Transitions from youth to adult criminal justice services

Arrangements between Avon and Somerset YOTs and Probation Trust

Introduction

• In 2012 through the South West Consortium it was established that a new YOT to Probation protocol was needed.

• The aim of the revised protocol is to build upon the good relationships that the YOTs and Probation already have in place in Avon and Somerset.

• To incorporate the learning from the joint Thematic Inspection which took place in 2012 and the Youth to Adult Transitions Framework published by the YJB and MOJ in 2012.

Introduction continued

• Nick Whitefield met with Mike Rees in December 2012 and following this Mike took the proposal to the YOT boards and it was agreed that NW would work on the protocol with Jackie Dees representing the YOTs.

• The first draft (with much help from Connor Wilkinson) completed towards the end of May.

Introduction

• 1st draft discussed at YOT managers meeting 27th June 2013

• 2nd draft completed by Adrian Quinn 1st August.

• Awaiting further feedback and amendments from YOT managers and Probation.

• Issues that have needed to be considered are differing working practices of the 5 local YOTs.

Introduction

• Other issues are the differences in practice (process and systems) between the YOTs and Probation and Intergrated Offender Management.

• More recently the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda.

Introduction

• Our starting point for the protocol is that the period of transition when a young person moves from the YOT to Probation is a critical time. Professionals should work to ensure that the young person is properly safeguarded and that any risks they pose to the public are minimised.

Objectives of Protocol:

• That the young person’s needs are met, including any vulnerabilities

• Reduced re-offending and harm• Better risk management and more informed

assessments• Continuity of interventions• To ensure that the transition process is

planned and managed.

Role of Youth Offending Teams

• Supervise all young people on Referral Orders, Youth Rehabilitation Orders, Detention and Training Orders and longer custodial sentences from ages 10-17/18

• Protect the Public, Protect the Child/Young Person and Reduce Likelihood of Re-offending

Transfer to Probation

• Can only transfer YROs, DTOs and custodial sentences

• Transfers take place once young person is 18• Don’t need to transfer all 18 year olds• Planning for transfer should start when the

Order starts

Factors when deciding to transfer

• the maturity of the young person based on the joint professional judgement of the YOT and probation offender manager

• risks to the young person’s safety and wellbeing• type of offence and court order• sentence length • learning and developmental issues • mental health and substance misuse issues • physical and social care needs

Factors when deciding to transfer

• previous compliance • other risk factors• the interventions which the young person needs to access

and if the YOT or probation is better placed to provide those services (this will include input from service providers obtained at the professionals’ meeting)

• the young person’s view on whether the transfer should take place

• the family’s view on whether the transfer should take place.

When to start the transfer

• Start transition planning when a young person is sentenced and is likely to be turning 18 before the end of the order

• For IMPACT and high risk/MAPPA offenders, start the transfer process at 6 months before 18th birthday

• For other young people, start the process at 3 months before 18th birthday

Working Together

For a period of up to 3 months before and up to 3 months after transfer, supervision of the young person should be jointly conducted by the relevant YOT case worker and the identified Probation offender manager. The length of the period of joint pre and post transfer supervision should be determined by the relevant operations managers based on the needs of and risks posed by the individual young person.

Factors to consider

• share appropriate information• young person’s risk of serious harm and risks

to his/her safety and wellbeing • the relationships in the young person’s life and

their associates, including any gang affiliation• employment, training and education

involvement/needs• drug or alcohol misuse and health needs

Factors to consider

• lifestyle and living arrangements• young person’s family’s involvement with the YOT,

including any family intervention work and any family substance misuse or criminogenic aspects

• emotional wellbeing, attitudes, thinking and behaviour, perceptions of themselves and others, motivation to change and progress of the young person against their sentence plan and work undertaken

Factors to consider

• MAPPA/risk management issues• outstanding court cases and any enforcement issues• Identify if the young person is a Looked After Child

and which services they are entitled to and involve the looked after or aftercare social worker.

• Probation Trust will consider whether the young person fits the criteria for any priority offender (e.g. IRiS/Impact) scheme in line with local and national guidance.

Factors to consider

• Risk of Serious Harm assessment• probation’s contribution to transition planning

for the individual young person• any other issues• transition to other adult services e.g. mental

health services

Former YOT cases

• Not every young person who has worked with a YOT will have gone through a formal transition process

• With 18/19 year olds if there have been offences between the ages of 10–17, probation offender managers will contact the relevant YOT and seek information on that young person.

Former YOT cases cont’d

• The young person may be used to the requirements of the youth justice system but may need assistance in meeting the requirements of the adult system. YOTs where appropriate may assist probation in the initial management of these cases to help young people adjust to the difference in services

• Where case has not gone through transition process, both agencies will consider whether elements of this need to be initiated.

Role of Probation

• Work with the YOTs, the young person, family and other agencies to ensure that the transition is managed and planned effectively following the principles of :

• Consistency• Continuity• Commitment• Consolidation

Role of Probation continued• Once the YOT has identified the case for transfer, Probation

will ensure the timely allocation of a Probation Offender manager to ensure that the transition process is undertaken within the agreed timescales and follows transition process highlighted.

• Probation Officers will use their professional judgment (in line with National Standards) to manage the transition, taking account of the different working cultures of the organisations to help manage the transition and the needs of the Young Person.

• Probation to identify champions in teams who will work with young people on their caseloads to embed and consolidate good practice.

Review and learning• YOT and probation operations managers will conduct a joint

annual evaluation review of all the cases the YOT has transferred to probation that year containing the following elements:

- Feedback from young people and their families obtained at end of the order.

- Number of cases which have been transferred for that period. - Analysis of the reoffending rates of those young people who

have gone through the transition process. - Number of breaches and general compliance in probation.- Relationships and partnership working between YOTs and

probation.

Review and learning cont’d

• This evaluation will inform a review of the local protocol which will also take place annually. The aim of the review is to update the local protocol with improvements to practice, promoting the development of good practice and taking account of any lessons learnt.