Prevention and Diversion Assessment Tool
Summary
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has launched the Prevention and Diversion Assessment Tool; a brand-new, national assessment tool for Youth Justice Services working with children subject to prevention and diversion disposals. There is also a Q&A resource, as well as a Quality Assurance document, which aims to assists with the implementation of the tool.
Details
The Prevention and Diversion Assessment Tool (The tool) has been developed by the YJB, following feedback from youth justice professionals and young people, as a single, standardised tool which is more in line with the Child First approach. The tool has been designed to be shared with the young person and their families.
The tool first addresses the child or young person’s circumstances, diversity needs, family needs and considerations around exploitation before moving on to consider the child or young person’s behaviour. The tool was deliberately structured this way so that Youth Justice Professionals can first build up a picture of the circumstances, and needs, of the young person, to gain a greater understanding of how they have come to be in contact with Youth Justice Services. The Tool then goes on to consider how the young person’s needs and behaviour can be addressed and supported by the Out of Court Disposal or preventative intervention.
The plan includes a section for the young person to complete which highlights their strengths, what they think they may need help with and who will help them to achieve their plan. There is also a separate section for the ‘professionals plan’ in which consideration is given to how the child or young person’s needs can be addressed. The idea is that this is a single linear assessment which leads to the exit plan. The exit plan includes a summary of the work that has been undertaken with the young person, what has worked well, and what hasn’t, a review of the safety and wellbeing levels and any future planning that may be required.
The language within the Tool has changed from the language used in Assetplus. There has been a move from ‘risk’, to avoid labelling children as ‘risky children’, to considerations of the safety and wellbeing of the young person and the safety and wellbeing of others.
As the form is designed to be shared with the young person and their families, there is a confidential section at the end of the form so that Youth Justice Services can record information that cannot be shared with the young person and their family.
Commentary
The roll out of the Prevention and Diversion Assessment Tool should be completed by September of this year and the YJB will be offering training sessions for Youth Justice Professionals. The YJB’s commitment to the Child First approach can clearly be seen throughout this Tool, from the changes to the language used to the structure of the assessment itself. The fact that the form can be shared with the young person and their families is also positive.
Written by
Sabrina Neves, solicitor at GT Stewart Solicitors