Bedfordshire Youth Justice Service criticised for weaknesses in safeguarding and rated as “requires improvement"
While staff were praised for their dedication and strong support for victims, the report flagged inconsistent practice and frequent changes in case managers
The Bedfordshire Youth Justice Service has been told it needs to improve after a recent inspection found problems with how it protects children and the community.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation carried out the inspection, which revealed inconsistencies in how the service assesses and delivers support to keep young people safe.
The service, which operates in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire, was found to have missed key changes that could affect safety.
Concerns related to issues like exploitation, vulnerability, and the risk of retaliation were not fully understood in some cases.
Overall, the service was rated 6 out of 12 and marked as "Requires improvement."
However, it was rated "Good" for planning and its work with victims.
Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, noted the determination of the staff to support victims and help children reach their potential, even though inconsistencies were present.
Direct work with victims was found to be particularly strong, with support tailored to individual needs.
The report suggested that strategic oversight in these areas should be improved.
Jones added that the dedication and enthusiasm of staff would help make the necessary improvements.
The report included four recommendations for improvement, focusing on better management oversight and strengthened collaboration with partners.
It also noted some positive achievements, such as reducing reoffending rates to 18.4 per cent, which is below the national average, and reducing the number of first-time offenders.
Although the service received praise for its speech and language support and restorative justice work, there were concerns about high staff turnover, which affected continuity for young people.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Bedfordshire YJS and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for comments, but Bedfordshire YJS did not respond before publication.
The report highlighted that the OPCC has secured three years of funding for participation and engagement work.
An OPCC spokesperson said they collaborate closely with local authorities to ensure children’s safety and work to improve services.