Reintegration and transitions for young offenders: guidance

Appendix 2 - Pilots

Includem

Includem was involved in a Home Detention Curfew pilot scheme, which ended in March 2011, to help reintegrate 16/17 year olds returning to Lanarkshire or Glasgow, through the provision of intensive support, specifically:

• one to one relationship based work ;
• planned and unplanned contact at the times and in the places where young people are most at risk to others or themselves 24/7;
• 24 hour response through our Helpline for young people and their carers - face to face if required;
• support for carers to enhance sustainability of interventions; and
• facilitation of access to other agencies and services

This pilot relied on YOI Polmont and Cornton Vale identifying appropriate referrals, with access to referrals ideally 4-6 weeks for relationship building prior to release. On release the pilot provided each young person with an average 10 hours per week due to the level of chaos and insecure accommodation.

Maximum length of HDC is 135 days, therefore Includem provided between 5 and 6 months of support per young person. This included 1-2 months prior to release and up to 4.5 months after release. After this period tapering transitional support is available on average for 2 years. Length and intensity of support is based on needs assessment and willingness to continue involvement.

Up-2-Us

Up-2-Us is piloting a project dedicated to high-risk girls', called, Time for Change. This pilot started in March 2010. Time for Change supports girls leaving secure care and custody, or very high risk in the West of Scotland.

One of the objectives of Time for Change is to gain a better understanding of the events and processes that have contributed to the girls' present situation.

The Time for Change project offers relationship based support within a holistic, strength-based model. The service is on an outreach basis and includes elements of practical support, partnership, one to one focussed work and 24/7 crisis access.

Interim outcomes include:

• positive diversion from secure placement
• improved transition from scure accommodation, Cornton Vale and equivalent
• ultimately preventing girls gravitating into a long term career in criminal justice and / or homeless networks

Project workers plan time with the girls on a weekly basis and where possible this is part of the local planning process in line with the GIRFEC model. Time commitment to each girl varies considerably from daily contact, as when a girl is released from prison or in the early stages of relationship building, to once or twice per week in remand cases or where rehabilitation is not imminent. The planned time must however be responsive to changing needs and circumstances such as when someone changes address, is missing or has to attend court or more positively makes progress. This core time covers day, evening and weekend contact.

Skills Development Scotland

SDS have a fulltime Careers Adviser in HMYOI Polmont's Blair House and HMPYOI Cornton Vale working with 16 and 17 year olds who will require an Activity Agreement ¹¹² or an appropriate offer under 16+ Learning Choices. Career Information Advice and Guidance ( IAG) and employability support using SDS products is available to young people in HMP YOI Cornton Vale and HMYOI Polmont. The SDS Centre in the young person's home area is informed of activities undertaken in custody and where appropriate an introduction to a home area key worker as part of the transition to release is arranged. 16+ Local Authority co-ordinators are also involved with supporting young people in custody to make the right learning choices.