such as allowing children to be Park Rangers.

Cllr Helen Bishop asked if the re-offending rates on Page 21 of the agenda pack needed updating. Cllr Helen Bishop was informed, that the data on page 21, were the most up to date data on the reoffending rates on Oldham.

Members noted the success story around re-offending rates, with Oldham being reported as having one of the lowest re-offending rates nationally.

Resolved: That the Youth Justice Plan 2023/24 be noted.