Work with young offenders in Stoke-on-Trent has been branded 'inadequate' by inspectors.

Stoke-on-Trent Youth Justice and Support Service (YJSS) has 'significant shortfalls' across all its work with children, according to His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP).

Inspectors say that while Stoke-on-Trent YJSS – a statutory multi-agency partnership – has the components needed for a high quality youth justice service, including a well-resourced multi-disciplinary team, strong partnership working, and skilled staff, this is 'not currently translating into sufficient youth justice practice'.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says it is now taking 'closer strategic and operational oversight' of the service, and work is already underway to address the issues raised by the inspection.

HMIP carried out a week of fieldwork with the service in May, looking at the quality of work with children and victims. According to the inspectors' report, work with children requires strengthening across all HMIP's standards, with particular shortfalls in keeping children and the community safe.

Assessments reflect children's voices and identifies their strengths, but there needs to be more focus on ensuring children's needs and safety are fully understood. Planning is 'not consistently collaborative' with parents, carers and partners, delivery of interventions is undermined by 'silo working'.

The inspectors found that work with victims is 'embryonic but encouraging', with a focus on improving the quality of victim work. But there is not enough understanding of the needs of victims, and initial contacts do not consider victim safety.

Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones says that despite the disappointing findings, there is a willingness to learn at the service.

He said: "While Stoke-on-Trent YJSS had the elements that should have enabled a high-quality service, including a well-resourced, multi-disciplinary team that were committed and motivated to work with children and their families, concerningly, this was not currently translating into sufficient youth justice practice, and overall, the service was rated 'inadequate'.

"It was clear staff and strategic leaders were willing to learn from this disappointing inspection and want to drive improvement at Stoke-on-Trent YJSS, and I trust that the findings and recommendations from our report will assist them in their journey."

The service's work with children was rated as inadequate in relation to assessing, planning and delivery, while work with victims was rated as 'requires improvement'. The overall rating was inadequate.

HMIP has issued 15 recommendations to Stoke-on-Trent YJSS, the director of children's services, the youth justice management board, and Staffordshire Police.

The city council says it is moving quickly to implement a 'robust' improvement plan in respond to the inspection. This work has included a comprehensive review of all open cases to ensure all children are receiving the right support – the council says there are now no unmet safety and wellbeing concerns.

There will also be closer collaborative working between Stoke-on-Trent YJSS and children's social care, while an external youth justice consultant has been brought in from a service previously rated as outstanding.

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children's services, said: "The shortcomings identified by this inspection are unacceptable. We accept the findings and recognise that improvements are needed. Keeping children, victims and our communities safe must always be our highest priority.

"Where the inspection found our practice had not been good enough, we are already taking decisive action to address those concerns. People rightly expect us to improve quickly and deliver consistently high-quality practice.

"We are committed to doing exactly that and will continue working closely with our partners and HM Inspectorate of Probation to ensure children, victims, and communities receive the service they deserve."

The city council will share its final improvement plan with HMIP next month