Youth offending support services
» Remand support programmes
» Connexions
» Parenting support
» Resettlement and aftercare provision
» Victims awareness
» Substance misuse
Remand support programmes
What is a bail supervision and support programme?
The Youth Offending Service operates a Remand Supervision & Support Scheme designed for young people who live in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and who are at risk of having bail denied and being remanded by the court to custody or to into the care of the local authority.
Remanded into local authority accommodation
If the court refuses to grant bail with conditions, it can remand the young person to be accommodated by the local authority (Council) or to secure accommodation or custody if the matter is very serious.
If the court is considering refusing bail, the remand services officer will discuss the alleged offence and the young person's personal circumstances with them and, if appropriate, can then put forward a bail support package to the court. If this package is accepted by the court they will release the young person on a bail supervision and support programme.
How does the Bail Support Programme work?
The young person will start by attending the Bail Supervision and Support Programme for five consecutive days in order that a full assessment of their needs can be done. Following these five days the young person will then be expected to attend as decided by their worker and the court.
Is that it?
No! At the meetings with the remand services officer the young person will be given the opportunity to discuss ways in which they could be offered help to keep to their bail conditions and advice with things like: school, leisure, careers, personal development, counselling, and drug or alcohol misuse.
What happens next?
At the next hearing the court will ask the Youth Offending Service for an update on how the young person is engaging on the bail supervision and support programme. If the young person has not engaged the court can refuse bail and the young person could be remanded into custody or local authority accommodation.
Connexions
Connexions personal advisors based at the Youth Offending Service office aim to help young people engage in learning, training or employment, whilst also helping them to achieve their full potential and assist in ensuring a smooth transition to adult life.
The service is provided to all 13 - 19 year olds (up to 25th birthday for those with learning disabilities). The service is delivered by qualified personal advisors (PAs).
All young people can have access to a personal advisor, although the level of contact and support will vary depending on their needs. Services may range from a one-off careers interview arranged through school, to intensive and ongoing one-to-one support.
There are also personal advisors in every maintained secondary school and further education colleges, together with a range of community-based personal advisors, and a drop-in Connexions centre in King Street, Hammersmith.
The primary focus for a personal advisor is to help remove barriers to learning, ensuring that a young person is re-engaged in education, training and/or employment. Factors such as offending, disability, pregnancy, homelessness, social isolation, can all act as barriers to learning.
The role of the personal advisor is to work with a young person, identifying and removing or reducing any barriers and co-ordinating relevant support services to help a young person to progress positively.
Parenting support
What does parenting support mean?
The Youth Offending Service (YOS) may be able to help parents/carers to stop young people re-offend. Parenting programmes are provided alongside other parents in groups. We can refer for parenting experts or other services to help if needed.
Do parents have to work with the youth offending service?
Most parents/carers choose to work with the YOS worker voluntarily because they find it very useful. However, the court can order a parent to work with the YOS by issuing a Parenting Order to the parent/legal guardian.
What is a Parenting Order?
Parents/carers on a parenting order are expected to work with the Youth Offending Service to learn about how to deal with young people's challenging behaviour. More information about what the order means and the support on offer within the team will be provided to the parent/carer to assist them complete the order successfully.
Integrated Resettlement Support (IRS)
To be eligible for IRS a young person will serving a custodial sentence, have a substance misuse related issue and willing to have them addressed. The programmes provide help with :
- housing
- college
- training
- employment
- constructive activities
What is the aim of the provision?
The aim of IRS is to support young people live in the community by finding constructive and positive things to do with their time and support them in achieving goals for their future which will reduce the risk of re-offending.
What support is available?
If a young person is about to become homeless and not sure what to do, then IRS will help them look at and understand the housing options available. IRS will also help arrange appointments with the Jobcentre and Connexions and accompany young people to meetings if required.
IRS also has access to a fund which can be used to help support young people - for example attend a short course or join a local sports centre. IRS is able to spend money on young people to help meet essential needs or help them achieve their goals.
IRS can provide up to 25 hours a week of support for the duration of your sentence.
We try to make contact with victims of crime and take account of, and respect their wishes on how the young person might put things right. If something has gone wrong it is important to understand what happened, how people have been affected, and what can be done to make things better for everyone. This can be done either directly or indirectly.
- Mediation - between victim and offender. This could involve a meeting within a safe, supervised setting. The aim of this is for the victim to tell the offender how the offence affected him or her and family members. If the victim does not wish to meet the offender in person he or she can communicate through a letter or tape recording.
- Apology - the victim may choose to receive a personal apology or a letter of apology from the offender who committed the offence against them. A letter can be sent via the Youth Offending Service so that the victim's and offender's details are kept confidential.
Benefits for the victim include:
- being a central part of the criminal justice process
- express their needs and feelings after the crime
- ask questions of the offender
- gain knowledge of the offender
- educate offenders about the effects of their offences
- sort out conflict arising from the offence
- receive apology and/or appropriate reparation
- put the crime behind them
What does the Youth Offending Service substance misuse team do?
The substance misuse (SMU) team provides services for young people affected by drug and alcohol misuse. The team aims to educate and support young people who are misusing a substance and/or are carers for people who use substances.
The SMU team is committed to helping young people reduce the harm they may cause to themselves or the community through drug related crime.
An initial assessment will be carried out by the allocated youth offending service worker and where required, a referral for specialist substance misuse assessment will be passed to the SMU team. An appointment for specialist assessment will be offered within 5 days of receiving the referral.
The assessment takes account of a variety of factors and covers:
- The young person as an individual
- Substance use health (physical and emotional)
- Family
- Peers (Friends)
- Education and training
- Offending history
A plan is then agreed and follow up sessions are arranged with the case manager. If necessaryhelp is sought from more specialist workers from Druglink.
Confidentiality is our key concern. Information given in confidence about substance misuse will not be shared with anyone outside the youth offending service without your knowledge/permission, unless someone is likely to be hurt.
To contact us:
Youth Offending Service
Cobbs Hall
266 Fulham Palace Road
London SW6 6LL
Tel: 020 8753 6200
Fax: 020 8753 6242
Email: yos.info@lbhf.gov.uk
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Page last updated: 20/06/2011
