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Aim of the Service
The Northumberland Youth Offending Service
Works with young people aged between 8 and 17 years old who have
offended or are at risk of offending. The Services main aims are to
stop offending and prevent Re-offending.
The Service does this by:
- Making sure young people who offend are dealt
with as soon as possible.
- Giving information to the Courts to help them
make the best decision they can to prevent offending.
- Providing interventions which tackle the
particular factors which put a young person at risk of
offending
- Make sure young people understand how their
behaviour affects other people especially their victims.
- Giving young people who offend a chance to
put things right by working for their victim or the community.
- Reinforcing the responsibly of parents and
carers
- Providing high quality youth justice services
for young people in all communities in Northumberland.
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Our Vision
The vision of Northumberland Youth Offending
Service is to prevent offending by young people in the County
through joint work with our partners, to deal effectively with the
causes of offending, to improve outcomes for young people and help
them live crime free lives.
The service also recognises its
responsibilities towards the families of young people, victims and
local communities and will ensure its approach is balanced to take
account of the impact of youth crime on those directly
affected. Our work is based on a belief that children and
young people can change through a multi agency response which
reflects the diverse needs of individuals and communitites. We are
committed to protecting the public by balancing needs of children
and young people with the rights of victims and the wider
community.
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Service Targets and Performance
Northumberland Youth Offending Service is
currently graded as “performing excellently” by the Youth Justice
Board.
The 2 Key Targets of the Service are to
prevent offending and Re-offending.
Current Data Shows:
We have achieved a 4.2% reduction in
re-offending against the baseline set in 2005. The overall aim is
to reduce re-offending by 10% by 2010/11 Based on the 2005
baseline
The number of First Time Entrants into the
Youth Justice System has reduced by 26.4% since 2005
Other targets of the service
include:
- Reducing the use of Custody.
- Ensuring that young people involved with the
service are in full time Education Training Employment.
- Ensuring young people involved with the
service are in suitable accommodation.
- Ensuring that parents of young people
involved are receiving support.
- Ensuring all Young People open to the service
are assessed in relation to substance misuse and receive
intervention if required.
- Ensuring all young people with both acute and
non acute mental health concerns are assessed by the service and
referred for treatment where appropriate.
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In addition
The service effectively targets high risk
offenders as part of the Governments Prolific & Priority
Offender strategy. Latest figures in relation to a group of young
people being tracked as part of the deter strand show an 80%
reduction in frequency and a 40% reduction in the seriousness of
offending within this group. Northumberland has also seen a fall in
the number of offences committed by young people by 17% since
2007.
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Organisational Delivery
The service is overseen by a Partnership Board
which sets our strategic direction and monitors our progress and
performance. The YOS is based in Ashington and delivers a service
throughout Northumberland.
It is staffed by approximately 65 full and
part time staff drawn from Social Care and Health, Probation,
Police, Education, Connexions and other statutory and voluntary
agencies. Delivery of the service is through 4 Functional Teams:
Prevention, Early Interventions, Case Management and Court
Services. In addition 4 sub Teams form part of the service:
Parenting, Intensive Supervision & Surveillance Programme,
Family Intervention Programme and Victim Liaison.
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Staffing
The Youth Offending Service is made up of
staff from a range of Professional Backgrounds.
- Qualified Social Workers
- Probation officers
- Specialist Education workers
- Substance Misuse workers
- Connexions Personal advisers
- Youth workers
- Health workers
- Parenting Works
- Victim workers
- Dedicated Support staff
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Contact Us
Northumberland Youth Offending
Service
2 Armstrong
Way
North Seaton Industrial
Estate
Ashington
NE63
0YD
Telephone: 01670
852225
Fax:
01670 854193
Email: grp.northumberland-yot@northumberland.gov.uk
