The Children and Families Cabinet Panel reviewed the Quarter 4 performance report for 2025/26, noting areas of strong performance and discussing challenges. The panel also considered and endorsed the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan for 2026-28, which outlines priorities for reducing youth offending and supporting young people.

Children and Families 2025/26 Quarter 4 Performance Report

The panel received a comprehensive performance report for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, covering January to March 2026. Joanna Hunt, Performance Manager for Children's Services, presented the data, highlighting both successes and areas for continued focus.

Early Help and Prevention The report indicated a decrease in the number of Families First assessments completed compared to the previous year, although the number of children supported per assessment was higher. The Supporting Families Programme, formerly the Troubled Families Programme, met its target, achieving 100% of its goals for 2025/26.

Youth Justice First-time entrants to the Youth Justice System saw a decrease in Quarter 3 of 2025/26 compared to the same period the previous year. However, the percentage of youth court disposals resulting in a custodial sentence increased slightly. The percentage of young people involved in the Youth Justice system who were Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) saw a marginal increase. Services for Young People reported an increase in attendances at their 11-5 Hubs, with the primary reasons for attendance being support for those over 16 who are NEET.

Contact, Referral and Assessment (Safeguarding) The rolling year rate of referrals accepted into children's social care decreased slightly but remained higher than the previous year. Hertfordshire maintained a strong position nationally, with a low rate of referrals compared to statistical neighbours, attributed to its early help offer. The percentage of Child and Family Assessments completed within 45 days remained high, placing Hertfordshire in the top quartile nationally. Re-referrals to social care saw a slight increase, though still remained considerably lower than the national average.

Child Protection The percentage of children supported by an Initial Child Protection Conference held within 15 working days improved significantly in March 2026 compared to December, although it remained below the 90% target. The number of children supported by a Child Protection Plan increased, and Hertfordshire maintained a top quartile position nationally for the child protection rate per 10,000 population. The percentage of children subject to a Child Protection Plan for a second or subsequent time also increased, placing Hertfordshire in the second quartile nationally.

Children Looked After (CLA) and Care Leavers The number of Children Looked After (CLA) increased, driven by an increase in non-Separated Migrant Children, although the number of Separated Migrant Children decreased and remained static compared to the previous year. Hertfordshire maintained a top quartile position nationally for the CLA rate per 10,000. The percentage of CLA with three or more placements in the last 12 months reached its best end-of-year performance to date, placing Hertfordshire in the second quartile nationally. Long-term stability for CLA saw a slight decrease, placing Hertfordshire in the second quartile nationally. The percentage of children exiting care through adoptions increased significantly compared to the previous quarter and year, while Special Guardianship Orders saw a slight decrease. Notably, the percentage of Care Leavers aged 17-21 in Education, Employment or Training (EET) increased to its best end-of-year performance to date, placing Hertfordshire in the top quartile nationally for the first time.

Children's Services Vacancies The overall number of vacancies across Children's Services decreased compared to the previous quarter and year. However, specific roles, particularly within Specialist Services and Inclusion and Skills, were identified as hard to fill. Initiatives to address vacancies for Educational Psychologists and Social Workers, including revised recruitment strategies and pay rate exemptions for agency staff, were detailed. The report also highlighted a significant increase in weekly in-house residential home costs.

Financial Implications Children's Services reported an overall outturn overspend position, largely attributed to CLA and Leaving Care, and 0-25 Together services. The average weekly cost of independent placements for CLA increased, as did independent fostering and semi-independent living costs. A significant increase in weekly in-house residential home costs was also noted.

Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan 2026-28

Lydia Phillips, Youth Justice Service Manager, presented the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan for 2026-28. The plan, developed in collaboration with partners and informed by a child-first approach, outlines priorities for preventing offending and reoffending among children aged 10-17.

Key Priorities and Golden Threads The plan is guided by two golden threads : the Voice of Children, Families and Victims and Disproportionality and Anti-Racist Practice. Four key priorities for 2026-28 were outlined:

1. Enhancing the Youth Justice Partnership Board's visibility and collaborative decision-making.
2. Strengthening early intervention and diversion pathways to prevent entry into the youth justice system.
3. Improving support for victims of youth crime and promoting restorative practice.
4. Enhancing partnership-wide data maturity for a better understanding of needs and system pressures.

Serious Violence and Exploitation The report highlighted a decrease in weapon-carrying offences among children and a significant reduction in serious violence offences committed by children from Hertfordshire. A multi-agency Serious Violence Strategy and Delivery Plan is in place, and the Youth Justice Service contributes to the Multi-Agency Child Exploitation (MACE) Panel. The plan also addresses the government's new guidance on child knife possession offences, with local processes being reviewed.

Diversionary Activities and Support The panel discussed the effectiveness of diversionary activities, including the Turnaround programme, which supports children at risk of entering the youth justice system. The Police Youth Justice and Early Intervention team manages Out of Court Resolutions, aiming to prevent unnecessary criminalisation. The report detailed the work of Education, Training and Employment (ETE) workers in supporting young people, and the importance of Restorative Approaches and Victim support.

Disproportionality and Equality The plan acknowledges the overrepresentation of children from global majority groups within the Youth Justice Service and commits to addressing disproportionality. The Equality Impact Assessment highlighted that while White children are under-represented, Black children and those from Mixed or Multiple ethnic backgrounds are over-represented. The plan outlines actions to improve data recording and partnership working to address these inequalities.

Panel Discussion and Endorsement During the discussion, councillors raised questions about staff vacancies, the effectiveness of diversionary activities, the impact of budget constraints on service quality, and the challenges of supporting children with undiagnosed needs such as ADHD and autism. Concerns were also raised about the high percentage of looked-after children within the youth justice system. The panel noted the importance of collaboration between agencies, the role of town and parish councils in providing local spaces for appointments, and the need for better signposting to diversionary activities.

The panel voted to note and comment on the Quarter 4 performance report, and to recommend the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan 2026-28 to Cabinet for onward recommendation to Full Council for approval.