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Reintegration puzzle conference
June 2010
Sarah Niblock, Senior Disability Advisor,
Disability Forensic Assessment and Treatment Services, Victoria
Young People With a Disability in the Victorian Youth
Justice System: Ensuring a Collaborative Approach
Reintegration Puzzle Conference 2010
Sarah Niblock
24 June 2010
Senior Disability Adviser (SDA) – : a Collaboration
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Aims: to build capacity of youth justice and disability client services staff to
effectively respond to the needs of young people with a disability involved in
the youth justice system with a focus on youth justice custodial facilities.
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Also focuses on strengthening and supporting collaboration between
Disability Services and Youth Justice throughout the case management
process.
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Funded by Disability Services and Youth Justice (Victoria)
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State-wide role and ongoing since 2008
Governance
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Client Group is all young people involved with the youth justice system in
Victoria who have a registered disability
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Works with a variety of agencies
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Works at Parkville Youth Justice Precinct and Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre
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Based at and managed by the Disability Forensic Assessment Treatment Service
(DFATS)
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Reports to a high level of departmental interface committee
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Contributes to broader disability, youth justice and youth justice custodial policy
and service planning
Key activities
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Secondary consultation to youth justice staff.
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Staff development for YJCC staff and Disability Client Services staff.
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Building knowledge of YJCC staff about Disability, supports and services, and
provision of resources.
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Establish effective networks between regional disability services, youth justice,
youth custodial, education and health services.
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Assist with joint case planning, exit planning for young people in custody,
including advising on individual behaviour management strategies.
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Promotion of protocol between Youth Justice and Disability Client Services
The role has continued to evolve within a context of
legislation, practice and policy developments
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Revised Protocol between Disability Services and Youth Justice (2009)
– Joint and individual responsibilities at difference stage of contact with justice
system
– key collaboration points: assessment, identification of supports and services,
and information sharing
– Co-signing of parole plans developed by Youth Justice before returned to the
Youth Parole Board
– For further information about the protocol, see
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/344122/ds_and_youth
justice_guidelines_for_workers_pdf_0509.pdf
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At times the focus of statutory and voluntary services can differ –
collaboration is critical
Role is informed by a range of information and data sources
Specific tools are utilised to assist with identification of young people with a disability:
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Self identification on arrival in custody.
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Use of the Victorian Offending Needs Indicator for Youth (VONIY).
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Identified through external reports, behaviour in custody, or collaboration with other
stakeholders.
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Databases such as the Client Relationship Information System (CRIS) are used to
inform service planning.
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Consultation with Disability Services, Youth Services and Youth Justice Custodial
services.
Clients referred to the Senior Disability Advisor, 2008 - 2009
Referrals to SDA – Indigenous status
Cultural Background of Clients
Referrals to SDA - Young people from a Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse background
Current challenges
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Identification of young people with a Disability.
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Increased presentation of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
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Complexity of cognitive assessments
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Ensuring responsitivity to needs of young people from a Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background.
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Complex presentations of young men and women with a Disability that exhibit
violence and other behaviours of concern.
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Multiple agency involvement including Child Protection and Non – Government
agencies.
Teamwork is vital
Source: The Guardian Weekly, 28 May 2010
Capacity building of youth justice and disability services staff
Seeks to capacity build within custody centres and across the state
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Strengthening formal linkages between Youth Justice and Disability
Services and encouraging collaborative practices
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Assisting with staff development for YJCC and regional disability client
services staff around specific needs of client group and collaborative
practice
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Assisting to develop workable and practical interventions that will divert
young people with a disability away from the youth justice system
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Facilitating understanding and cooperation around the revised Protocol
between Youth Justice and Disability Services – and guidelines for
workers (2009)
Two sides of the collaboration coin
Youth Justice / Disability
Outcomes
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Increased understanding amongst youth justice custodial staff of how to work with
young people with a disability
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Increased use of positive behaviour management strategies by youth justice staff
with young people.
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Greater understanding amongst youth justice staff understanding of disability
service system and how to access
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More active involvement of disability services staff in exit and parole planning for
young people.
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Improved working relationships between youth justice and disability client services
as well as with other agencies such as the Statewide ABI Paediatric Coordination
Service.
Further Outcomes …
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Increase in the engagement of young people in custody with disability
services case management
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Increase in number of referrals from custodial staff to the SDA over a two year
period Skill development through workforce and learning initiatives – collaborative
training and provision of induction training for new YJ and DCS case managers\
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Increased engagement by Disability Client Services case managers at Youth
Parole Board and greater involvement in exit planning
Future priorities and opportunities
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Building on the knowledge base of youth justice staff on working with young people
with a disability:
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Understanding nature of disabilities
Positive behaviour supports
Pathways into assessment
How to access support services in the community for young people with a
disability.
Assisting with the ongoing training of youth justice staff on:
– Positive behaviour strategies
– Effective communication strategies.
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Further contribute to policy and service planning.
Contact details
Sarah Niblock, Senior Disability Advisor
Sarah.Niblock@dhs.vic.gov.au
(w): 03 9389 4435
(m): 0417 120 691