Youth Justice Liaison
and Diversion Scheme
YJB and Department of
Health lead by Sainsbury
Centre for Mental Health
YJLD Pilot Site
The Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion
(YJLD) pilot scheme was developed in
2008 to enhance health provision within
the youth justice system and facilitate
help for children and young people with
mental health and developmental
problems, speech and communication
difficulties, learning disabilities and other
similar vulnerabilities at the earliest
opportunity.
Objectives for the Pilot Sites
The specific objectives of the YJLD pilot scheme are:



To improve early identification at the point of entry into
the youth justice system (YJS) (usually the police custody
suite) of under 18 year olds with mental health, learning,
communication difficulties or other vulnerabilities affecting
their well being;
To enhance access for these groups of vulnerable young
people in the YJS to multi agency support equipped to meet
their needs;
As appropriate, to divert young people either from the
YJS towards personalised packages of health and social
care or, within the YJS, to services better equipped to
meet their health, emotional well being and welfare needs;
Objectives for the Pilot Sites

To promote more timely and cost effective disposal of
cases within the court system and quicker and earlier
linkage to appropriate services;

To reduce longer term offending;

To reduce health inequalities

To support joined-up working between the YOS, the
police, the local authority, the CPS, magistrates, the PCT,
CAMHS, and the voluntary sector.
Pilot Sites

Halton & Warrington

Wolverhampton

Royal Kensington & Chelsea

Peterborough

South Tees

Lewisham
HWYOT Criteria



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First time entrants
Young People who have received a Reprimand or Final
Warning who may not have been involved with the police
for at least 2 years
Young people who have been dealt with by Restorative
Justice
10 -17 Years of age
HWYOT Referrals
Referrals are received from the following sources 
The Police for young people in custody or being processed
via Green Book

CAVA’S / PENY’S / Restorative Justice

The Courts / YOT Court Team

Social Care and other agencies
HWYOT What Happens Next?

Social Care / CAF and Camhs checks completed.

Divert Worker contacts the Parent / Young Person and
arranges a home visit.

Assessment is completed and any issues/needs identified.

Referrals made to relevant agencies for additional support if
appropriate.

Feedback to be provided to the police via Atlas prior to a
disposal decision being made.
HWYOT Partnerships.

Signposting to other agencies

Liaising, updating and informing partner agencies.

Working closely with the police
HWYOT Interventions
The Diversion Project can provide interventions covering areas
such as –
Consequential
Victim
The
thinking
awareness
Law
Drug
& Alcohol Issues
Anger
management
University of Liverpool Evaluation
Report
Vulnerability area
Behavioural
Social
Safeguarding
Mental health
Developmental (exc. LD)
Wellbeing/confidence
Substance misuse
Suspected LD
Physical health
Other issues
None
Total
N
709
530
377
291
149
124
120
48
10
18
117
2493
%
28
21
15
12
6
5
5
2
<1
<1
5
100
* ADHD (49%), Conduct Disorder (19%),
Autism Spectrum (19%), Depression (15%)
Example
Anger/aggression
Family conflict
Domestic violence
Suspected diagnosable MH problem *
Poor school attendance
Low self-esteem
Re-offending Findings


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Results from findings found no statistical differences in reoffending between YJLD and control sites.
However, findings found statistically significant results to
desistance/time to re-offending. There is a significantly
longer time that elapses to the first re-offence for YP who
have been through the YJLD scheme compared to the
control sites.
This raises the prospect of reductions in societal and
monetary costs of offending
Re-offending Limitations of
Research Sample






Small sample sizes in individual comparisons
Low numbers to enable correlations re what
works for whom
4 sites only
Limited matching between YJLD sites and control
groups.
No calculated predicted reconviction rates (no
Asset or Onset info)
Other potential confounding factors not taken
into account (e.g. police, courts, CPS, YOS
practice; other interventions)
Service User Views – Research
Study

24 in depth face to face interviews (Feb-Sept’11)

YP: male (n=16), female (n=8); average age 14.5 (11-17)

11 interviews at YP’s home, 13 at YJLD office and 2 at
school
Service Users Emerging Themes

Social strain, areas of multiple socio-economic deprivation, single
parent families, household disharmony (incl. as a result of their
contact with the YJS)

Disruption of education and difficulties with ‘mainstream’ schools

Offending appears to be relatively ‘normal’ within YP’s peer groups

Majority report not using alcohol and/or drugs

Small minority - excessive alcohol consumption related to
outbursts of serious violence.

A large number of YP reported difficulties in controlling anger,
often with violent consequences.
Service Users - Emerging Themes



YP in contact with and/or receiving services from a wide
range of professional agencies, e.g. YOT, CAMHS, social
services.
YP appear confused about their contact with the YJLD (and
the YJS in general)
YJLD - positive, as it appears to meet their desire to be
understood and helped, especially through focused
attention and periods of one-to-one contact with YJLD
practitioners.
Stakeholders Views – Emerging
Themes

All of the professional staff interviewed recognised the
importance and value of diversion.

Effective referral mechanisms to the YJLD scheme are
critical for its success.


Greatest barrier to the implementation of the YJLD scheme
derived from different competing priorities and agendas of
partners involved in the delivery of the project.
Different degrees of ‘buy in’ from partners, even though all
signed up originally to the scheme.
Stakeholders Views – Emerging
Themes



Relationships with CAMHS were seen as essential to
addressing mental health, learning disabilities and specific
vulnerabilities for young people referred to YJLD.
Universal support for making diversion systematic or
compulsory within police practice.
Strong expression of opinion that the police should be
trained to identify, appreciate and understand the
significance of mental health issues in young people.
Research Recommendations








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Develop a clear and uniform diversion policy and practice
Integrate diversion scheme with existing services
Facilitate appropriate training to YJLD staff
Promote systematic screening and assessment
Match interventions to YP’s characteristics
Incorporate youth diversion into police practice
Promote an outreach, family and community centred
approach
Monitor progress and effectiveness
Encourage dissemination of current results
HWYOT Divert Project - Future


HWYOT along with the other 5 Pilot Sites became one of 37
Pathfinder Sites across the country at the end of 2011.
These sites continue to receive funding from the
department of Health whilst the Business Case for national
rollout is developed and presented to the to the Ministers.