Bracknell Forest Youth Justice Plan 2024 to 2027 - 3.3 Risks and issues

Non-compliant with statutory requirements.

Children transferring from the youth justice team to probation not case managed by dedicated probation officer.

The Youth Justice Team is operating at stage 4 of the Youth Justice Board/probation framework meaning that the Youth Justice Team receive monies to employ their own solution to the seconded probation officer vacancy.

There is currently an agency social worker in post who is experienced with working with children in a youth justice context and who has been part of the core team for over 5 years. The role has a bespoke job description making the duties clear and different to the role of case manager, including taking the lead on work with older children (subject to capacity). 

Non-compliance with statutory requirements. 

The Youth Justice Team have achieved the SEN Quality Kite Mark to make sure that children's needs are well identified and responded to. 

Education, training and employment capacity has been increased to work across all children and a specific Education Focus Meeting has been established to bring together operational staff and managers to trouble shoot children's education needs and experiences. 

A new Assistant Director for Education and Learning has been appointed and attends the Youth Justice Management Board.

Non-compliance with statutory requirements. 

The dates for the board meetings have been changed to support with probation availability.

A new independent board chair, who has expertise in youth justice, is in role and supports in facilitating partners to participate in board meetings.

A lack of current guidance would result in a non-standardised approach across the force area and individual youth justice teams not being involved in decision-making regarding out of court disposals. 

A draft policy has been drawn up by Thames Valley Police (April 2024) and the Thames Valley youth justice teams are reviewing it for implementation in 2024 to 2025.

Outcome 22, which is a new police outcome code that can be used when the police have decided to defer prosecution until the accused has been given the opportunity to engage with an intervention activity, will also be adopted by Thames Valley Police as part of this review.

Workers will not have access to suitable venues for direct work with children.

Wick Hill Cottage is no longer available to the Youth Justice Team to work with children. 

Alternative venues are being explored on a part-time basis which are child-friendly, non-corporate and which enable privacy for children.

There are a small number of children in the youth justice caseload who would be impacted.

College Hall will be closing as of 31 August 2024.

There is a plan in place for all children impacted including returning to mainstream education or receiving support to progress through exams (year 11), going through fair access panels, receiving Education, Health and Care Plans.

All children are dealing with the closure well and there has been no decrease in attendance or engagement.

The Assistant Director of Early Help and Communities (which oversees the Youth Justice Team) is on the board of governors.

Loss of experienced, skilled and knowledgeable members within the Youth Justice Team.

A capacity review of the Youth Justice Team is taking place in 2024.

The senior practitioner has undertaken a leadership and management (ILM) Level 5 course.