multi-agency case progression decision making & the role of the named person

Working together for young people in Dumfries and Galloway

Multi-agency Case Progression

Decision Making & the role of the Named Person

Carrie Caldow, Dumfries and Galloway ConstabularyJim Gordon, Pupil Support Officer Youth Justice


• The Referral Process management of information

timescales for decision making

• Multi-Agency Meetings

the named person

the decision making process

• Outcomes

reporting and monitoring

Key Areas - Present


Early and Effective Intervention (EEI) focuses on

timely and appropriate interventions for children and

young people who offend. It is embedded in

Dumfries and Galloway in the Dumfries and

Galloway since 2009Youth Justice Strategy

The EEI Multi-Agency Case Progression Group was

established in March 2010. The group meet on a

weekly basis with an average of 5 or 6 cases per

meeting. Since November, 2011, 16 & 17 year olds

have been discussed


Referral Process


Young Person (age 8-15) offends or involved in repeated Anti-Social Behaviour

Sufficiency of Evidence

Obtain the following details:-

- Details of child, parent and victim- Resume of incident- If suitable, whether parent and child would accept RJ Warning- Opinion of how case should be dealt with- Child’s attitude and parent’s opinion re offence

Email the Public Protection Information Mailbox asking for a review of the case


On completion of the review by Youth Justice, the Police Officer receives an email advising what course of action is to be taken.

This will be one of the following options:

RJ / Police Warning

Multi-Agency Case Progression

Meeting

Report to Children’s Reporter

When the Police Officer receives notification from Youth Justice, they must advise, the child, parent and also the victim of the

decision.


RJ Warnings

• Focuses on circumstances and consequences of offence

• Addresses the impact on the victim

• Child must admit the offence

• Warning carried out by RJ Trained Officer


Formal Police Warnings

• Formally Introduced in August 2010

• Young person is warned about the offence(s)

committed

• Young person does not need to admit

• Sufficient evidence to prefer charges

• Carried out by letter or a meeting with police


Children’s Reporter

• No longer seen as First Option

• Compulsory Measures or Open Referral

with Reporter

• Juvenile Report to be submitted within 7

days of charge ( 14 days for 16+ )

• Information added to Juvenile Report


Multi-Agency Case Progression Meetings

• Reasons for referral to the Meeting:-

– No admission / No remorse from young person

– Background issues

– Continued offending

List of young people and offence / ASB sent to

partners on Friday

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 under-

achievement • 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


C&F 98Information Shared 69YJ 122Police 12Reporter 35Sacro 426Other 55Grand Total 817


SACRO


When a Referral is received via EEI

Process:- Decision on “action” to be taken

by Sacro can be determined by factors such

as:-

• What the Offence/ Incident is and who has

been affected

• Recommendation/Direction from Case

Progression Group ie what partner

agencies expect from Sacro

• Outcome of Initial Visit with YP and YPs

family and agreement as to what

intervention, if any, is required.


Sacro can include the following in EEI sessions:-

1)Triggers for Offending Behaviour2) Consequences3)”Victim Chair”4)How Responsible am I for this Offence5)Advice Regards Alcohol/Substance Misuse6)Will I have a Police Record7)Consideration of consent to refer to partner agencies where deemed appropriate eg ISS CAMHS YPSS MENTORING SERVICE,YJ TEAM.8)”Signposting” to partner agencies eg YJ Social Worker, ISS.

Sacro Worker always reflects on what has been discussed with YP and YPs parent/guardian to ensure they have an understanding of the EEI process and its content.


Evaluation

First year of EEI MACP in Dumfries and Galloway evaluated by The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research…...

Key strengths of EEI in Dumfries and Galloway include:

a timely response to young people who offend; a reduction in paperwork, a reduction in operational Police time spent compiling reports and an ability to focus on more challenging cases; a reduction in bureaucracy; a consistent, appropriate and proportionate response to young people who offend; and an informed, holistic view of the young person for participating agencies.

Strengths of the EEI Model in Dumfries and Galloway include: close-knit working relations between partner agencies; shared agendas and strong leadership; and integration of the voluntary sector.


Reporting

• Named person always informed : e-mail pro forma sent to Named Person by Tuesday following meeting

• Sacro – Completion Report sent to school

• YJ Voluntary / Children & Families Voluntary – Child’s Meeting + Child’s Plan

• Reporter – School involved in further reporting to aid AIM2 Assessment; further contact with PSO Youth Justice


Feedback to schools :

Name :

Charge :

Assault to Injury : the charge relates to the assault in _____ Avenue on 14th January

Outcome:

____ has been re-referred to Sacro. Elliot Blaylock has been working with _____ and reports that ____ claims that he snapped after taking a lot of comments about his brother’s disability, but realises that his behaviour was unacceptable. He also reported that ______ claims he is making a genuine attempt to break away from more negative peer influences.

I will forward a copy of the Completion Report when I receive it.


Sacro Completion Report

DG1/13/074EB Assault 10/11/13I am writing to inform you that our work with the above named young person has been completed.

Form of Involvement

1.Initial Introduction- Early and Effective InterventionAs a result of a Recommendation following the Multi Agency Case Progression Meeting held on 05/12/13 I wrote ___ and his Mum and arranged an appointment to see them on Tuesday 17/12/13 at 4.00pm. This was rearranged and I met ____ at school on 19/12/13.

2. Action Plan

It was agreed that I could visit ____ at school and he would complete the Victim Awareness Programme. I therefore contacted _____ at _____ Academy and arranged a series of four appointments.


3. Level of Co-operation____ was appeared open and honest. He was polite and well mannered. He was happy to consider the feelings of others and accepted any advice given. I did not ask ____ to apologise for his behaviour because the case is ongoing in the courts and he is a witness.

4. Awareness/Description of Events from Young Person____explained to me that he had become involved in the fight to help a friend. He had tried to break the fight up but had been assaulted by the alleged victim. He appeared to have a very good grasp of the consequences of his actions, and he clearly understood the possible impact of any further offending on his future. He assured me that although he felt justified in helping his friend, in future he would think carefully before becoming involved in similar circumstances.


____ told me he intended to stay on another year at school and this seems to be a wise choice. In the future ____ is considering applying to _______ College. He is thinking about studying for a career in the building trade.

Hopefully _____ can be more careful in future and refrain from further offending. If so, I would be confident in predicting a prosperous and fulfilling future for him.

Shinarri indicators :

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Safe Healthy Achieving Nurtured

Active Respected Responsible Included

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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


Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill

- the challenges


- the challenges

•Named Person – attend meetings? 16+ not in school? ( Part 4 ) Direct measures?

•Child’s plan where “targetted intervention” is necessary? (Part 5)

•Reporting on “wellbeing”?

multi-agency case progression decision making & the role of the named person

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