‘This much-deserved ‘outstanding’ rating is the result of hard work, dedication, and determination’

Youth Offending Service is rated as 'outstanding'

West Berkshire Youth Offending Service (YOS) has received an overall rating of ‘outstanding’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

Inspectors commended West Berkshire YOS for creating ‘a culture where everyone feels they belong and have a part to play’ – involving children and their parents/carers in every aspect of supervision, and continually looking for ways to improve.

Chief inspector of probation Justin Russell said: “The children supervised by West Berkshire Youth Offending Service are thriving. This much-deserved ‘outstanding’ rating is the result of hard work, dedication, and determination to support each child equally and deter them from reoffending – the service is a credit to the local community.”

The inspection also found that the YOS provides good quality, often specialist, services for children to help prevent reoffending – including educational support to reduce school exclusions and mental health support, as well as programmes to help with substance misuse and deter the use of weapons.

The inspection also found that, through working closely with families, the service had identified a number who were vulnerable and had established an agreement with local supermarkets to provide food vouchers to some parents and carers.