To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including whipping declarations)

The following declared personal interests in Agenda Item 4, Youth Justice Service and Operational Plan:

Councillor Martyn Jones as a sitting Justice at Cardiff Magistrates Court;

Councillor Johanna Llewellyn-Hopkins as a Member of the South Wales Crime Panel.

To receive for approval the minutes of the meeting of 13 03 23

RESOLVED:                  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1 dated 13 March 2023 be approved as a true and accurate record.

Invitees:

Councillor Jon-Paul Blundell – Cabinet Member Education

Lindsay Harvey - Corporate Director – Education and Family Support

Nicola Echanis - Head of Education and Family Support

Mark Lewis – Group Manager, Family Support

Christa Bonham-Griffiths –Youth Justice Service Manager

Owen Shepherd – Youth Support Services Manger

Kevin Reeves – Operational Manager, Youth Justice Services

Catherine Evans – Operational Manager, Youth Justice Services  

The Strategic Youth Justice Service Manager presented the report, the purpose of which was to update the Committee on the progress made regarding the combined recommendations, actions and developments outlined in its Youth Justice Plan for 2022-2023 and the priorities identified in the current Bridgend Youth Justice Service (BYJS) Youth Justice Annual Plan for 2023-2024.

The Chairperson thanked the Strategic Youth Justice Service Manager and Invitees and Members discussed the following:

·       Detail in the report relating to the improvements of mental health links and the data that had been assessed, including:

-        Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services had representation on the Management Board.

-        Issues with referrals being resolved and cases being closed.

-        The Operational Problem-Solving Manager in place.

-        A more easily accessible single point of entry to access provision.

-        The Operational Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Consultant post due to be filled that would work directly with the Youth Justice Service. 

·       Assurances regarding the significant improvements made since the Recommendations made in the Inspection report of February 2022.

·       The breakdowns of financial and staffing information relating to Bridgend Youth Justice Service (BYJS), provision from multi agency partners’ budgets and financial obligations for partners with a statutory responsibility to deliver the plan

·       Representation on the Youth Justice Service Board from the Police, Education, Probation, Health and Children’s Social Care, as a legal obligation under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and specifically, the demand on the service requiring increased support from probation.

·       The My Voice questionnaire statistics in particular the 64% of the 25 pupils who attended school, that were not enjoying it and that it would have been good to hear from school’s perspectives regarding how they were supporting those individuals.

·       Issues around recruitment across the County and the small pool of professionals for some roles which could be causing time delays and difficulties in terms of recruitment and assurance there was a dedicated team to ensure that there was a swift response to children in terms of assessment and planning, as well as the use of the wider service.

·       The introduction of the trauma screening tool for every child entering the service, the screening to be achieved, how it is reviewed and the resource to review the processes.

·       The existing national Key Performance Indicators and the additional ones set in April 2023 and the lack of measures or targets against them, how going forward the data and information is monitored to ensure the Youth Justice Service was performing.

The Chairperson advised that there were no further questions for the Invitees, thanked the Invitees for their attendance and, advised that they may leave the meeting.

RESOLVED:            Following detailed consideration and discussions with Cabinet Members and Officers, the Committee made the following Recommendations:

1. That narrative be included in future reports to Scrutiny explaining why the budget table with a breakdown of the financial and staffing information in the Youth Justice Service Plan did not show financial support from the Probation and / or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

The Committee discussed the Forward Work Programme (FWP).

The Committee requested that it would be beneficial to have school representatives - Headteachers and Health Board representatives invited for the scrutiny of future reports on the Youth Justice service.

RESOLVED:   The Committee approved the FWP in Appendix A,

                                 subject to the above comment, noted the

                                 Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheet in

                                 Appendix B and noted that the FWP,                    

                                 Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheet and any 

                                 updates from the Committee would be reported to the

                                 next meeting of COSC.   

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in

accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

None.