Damning inspection reveals serious failings as Yorkshire youth offending service told to improve

Inspectors found staff at the Bradford Youth Offending Team are not proficient at dealing with child sexual exploitation or safeguarding and do not have the knowledge to manage risks safely.

In one example, the HM Inspectorate of Probation revealed potential gang-related activity was not recorded on a young person's file and subsequently the gang assaulted the child and a family member leading to armed police being called to the scene.

Following the incident, staff did not review the initial assessment or seek further details from children’s social services or the police.

The service was graded as "requires improvement" - the second lowest mark.

“Bradford YOT has been through a period of instability, particularly among its senior ranks. There has been an absence of strategic leadership, which has affected the team’s ability to work effectively with children and young people who have offended or who are at risk of offending.”

Mr Russell said: “There is a new senior management team in place, and they know the challenges faced by the YOT, and are well placed and committed to address the issues identified. The staff have expressed optimism about the new leadership and its ability to make necessary improvements.

“Our report includes seven recommendations to improve safety, leadership, information sharing, and work with the police. We urge Bradford YOT to act on our recommendations to ensure vulnerable children and young people in the city get the support they need.”

Mark Douglas, Strategic Director of Children’s Services at Bradford Metropolitan District Council, said the authority "fully accepts" the report's finding and is "acting urgently" to ensure improvements are made and that young people in Bradford are safe.

“One area the report raised was a concern about was planning and it goes on to recognise that we were in the process of developing appropriate plans with the input of young people . The service has since gone on to win a national award for this work and this is the kind of improvement we must now make across the whole of the service.”

Councillor Abdul Jabar, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and community safety said the outcome of the report is "not good enough" and "must improve at pase".

He said: "One of the main concerns the report raised was the instability within the board and leadership team. This has now been addressed with a new senior leadership team in place and a more stable and permanent board who are aware of the weaknesses within the service and are already making the positive changes needed. But we need to see a rapid turn-around to make sure that the young people and their families who rely on the service get the proper support they need so they don’t pose a risk to themselves or others.”