Cumberland Council welcomes the findings of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation’s (HMIP) inspection report on Cumberland Youth Justice Service (YJS), which acknowledges the challenges of the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and working with partners while commending the dedication and efforts of the YJS team.
The report, which gave an overall rating of ‘Requires Improvement,’ is the first inspection of Cumberland YJS since the creation of Cumberland as a unitary authority in April 2023.
The Inspectorate has highlighted the “unwavering commitment” of YJS leaders and their strong awareness of the areas for improvement. Inspectors praised the team for their work in supporting children, noting a high level of engagement from both the children and the YJS staff in achieving positive outcomes.
The strong relationships between YJS staff and the children they support was highlighted, with 96% of children surveyed saying that the YJS had provided excellent or good help. The report noted that 100% of children felt respected, listened to, and involved in their intervention plans, with nearly all reporting positive changes since their engagement with the service.
The head of Cumberland YJS and the management team were described as "impressive, knowledgeable, and well respected," having led with emotional intelligence and resilience during a period of significant change. This leadership has fostered a positive, supportive culture where staff feel valued, creating strong peer networks and collaborative working relationships.
Despite these achievements, the report identified some inconsistencies in partnership arrangements, particularly in health service provision. The council is committed to working closely with NHS North East & North Cumbria and other partners to address these gaps and ensure that children receive timely and comprehensive support.
Councillor Emma Williamson, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Children, Family Wellbeing and Housing, said:
"We are proud of the hard work and dedication of Cumberland YJS and the incredibly positive outcomes they are having with children and young people. We acknowledge the areas for improvement identified by HMIP and we remain committed to addressing these challenges, and to delivering consistent, high-quality services for young people across Cumberland. The commendation of our progress so far is a testament to the dedication of our YJS team, and we look forward to continuing to build on the solid foundations already in place."
Martin Birch, Cumberland Council’s Director of Children and Family Wellbeing, said:
“We are pleased the Inspectorate recognised the work of our teams in helping to support children and young people. The team are truly the service’s greatest asset. They are motivated, experienced, and deeply committed to putting children at the heart of everything they do. Despite the challenges of reorganisation, they have created a culture of collaboration and support, which has enabled the service to remain resilient and child-focused. We are proud of the progress made so far and are fully committed to addressing the areas for improvement identified."
The HMIP report makes 10 recommendations which will be implemented to enhance service delivery. Cumberland Council is committed to working with all partners to build on the strengths identified in the report and ensure a cohesive, robust service that supports the most vulnerable young people in our community.
The full HMIP report is available on their website.