Knowsley Youth Offending Service (YOS) reported a number of achievements at a meeting of The Children and Families Board.
The Youth Offending Service maintained strong outcomes for children and families in Knowsley through a decrease in reoffending per reoffender, decrease in remands, maintaining desistance for Community Resolutions.
The latest figures demonstrate a continued overall improvement in outcomes for the borough’s young people when looked at across a longer period of time. Over the past 10 years:
- First Time Entrants – reduction of 77% compared to Oct 2011 – Sep 2012
- Custodial Sentences – reduction of 92% compared to Jan 2011 – Dec 2012
- Re-offending Rate (binary) – reduction of 13% by YOS statutory cohort compared to April 2010 – Mar 2011.
- Custodial Remand Episodes – reduction of 75% compared to Oct 2011-Dec 2012
The service received an overall ‘Good’ rating following a His Majesties Inspectorate of Probation inspection in January 2023. The inspector highlighted Knowsley Youth Offending Service’s ‘child-first’ approach and reported five areas of ‘outstanding’ practice.
A new prevention service which sits under the YOS has also been established over the past year. STEP (Support, Together, Empower, Prevent) is part of the wider Early Help Strategy for the borough and aims to support those children on the edge of criminality and exploitation. The team has received significant resource from both Knowsley and Merseyside Police. You can read more on STEP here.
Julie Moss, Chairperson of The Children and Families Board said: “The report to Children and Families Board demonstrates the hard work from our teams to meet the complex needs of children within the justice system and ensure that we support them to achieve positive outcomes.
“The launch of the STEP team will ensure that there is dedicated support for our children and young people who are on the cusp of criminality and help them choose an alternative path.
“Despite operating in a challenging environment, the report shows that service is making a positive difference to lives if children and families in Knowsley.”
You can read the full board update here.