The YJB have agreed to resume their funding for the vital social worker posts based in YOIs. Back in 2005, the YJB where instructed by the Secretary of State to provided 2-years worth of funding for 25 posts. Plans were always to transfer that funding to DCSF. In the event, the YJB & DCSF jointly funded the posts from 2008 whilst negotiating with the ADCS for local authorities to take over the costs. Negotiations broke down and now Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt has told delegates at a recent conference that over the next 3 years, the YJB will spend £3m to fund 22 posts in 11 YOIs. A fall in custody levels over recent months has saved millions of pounds says John Drew, enabling them to pay for the posts.

With around 27% of young people in custody having had at least some contact with the care system, and the vast majority being reported as coming from a family that had received some form of section 17 support, the social workers were seen as a key link to accessing post-custodial services for young people.