The following shows the priorities and plans for DCYJS in 2023/24. Actions which link to our inspection report are marked ‘HMIP. This is a dynamic plan which will continue to be updated, recognising that other priorities will arise during the year.
DCYJS partnership priority
Reducing First Time Entrants
Area for development
Develop the implementation of the ‘Turnaround’ programme
Partners and staff providing support
- local authority
- early help services
- Dorset Police
- Dorset HealthCare
- Ministry of Justice
Benefits
Children diverted from the justice system
Success
Reduction in FTEs Successful Turnaround completions
DCYJS partnership priority
Reducing First Time Entrants
Area for development
Early identification of children at risk of offending
Partners and staff providing support
- local authority
- business intelligence
- local authority early help services
Benefits
Prevention of future offending
Success
Reduction in FTEs Children at risk of offending receiving support
DCYJS partnership priority
Serious Violence and Child Exploitation
Area for development
Contribute to Serious Violence Duty needs assessments and action plans
Partners and staff providing support
- local authority
- community safety partnerships
Benefits
Strategic, coordinated response to serious youth violence
Success
Needs assessment completed Action Plan agreed and implemented
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Serious Violence and Child Exploitation
Area for Development
Case audit of DCYJS work on weapon offences
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- DCYJS team members
- Children and families
Benefits
Improved DCYJS work with children who carry weapons
Success
Case audit completed Action Plan agreed and implemented
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Serious Violence and Child Exploitation
Area for Development
Extension of DCYJS Trauma Champion role
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- DCYJS Trauma Champion
- DCYJS Psychologist
- DCYJS team members
Benefits
Development of trauma informed practice with children
Success
Actions agreed and implemented to show trauma informed work with wider caseload
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Serious Violence and Child Exploitation
Area for Development
Local partnerships agree new CE tools, processes and training (HMIP)
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership
Benefits
Clear and effective processes for identifying and responding to CE
Success
New CE documents and processes being used by YJS staff
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Serious Violence and Child Exploitation
Area for Development
Improve the analysis and quality of DCYJS risk of harm assessments (HMIP)
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- DCYJS operational managers and case managers
Benefits
Improved risk assessments leading to better risk management for harm to others
Success
Case audits evidence good quality risk of harm assessments, addressing HMIP findings
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Reducing over representation
Area for Development
YJS Partners share disproportionality data from their services
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- BCP Council
- Dorset Council
- Dorset Police
- Probation Service
- NHS Dorset
Benefits
Improved understanding of and response to over representation
Success
YJS Board receiving and reviewing disproportionality data from partners
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Reducing over representation
Area for Development
Create a DCYJS diversity and disproportionality policy (HMIP)
Partners and Staff Providing Support
Benefits
Clarity about YJS work on diversity issues
Success
New Diversity Policy completed and shared with YJS staff
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Improving education outcomes
Area for Development
Allocate additional YJS resources to improve education for children with EHCPs, SEN Support
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- YJS Head of Service
- Local authority education services
Benefits
Timely, suitable placements for children with EHCPs, SEN Support and other specific needs
Success
Better education outcomes Reduction in fixed term and permanent exclusions on YJS caseload
DCYJS Partnership Priority
DCYJS practice improvement
Area for Development
Use the Identity Lens approach to underpin DCYJS work with children
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- YJS managers and practitioners
- YJB and other Youth Justice Services
Benefits
Improved outcomes for children focusing on their positive identity
Success
Evidence on assessments, plans and case records of the Identity Lens model being applied
DCYJS Partnership Priority
DCYJS practice improvement
Area for Development
Implement the use of AQA awards for children doing YJS activities
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- DCYJS ETE and reparation workers
- BCP and Dorset EET
- Virtual School teams
Benefits
Improved access to ETE options for YJS children
Success
Completed AQA awards
DCYJS Partnership Priority
DCYJS practice improvement
Area for Development
Use the HMIP ETE thematic report and the new KPI ETE information to continue to improve work on education outcomes
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- DCYJS ETE and information staff
- BCP and Dorset ETE
- information staff. Schools.
Benefits
Improved knowledge and targeting of specific ETE issues leading to better ETE outcomes for YJS children
Success
Accurate, up to date, detailed ETE case records on YJS system
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Board development
Area for Development
Develop partnership effectiveness and confirm future chairing arrangements (HMIP)
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- YJS Board Partners
- BCP and Dorset Chief Executives
Benefits
Improved local YJS strategic and operational partnership
Success
Decision taken on future Board chairing. Board partners actively contributing to Board meetings and work
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Develop the collection and use of performance information
Area for Development
Implement the new national youth justice Key Performance Indicators
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- YJS head of service and management information staff
- Partner information staff
- YJB
Benefits
Improved understanding of local YJ partnership performance and actions needed
Success
Successful quarterly reporting of new KPIs
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Develop the collection and use of performance information
Area for Development
Analyse the reoffending of children subject to out of court disposals (HMIP)
Partners and Staff Providing Support
- YJS Performance and Information Manager
- Dorset Police
Benefits
Better understanding of OOCD impact to guide decision making
Success
Report to YJS Board of reoffending by different out of court disposal types
DCYJS Partnership Priority
Compliance with YJB requirements
Area for Development
Audit compliance with national standards and implement the new national OOCD assessment tool when directed
Partners and Staff Providing Support
Benefits
YJS meeting national standards for youth justice work
Success
Audit of national standard compliance submitted on time to YJB. YJS using new assessment tool for OOCD work.