HM Inspectorate of Probation (“HMIP”) has published its research into Transitional Safeguarding. Transitional Safeguarding is the concept of safeguarding young people while they transition from childhood to adulthood. The materials that have been produced - which include the research and analysis bulletin, practitioner briefing, senior managers briefing, policy briefing and a video – examine how well this is being done by Youth Justice Services and the Probation Service.
Details
HMIP made a number of key findings as part of their research. These were as follows:
- That there are barriers to effective safeguarding during transitions from youth justice to probation. These include that practitioners can be too reliant on the rigid structures that are in place between YJS and Probation.
- Data is not adequately collected on transitions between services.
- Safeguarding in the adult system does not focus on the specific circumstances of the adult on probation, but on community protection and risk to others.
As a result, the research gives the following recommendations:
- Transitional Safeguarding should be embedded within the existing National Transitions protocol.
- Principles of Transitional Safeguarding should be woven into relevant inspection frameworks, with accompanying support resources for service leaders.
- Staff from both services should be trained together on transitions and Transitional Safeguarding policies and protocols so that they can deliver the changes needed in both organisations and understand the differences between transitions planning and Transitional Safeguarding.
- Relational, developmentally-informed practice should be foregrounded in policy, training and inspection – and modelled by service leaders.
- There should be specific emphasis on Transitional Safeguarding in policies, protocols and training so that staff understand the safeguarding risks for young people themselves as well as the risks they may present to others.
- Youth justice and probation services should prioritise forging good (local) connections with education and employment routes, as this is essential to safeguarding young people within the justice system.
- There are three recommendations within the Probation report The quality of services delivered to young adults in the Probation Service which apply to this work. These relate to ensuring that services are equitable and diversity is prioritized, having a trauma-informed approach and removing barriers to Probation staff accessing information from YJSs and other partner agencies.
Commentary
This research by HM Inspectorate of Probation is useful reading for Youth Justice Service professionals and other practitioners involved in transitions from childhood to adulthood. It is a good idea for those practitioners to have an understanding of Transitional Safeguarding and this research identifies the flaws in the current system and provides recommendations for how to ensure that young people are kept safe when they are moving from being a child in law to being a young adult.