A YOUTH offending service in Berkshire has been rated ‘Outstanding’ following an inspection.

West Berkshire Youth Offending Service (YOS) received the rating 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’.

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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.

It was 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.

 A statement in the report said: “We found that West Berkshire YOS were not complacent, despite the successes evident during our inspection.

“There is a healthy ambition to improve, within the staff group and the children they work with.”

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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.”