Police and council chiefs react to inspectors' findings into youth justice services in Hartlepool

Police and council chiefs have praised the findings of a report from a government watchdog which rated Hartlepool’s youth justice system as ‘Good’.
Cllr Leisa Smith and Chief Inspector Pete GrahamCllr Leisa Smith and Chief Inspector Pete Graham
Cllr Leisa Smith and Chief Inspector Pete Graham

The council has responsibility for delivering the service, with support, oversight and direction from a multi-agency partnership board.

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Cllr Leisa Smith, chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Children’s Services Committee, said they were pleased with the findings and the praise which was given to staff.

She said: “We are delighted that Hartlepool Youth Justice Service has been judged to be a Good service and that the inspectors praised all three areas of its work.

“[These are] The arrangements for organisational delivery of the service, the quality of work done with children sentenced by the courts and the quality of out-of-court work.

“In terms of organisational delivery, the inspectors noted that the service’s staff are motivated and engaged and there is excellent provision to meet the requirements of the children.

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“There was similarly high praise for the staff in terms of the work they do with children sentenced by the courts, with the inspectors stating that assessments for court cases were outstanding and that staff analysed information well and were skilled at engaging with the children and their families.”

In four of the 12 separate areas examined the Hartlepool Youth Offending Service was rated ‘Outstanding’, while it was rated ‘Good’ in six and ‘Requires Improvement’ in two.

Cllr Smith said she was pleased to see elements judged to be ‘Outstanding’ and added the recommendations for improvements were welcomed and are being acted on.

She added: “The assessment, planning and joint working involved in the service’s out-of-court work was judged by the inspectors to be outstanding, with staff working well to coordinate actions to meet the needs of the child.

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“We remain absolutely committed to giving these children and their families the support they need and we are striving to make the service even better.

“To that end we welcome the inspectors’ recommendations for improvements – we are already acting upon them and a new chair of the partnership board has been appointed.”

Since the inspection, Chief Inspector Pete Graham, from the Hartlepool Neighbourhood Policing Team, has been appointed as the new chair of the board.

This comes after the report noted at the time of the inspection the Youth Justice Service Board had no Chair, after the previous person in the role left in December 2019.

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Chief Inspector Graham, who has chaired the Youth Justice Service Board for the last two meetings and will continue to do so, also praised the team and the findings of the report.

He said: “The Youth Justice Service is a professional, dedicated team.

“It is rewarding for all concerned for inspectors to have highlighted good service, motivated staff and importantly the excellent provision to support young people.

“The team and Hartlepool should be really proud.”

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