A report published today by the Inspectorate of Probation, Ofsted and Estyn has found that few young people under the supervision of both the care services and Youth Offending Teams were well prepared or supported for transition to adulthood and that successful transition to adulthood is compromised by the disruption caused by frequent moves.

The inspectors sought to find out how effectively youth offending teams  worked with this small yet highly vulnerable group and how well they planned  and co-ordinated their work with colleagues in other agencies.

The report finds that, despite the hard work and effort of many YOT staff, the overall outcomes and future life chances for these children and young people are extremely poor. The fact that they were away from their home areas and were moved frequently militated against their chances of rehabilitation. The fact of being looked after could escalate a child into the criminal justice system.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Liz Calderbank, said on behalf of all inspectorates:

“This very specific group of children and young people are among the most damaged in the care system. By the time they are placed out of area it is likely that most will have had a number of placements fail. They are vulnerable and, in some cases, potentially dangerous. They need both protection and work to help them stop offending. At the same time, others may need to be protected from them. Work to engage, help and support them is difficult and is made significantly more so when they are moved around. While there is much commitment and hard work accorded them by YOT staff and others, agencies do not always work effectively together in the best interests of the child or young person. Despite the allocation of significant resources, they have poor initial and longer term outcomes.”

The report, entitled ‘Looked After Children: An inspection of the work of Youth Offending Teams with children and young people who are Looked After and placed away from home’ can be read here: http://www.hmcpsi.gov.uk/cjji/inspections/inspection_no/594/