Independent inspectors have delivered their judgement on the work of the Island’s Youth Justice Team.
Findings published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation today (October 7) following their visits in April and June, state ‘much of the work undertaken with children and young people was good’ and there was ‘excellent political commitment’ to the work of the Youth Justice Team.
The inspection, commissioned by the Department of Home Affairs, commended the establishment of the Team as a ‘valuable resource’ but says more work should be done to ensure it is placed on a strong and sustainable footing.
Department of Home Affairs political Member with responsibility for Probation and the YJT, Bill Malarkey MHK, welcomed the report.
He commented, "The reason the Department invited HM inspectors to visit was to help show us the way forward because we are aware the Youth Justice Team and the Management Board had developed on an ad hoc basis.
"It is no surprise to us that those aspects attracted the most attention in the report.
"We welcome the report’s findings and its recommendations, which will assist in making the Youth Justice Team even more effective in the future."
"The work of the YJT was found to be ‘characterised by commitment and excellent engagement between team members and children or young people."
However, inspectors criticised the fact the YJT remained a voluntary partnership and suggested a strategic review was necessary to ensure its resources met the assessed needs.
The report also felt the Youth Justice Management Board was not effective.
The report makes a total of eight recommendations including calls for the Management Board to meet regularly, and ensure that the basis on which the YJT is funded is ‘robust and sustainable’.
The Youth Justice Team is a multi-agency group, established on the Isle of Man in 2004 as a centralised resource for partner agencies working with children and young people who have offended or who are at risk of offending.
It has nine staff and reports to the Youth Justice Management Board chaired by Department of Home Affairs Chief Executive Will Greenhow.
Mr Greenhow said, "The Youth Justice Management Board welcomed the report and it is already developing an action plan to address issues highlighted in the report.
"We are confident this plan will be forwarded to HM Inspectorate within the four week deadline.
"Our key issues include establishing how we put the Youth Justice Team on a statutory footing, and devising a long-term strategy consolidating the good practice identified in the report.
"This is the first HMI inspection of the Youth Justice Team, and now establishes a baseline from which the Board and the Team can operate. Overall the report is a very healthy endorsement of work that goes on at many levels."
The HMI inspection report on the Youth Justice Team can be viewed here.
