The aim of the Youth Offending Service is to prevent re-offending (and, for those young people on Out of Court Disposals, their entry into the Criminal Justice System).
Coventry Youth Offending Service (CYOS) is a multi-agency service, comprising staff from Education, Social Care, Health, Probation & the Police. Partner agencies include Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Partnership (CSWP), Compass (Young Peoples’ Alcohol & Substance Misuse Service) etc.
When a young person becomes known to CYOS, a full assessment is conducted. This includes an educational report and any SEN needs they may have. This is to ensure that interventions can be delivered appropriately and meet individual need.
All young people receive a general health assessment
The key tasks of the service are:
- Assessing and delivering interventions to the out-of-court-disposal cohort
- Management and delivery of community sentences
- Management and delivery of secure estate sentences and resettlement
Servicing the Youth Court and Crown Courts (in terms of provision of a court team, Bail & Health assessments, provision of pre-sentence reports and stand down reports)
- Victim services
- Parenting services and management of parenting orders
YOS can only be involved and support a young person for the duration of their Community Court Order or Out of Court Disposal. However, for young people exiting custody, Integration & Reintegration Support (IRS) can be offered for up to 3 months beyond the end of their statutory Licence (or up to 6 months if assessed need). This is on a totally voluntary basis however. This support can include areas such as accommodation, ETE, benefits etc.
Occasional Prevention Programmes are delivered in educational sites
National Standards set by the Youth Justice Board dictate timescales within which young people must be seen and frequency of contact. As a result, there are no waiting lists; young people are immediately allocated a case manager
Staff have had training on the new SEND legislative changes and processes and around SEND areas of need, including how to access referral pathways to specialist areas.