For the third year running Leeds youth offending service has been given an ‘excellent’ rating, following a detailed assessment verified by the Youth Justice Board.

The assessment considered the entire work of the youth offending service, which is run by Leeds City Council, and works with children, young people and their families to prevent and to challenge offending behaviour.

The service was assessed under the Youth Justice Board’s ‘Performance Improvement Framework’, which aims to help improve the performance of youth offending teams, the youth justice system as a whole and ultimately improve the lives of young people.

To achieve the excellent rating Leeds was required to submit a strategic plan to demonstrate how they intend to maintain and improve their services, and a detailed self assessment to evidence the service’s current achievements, abilities and successes.

The Youth Justice Board agreed with Leeds’ self assessment that their current capacity and their ability to sustain and improve their performance was excellent.

Councillor Stewart Golton, executive member responsible for children’s services said:
"This was a really comprehensive assessment of all the activities of the youth offending service, so to have been rated as excellent is a great tribute to the hard work and dedication of the team.

“It basically means that we are helping reduce the number of young people entering the criminal justice system, and are working to improve the prospects of those young people who do. The assessment also showed how we work well with the families and victims of young offenders – all contributing to making Leeds a safer place.

"The team is committed and positive about its work, and is already working hard to further improve and ensure the service builds on the strong foundations already in place.”

To achieve the excellent rating Leeds provided evidence of its current capacity and capabilities, across nine areas, which are:
1. Assessment, planning, interventions and supervision (2.25)
2. Resourcing and workforce development (2.5)
3. Access to universal and specialist services (3)
4. Reductions in first-time entrants to the youth justice system (3)
5. Reducing reoffending (2.67)
6. Use of custody (2.25)
7. Risk of serious harm (2.67)
8. Safeguarding (2)
9. Victim and public confidence (2.67)
In each area Leeds was give a score out of three, which is shown in brackets.