Youth Justice Strategic Plan Executive summary

The young people open to the Youth Justice Service (YJS) were acknowledged by the board as being vulnerable, therefore mechanisms were put in place for young people to receive laptops and mobile phones where appropriate to enable remote interventions with their case managers.

Concise messages have been given to staff throughout the pandemic by Gateshead Council, this has helped manage the volume of communications and has ensured that staff have been given the most up to date advice in line with health and safety and government guidance. Risk assessments have been written and updated throughout the pandemic and this continues to be the case. Gateshead's Children's Services has full risk assessments in place and alongside this there are specific risk assessments for youth justice business.

Location

Gateshead Civic Centre is the usual base for the YJS, the building remains closed to the public however, staff can work from the Civic Centre if necessary. Staff have accessed management support remotely and face to face and have been provided with all the necessary equipment to work from home effectively. Home visits, transportation and reparation projects continue in line with the council's risk assessment guidance and corporate policy, all necessary PPE continues to be readily available to staff. Referral Order panels have been conducted via Microsoft Teams and face to face.

Suitable locations which have been identified to socially distance in a physical face to face meeting with the panel. Steps are taken to minimise the number of people in the meeting and all reports are shared electronically in advance. Volunteers have been consulted with throughout COVID-19.

Requiring an appropriate adult 

During the pandemic Gateshead YJS has put the needs of young people at the centre of all the work we do. When young people have required an Appropriate Adult, they have been seen face to face in the police station, this has been done safely and in line with covid restrictions.

Guidance has recently changed so young people will always have physical representation from a solicitor whilst in police interview, this has been welcomed by the YJS and has been encouraged throughout the pandemic. The service continues respond to appropriate adult requests and ensure staff attend the police station. We are working with the police to ensure that young people are kept in custody for the shortest possible time and we are monitoring our performance in relation to this. COVID-19 has not prevented us in any way from attending the police station and we have now developed performance measures to ensure a timely response.

Contact methods for Gateshead YJS staff and young people

Throughout the pandemic Gateshead YJS staff have, in line with local risk assessments and government guidance, transported young people in private vehicles when necessary. We have also promoted remote contact, face to face, walk and talk, telephone and email communication. Creative approaches have been used to promote contact including using community venues. Where a case manager could not enter the young person's home (due to shielding or other covid related issues), doorstep visits were undertaken.

Routine assessments for Out of Court Disposals and court sentences all include the young person's views and experience of COVID-19. It is recognised that the pandemic will have impacted on education, family relationships and many aspects of emotional wellbeing. Gateshead Youth Justice Service employ a trauma informed approach to working with young people and have continued to prioritise regular and meaningful contact (in whatever form a young person wanted this to be) to ensure consistency and support for every child.

The Youth Justice Management Board continues to meet bi-monthly and strategic partners are fully informed regarding the quality of services, the management of orders and the effectiveness of supervision of children during the restrictions.

Visits

Covid restrictions preventing visits to Wetherby Young Offenders Institution (YOI) were lifted in December 2020 and Case managers have since made frequent visits. It is acknowledged that young people who were in custody during the lockdown phase of the pandemic had a limited ability to have face to face contact with family, friends and professional agencies, however, throughout this time the Youth Justice Service maintained good communication links to plan effectively for release and afford young people the best opportunities to comply with their licence.

Conclusion

The Youth Justice Service has been incredibly flexible in its approach during the pandemic and we have continued to build trusting relationships with young people and their families by adapting our practice whilst providing face to face support for young people in the police station, at court and in the community. Learning from these experiences will ensure that we have greater flexibility in the way we deliver interventions in the future. Staff have worked effectively from home and we have utilised several venues throughout Gateshead thus embedding the work of the Youth Justice Service firmly in the community.