Essex County Council is pleased that during the HM Inspectorate of Probation inspection, held in February 2012, it was recognised that the performance of Essex Youth Offending Service is encouraging.

The Inspectors score the service on whether improvement is needed within three aspects of work: safeguarding work; risk of harm to others work and likelihood of reoffending work. In all categories Essex scored above the England average.

The categories for what future improvements are needed range from minimum and moderate through to substantial or drastic.  Essex received one minimum and two moderate improvements, missing out very slightly on second minimum score. 

Essex County Councillor Ray Gooding, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “We are pleased that the good work we are doing in the youth offending service has been recognised. It is incredibly important to support young people and it is encouraging how the young people interviewed for the Inspection value the contact they have with the service. We always try to implement innovative and interesting strategies to ensure the best outcomes for those we work with.”

The Inspectors noted that management and staff were committed to improving outcomes for children and young people and embraced a multidisciplinary approach using a range of thoughtful and sometimes innovative methods to help address offending behaviour. 

Following on from the report Essex Youth Offending Service has prepared, and shared with the Youth Justice Board, an improvement plan. The plan has a strong focus on active engagement of young people and effective risk management.