Aspirations and Challenges
A Dumfries and Galloway
Perspective
Dumfries and Galloway is the third largest region in Scotland. It covers 2,380 square
miles and has an estimated population of 148,060 - that's around 60 people a square
mile compared with the Scottish average of 168. People live mainly in small
communities of 4,000 or less or in the countryside. The biggest town is Dumfries
with an estimated population of 31,630, followed by Stranraer with an estimated
population of 10,290 and Annan with 8,430 people.
The Partnership also considered Youth Justice in the
broader context of Children’s Services and it’s links
with the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA; Integrated
Children’s Services Planning (ICSP) structure;
Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Strategy; Getting our
Priorities Rights (GOPR) agenda; Community Safety
Partnership (CSP); Parenting Strategy; and the broader
Getting it Right for every Child (GIRFEC)
implementation.
- Equality and Diversity
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC)
- The Equality Act 2010
- Valuing Young People (Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities (COSLA) and Scottish Government
- Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) – including Dumfries
and Galloway GIRFEC Plan 2010-2104
- The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
National Outcome 4
Our Children have the best start
in life and are ready to succeed
National Outcome 8
We have improved life chances
for children, young people and
the families at risk
National Outcome 5
Our Young People are successful
learners, confident individuals,
effective contributors and
responsible citizens
National Outcome 9
We live our lives safe from crime
disorder and danger
The main aim of the Dumfries and Galloway Youth Justice
Strategy is to continue to reduce offending by Young
People. Policy developments such as the Concordat,
Single Outcome Agreement and the publication of the
Scottish Government Preventing Offending by Young
People – A Framework for Action, Progress (2008-2011) and
Next Steps (May 2012) support this aim.
Reducing the incidence of youth crime and antisocial behaviour in Dumfries
and Galloway and to prevent re-offending by young people.
Promoting the social inclusion of children and young people involved in or at
risk of involvement in offending.
Diverting children and young people away from offending and support them
in making positive choices for their future.
Developing strategies to prevent youth crime from happening in the first
place, whenever possible.
Ensuring better opportunities for children and young people engaged in
offending or antisocial behaviour.
Continue to implement a process that supports the effective care and
management of young people who offend or present a high risk.
Continue to develop and introduce a streamlined and effective framework that
identifies and diverts 16 and 17 year olds from the adult criminal justice
system and supports 18 to 20 year olds involved in the adult criminal justice .
Increase the range of evidenced based early and effective approaches and
intervention programmes for under 18s who offend.
Provide a diversion from prosecution service for under 21s as an alternative to
prosecution.
Develop and implement processes to enable support and assistance to young
people under the age of 21 years appearing in court.
The Dumfries and Galloway 2009-2012 Youth Justice Strategy has allowed the
Youth Justice Partnership to continue to develop and implement services to
support young people involved in offending and antisocial behaviour.
The 2009 -2012 Strategy was founded on continuing positive progress from the
previous Strategy and the implementation of the national ‘Preventing
Offending by Young People: A Framework for Action (Scottish Government
2008)’. During the period of this Strategy we also had the development and
implementation of the ‘Whole System Approach’ in September 2011, which
took place in Dumfries.
The 2009-2012 Strategy has contributed to and overseen some of the most
significant developments for services to young people who offend in
Dumfries and Galloway.
In developing the Strategy the following ten key areas were identified
in support of it’s successful implementation:
1. Prevention
2. Early and Effective Intervention
3. Diversion from Prosecution
4. Alternatives to Secure Care and Custody
5. Assisting Young People in Court
6. Reintegration and Transitions
7. Managing High Risk
8. Victims and Community confidence
9. Support to vulnerable girls and young women
10.Planning and Performance Improvement and Service Evaluation
Youth Justice Team Current Service Provision and Service Developments
The current Multi-agency Youth Team consists of the following staff:
Team Manager
2 Senior Social Workers
6 Social Workers
Parenting Services Coordinator (GIRFEC based)
Education Worker (Pupil Support Officer)
Police Constable
0.5 CAMHS Worker (funded through ADAT)
3 RJ Workers (Sacro)
2 Community Support Workers
Support Worker (Intensive Support Service)
Social Work Assistant
0.5 Information Resource Worker
4 Administration Staff
Sessional Staff of 40 to 45 Mentors
Presently the Youth Justice Team provides or is actively
developing services in the following areas:
Direct Youth Justice Assessments (ASSET based)
Restorative Justice Services (Reporter and PF Diversion)
Young Offenders Support Programme (more persistent offenders)
Engagement and Management of High Risk Offenders (Sexual and
Violent offences)
Parenting Support Programmes
Education Support
Employment and Training Support
Mentoring Support
Diversion from Prosecution
Court Support
Intensive Support (ISS Foster Carers)
ASB Support (ASBO’s and ABC’s)
Early and Effective Intervention
EEI Multi-Agency Progression (MACP) Process
Early and Effective Intervention (EEI) was a fundamental building
block of the 2009-2012 Strategy and remains as one of the most crucial
elements of this Strategy, especially with the recent decision to expand
EEI to include 16 and 17 year olds as part of the Whole Systems
Approach.
