Agenda item

To scrutinise the Youth Justice Plan for 2025/26.

Clare Griffiths presented the report. It was noted that the Oldham Youth Justice Service Strategy Plan had already been signed off and submitted to the national Youth Justice Board. It was highlighted that Oldham is one of the only areas in England and Wales where the Youth Justice Service is commissioned by the local authority and delivered by a charitable trust, Positive Steps. It was noted that this allows the service to provide a holistic and non-stigmatising approach to Youth Justice, as well as enabling access to funding streams that the local authority would not be able to access.

Updates from the previous year were noted, including progress on actions agreed in the 2024-25 Youth Justice Plan. This included another 12 months of funding from the Community Safety Partnership to continue the TOG Mind Partnership, and Serious Youth Violence now being a priority for the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership.

It was highlighted that the data was more positive for Oldham than for other measured areas, with figures such as ‘First Time Entrants into the criminal justice system’ and ‘re-offending by children subject to statutory Court Orders or Out of Disposals’ having fallen. It was noted that there are still risks and issues, particularly around disproportionality and placement sufficiency issues.

Members queried referrals of young people to the Youth Justice Service and whether this is done pre-emptively to ensure early help. It was noted that early help is voluntary for Young People and consent based. It was also noted that early help was part of Operation Vulcan and that contact cards would be rolled out across the entirety of the borough.

Members also noted the thematic review and questioned what insights and takeaways had been gained from it. Members were advised that the main themes to have come from the review were around exclusions from schools, of which there had been a significant reduction, and effective multiagency working.

Members highlighted the start of the summer holidays and questioned whether work continued. It was noted that work continues over school holidays and plans are in place to provide a range of commissioned services to Young People. Members also highlighted the need to minimise disruption to education and it was noted that education is part of the Youth Justice plans and is measured as one of the KPIs.

Members highlighted the impact that parents can have, and it was explained that although the service doesn’t assess the parents, they do form part of the review in relation to the needs of the parent, and this includes working with the parents.

Members asked about whether plans to appoint a nurse in Youth Justice were still happening and it was noted that the funding was now available and going through the process, but recruitment had not yet started.

Members queried whether there had been an increase in particular crimes, and it was noted that cohorts were getting younger and that the service was seeing a higher rate of violent crime among young people, hence making that one of the Service priorities.

Members asked what percentage of those accessing the service had EHCPs. It was noted that this information would be provided to members, and that there was a general trend of late diagnoses in the Justice system.

Members also noted the difficulties regarding provision in Saddleworth.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.