Voluntary sector may provide more youth justice services

More youth justice services could be provided by the voluntary and community sector under guidance shortly being rolled out by the government.

Speaking at a Community Care conference on the Youth Green paper today Brendan Finegan, director of policy at the Youth Justice Board, said that forthcoming YJB service delivery guidance for local management boards may set a percentage for the amount of services that should be provided by the sector.

Finegan added that there was nothing in legislation to stop a management board from commissioning a youth offending team from voluntary and community organisations.

He concluded that the government needed to help such organisations to build up their capacity so that they were in a position to provide services if the opportunity arose.

“If we come in saying we want a consortium, the voluntary sector need to know how to go about that,” he said.