The earlier a problem is identified and tackled the more likely a young
person will engage with services, including universal services such as
education, and healthcare to address their needs.
Our EEI approach is in line with the GIRFEC process, in that
consideration is given to a single agency intervention prior to a multiagency consideration. For Children and young people involved in or
at risk of being involved in offending or antisocial behaviour the EEI
process has helped Dumfries and Galloway towards the GIRFEC
approach for all children.
Whole Systems Approach
An Underpinning principle of effective intervention is our Whole System
Approach Implementation Plan for young people involved in offending. This is
particularly important for the transition from the Children’s Hearing System to
the Criminal Justice System. For the most at risk and vulnerable of these young
people we are clear that:
Services should not recommend discharging a Supervision Order on 15 ½ to 17
½ year olds unless they are confident that there are appropriate and robust
measures in place to manage and mitigate the risk the young person needs.
Children’s Hearings should, where possible, not discharge a Supervision Order
on 15 ½ to 17 ½ year olds where there continues to be identified needs and/or
related concerns in terms of offending or antisocial behaviour.
Support for young people in the Criminal Justice System
Failing to provide effective support to 16 and 17 year olds locks them into a
cycle of reoffending and imprisonment.
Case Progression Group
Manager Youth Justice
Senior Social Worker Youth Justice
Manager Children & Families / Adult Care
Police Family Protection Group
Education – PSO Youth Justice
Health – ISSU 18 nurse
Manager ASB Team
SACRO
The Named person
Pupil Support Officer Youth Justice represents
The Named Person
Primary school - Head / Depute
Secondary - PT Pupil Support / Guidance
Request to Named Person
Level of courses being followed
Strengths
Any difficulties with literacy and / or numeracy
Any educational support plans in place
Likely level of achievement / possible underAchievement
Behaviour in school
Relationship with peers and staff
Engagement of home with school
Plans beyond school
Any other relevant details
Outcomes
Information Shared – sufficient support already available for young
person : school records information and delivers any intervention under
GIRFEC
Refer to Sacro – remit extended beyond working with young person on
restorative process to delivering first line intervention
Refer to Children & Families Social Work – via Child Concern (CAF)
Form
Refer to Youth Justice – voluntary support
Refer to The Reporter
Referral back to the Police - RJ/Police Warning
Monitoring
In implementing Multi-agency Case Progression, the
decision was made not to bring cases back to Case
Progression
Named person (schools) has information and can use it to
inform own procedures
YJ Voluntary or Compulsory – Monitored through Child’s
Plan
The Vision
1. Expansion of the EEI Model for all young people who may be referred
to the Children’s Reporter and not just those involved in offending and /or
antisocial behaviours. This would require agreement by and implementation
through the Integrated Children's Services Executive Group in Dumfries and
Galloway with any agreed implementation being part of the GIRFEC
Implementation Plan.
2. Expansion of the existing EEI Model to include 18, 19 and 20 year olds
as there is a peak in young people’s offending during the mid to late teens with a
subsequent drop off in their late teens and early twenties. Based on this evidence
in Dumfries and Galloway, we are keen to undertake research in relation to the
present expanded EEI service that now includes 16 and 17 year olds and the
Youth Justice Diversion Service that now includes 18,19 and 20 year olds.
Assuming the outcome is positive; we would submit a proposal to the Scottish
Government (Youth Justice and Justice Sections) for a proposed pilot.
Using the Case Studies provided, analyse
the information you have, and come up
with a plan to address their needs.