Youth offending team 'Stocktake'.

Deloitte was commissioned by the Youth Justice Policy Unit in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to collect and analyse data on the activities of YOTs in England and Wales (the 'YOT Stocktake'). The purpose of the research was to establish a picture of how the YOT model has evolved locally and nationally, including differences in organisational structures, funding arrangements and spending decisions, and ways of working. The Stocktake was also to consider how YOTs have responded to changing demand and the activities they undertake.' Headline were:

* The YOT system has a number of strengths: teams work closely and effectively with partner agencies and in a holistic manner to take account of young people's wider needs.

* There is a discrepancy between what YOTs do and what is measured by the MoJ, which makes assessment of performance and value for money very difficult.

* Early correlation analysis suggests that taking a narrow focus on reducing first time entrants, custody volumes or reoffending rates only suggests that current MoJ funding (via the Youth Justice Board) is poorly allocated and could be revised without affecting these specific youth justice outcomes as measured by the YJB (as currently defined).

* However, this risks undermining other outcomes around education, employment and training for young people that YOTs may positively influence.

* Both local and national oversight and accountability of YOTs could be improved, but given that the MoJ is not their main source of funding, YOTs' incentives and objectives will not necessarily align with it.

To read the Youth Offending Team stocktake:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment data/file/445641/yot-stocktake-report.pdf