Havering’s Youth Justice Service has been praised for the way it manages the diverse needs of children and prevents repeat offending. 

HM Inspectorate of Probation, the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services in England and Wales, said it was “impressed” with the service in Havering in a recent report. 

Across 13 different areas, the inspectorate awarded seven ‘good’, one ‘outstanding’, and five ‘requires improvement’, with an overall of ‘good’ for Havering. 

In particular, Havering’s managing of children who go through the courts was praised in the report, as was its work helping them move away from crime. 

But necessary improvement was noted in the ways in which the local authority assesses the needs and risks of children involved in out-of-court cases. 

Missed opportunities to speak to children and their parents about supervision were also flagged, which the inspectorate said would have helped youth justice workers gain a fuller understanding of each child concerned. 

The inspectorate listed seven recommendations, including ensuring all children have access to suitable education, working with the police to review out-of-court policies, and to create consistency in the quality of assessments, so that there is an equal focus on aspects such as children’s safety and the risk of harm to others. 

Chief inspector of probation Justin Russell said: “We were impressed with many aspects of Havering Youth Justice Service’s work, not least their ability to focus on children’s diverse needs and understanding of how to divert them away from further offences.  

“They have specialists available, such as mental health and education staff, to provide support and keep children safe, which ensures the safety of other people and victims.” 

Cllr Oscar Ford, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “This is welcome news for the service as it demonstrates the hard work and commitment of the staff and how they are reaching and supporting our children and young people who find themselves in the justice system. 

“It reinforces much of what we already know and shows us that we are on the right track to keep as many people out of the criminal justice system and that, with a continuing focus on improvement, we can ensure better outcomes for our young people.” 

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