Agenda item

The attached report sets out the proposals for re-structuring the Youth Offending Service to achieve financial savings and remain within budget.

The report set out proposals for the restructuring of the Youth Offending Service which was required to achieve the financial savings and remain within budget. The Youth Justice Board had contributed to the compilation of the report and recommendations . Several projects were due end  by the end of March 2011 due to the expiry of external grants and there was no alternative funding to continue these projects. The staff involved were on fixed term contracts. The Youth Justice Grant for 2011/12 has been reduced and the new structure has been drawn up to reflect these reductions. The re-structure has been designed to have the least effect as possible on services to young offenders and their families and to achieve the Youth Justice Board indicators in relation to reducing the number of first time entrants to the criminal justice system, reduce re-offending and reduce the use of custody

There were 7 members of staff leaving the organisation through voluntary redundancy and under the new structure the remaining staff   would have a  new generic and flexible support role. The operational managers managing the service would be reduced from three to two.

The Committee noted that the timing of the review did allow displaced staff from the Youth Service to be considered for roles in the Youth Offending Service.  The Equalities Impact Assessment had been distributed to key stake holders including Children and Young People’s Service.  Responses had included a strong recommendation to  provide a Turkish speaking part time support worker to assist with the contact. A further recommendation from the consultation was to convert the part time reception worker to a full time post as there was a need to securely and appropriately meet the young people who were attending the service. These suggestions had been accommodated in the restructure proposals.

 Clarification was sought on redundancy arrangements for the employees on fixed term yearly contracts which were due to end. The Committee noted that these employees would not receive a redundancy payment as they had been on fixed term contracts for less than two years. Further to questions from the committee on the number of these staff displaced , according to the previous structure this would mean that 3 fixed term contract staff would be leaving the organisation.

The Committee  noted that the revised grant allocation,  that would contribute to funding the service, was not ringfenced  and expressed concern about the future sustainability of the service should this funding not be agreed for this area. The Committee were informed that there were strong recommendations for youth justice work to continue to be funded and for it to remain a key priority of the Council.  It was also a legislative requirement to provide a  health related post working with young people and the PCT related funding would hopefully contribute to funding a mental health worker in the Adults outreach team. The service would   nonetheless prepare for any eventuality  together with making  strong recommendations to the Council and agencies to keep to previous commitments to fund this vital service.

The Committee enquired about how staff in the new structure with a changed role would be supported meet the requirements of their new generic job descriptions. In response it was noted hat  there would be in house training provided to staff to help with the transition to their new roles.

RESOLVED

1. That in principle the Youth Offending Service be restructured subject to the outcome of consultation and consideration of the authority’s public sector equality duties . Seven of the  Youth Offending Staff had applied for and been accepted for voluntary redundancy.

2. That the staff consultation which started on the 1^st of March 2011 involving staff members affected be completed, in line with the Council’s policy and procedure, and comments received will be considered and responded to accordingly.

3. That agreement be given for delegated decision making to the Chair of the Committee in consultation with the Director of Urban Environment, taking into account the consultation process and the authority’s public sector equality duties, and providing nothing of a substantive matter arises during or from the consultation period and process.