Watchdog Finds Cumberland Youth Justice Service “Requires Improvement”

Inspectors have assessed a service dedicated to young offenders as “requires improvement,” while simultaneously commending its leaders for their “unwavering commitment.” This marks the initial inspection of the Cumberland Youth Justice Service (YJS) by HM Inspectorate of Probation since Cumberland was established as a unitary authority in April 2023. A report indicated “limited service provision,” particularly concerning health services, but also acknowledged “much to commend” within the facility. Cumberland Council stated its recognition of the identified areas for enhancement, while simultaneously expressing that it was “proud of the progress made so far.” The Cumberland YJS service provides support to children aged 10 to 17 who have complex needs, including some young individuals under the care of the council. The report found “some good arrangements were in place with the police, Probation Service and substance misuse services, however there was a limited service provision elsewhere, particularly in relation to health.” Inspectors observed a “high level of engagement from children and Cumberland YJS staff navigating the gaps in partnership arrangements to get good outcomes for children.” Furthermore, the report indicated that efforts to encourage desistance among children subject to out-of-court disposals were robust. A total of 10 recommendations were issued in the report, with four specifically addressed to the Cumberland YJS management board, focusing on members’ understanding of their roles. An additional recommendation was directed towards NHS North East & North Cumbria, urging it to “ensure its statutory duty to provide relevant and timely physical, sexual, emotional, and mental health services to YJS children is fulfilled.” Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation, commented: “The significance and depth of the reorganisation of Cumberland YJS was vast, with the service and its newly formed board having to navigate and establish new partnerships and pathways at local and regional levels.” Mr Jones further noted that there was “much to commend” the service for, as it has built upon its “stable foundations put in place over the past year.” Nevertheless, he indicated that the board’s challenge would be to “establish consistency and cohesiveness, to effectively translate strategy into strong service delivery.” Martin Birch, Cumberland Council’s director of children and family wellbeing, stated that despite the reorganisation challenges, its team had “created a culture of collaboration and support, which has enabled the service to remain resilient and child-focused.” The council affirmed its “committed to working with all partners to build on the strengths identified in the report and ensure a cohesive, robust service that supports the most vulnerable young people in our community.”