Benchmarking Excellence in Restorative Conferencing Conference Unit sits under the umbrella of the Youth Court and the Courts Administration Authority. The unit is responsible for the management of all state wide court based conferencing initiatives. The development of the benchmarks need to be understood in the context of CAA Strategic goals and the Conference Unit Vision Benchmarking Excellence in Restorative Conferencing Conference Unit Youth Court of South Australia Courts Administration Authority Manoj Radhakrishnan, A/Manager Linda Polito, A/Supervisor

The thee pillars of CAA strategic goal 2020 are : Continuous improvement leads to providing excellent services Staff use this tool to provide excellent services Ongoing engagement of staff Administrative process and procedures are effective, efficient and standardized Measure the CU performance Resources are managed effectively and efficiently Staff are engaged, flexible and adaptable CAA Strategic Goal 2020

Conferencing Unit Vision Strategic Goals of CAA It is based on restorative philosophical framework of giving victims a voice, meeting victims needs and taking steps to prevent the recurrence of offending or victimisation Conferencing Unit Vision “Achieving excellence in restorative conferencing opportunities, in pursuit of social justice outcomes for a stronger and safer community.”

Conferencing Unit Services Currently the CU conducts . Amalgamation of both Care and Protection and Family Conference Unit in 2010 20 year celebration Accountability for young people Victim’s voice in criminal justice proceedings Independent facilitation model Family Decision Making Model Family participation in care and protection proceedings 2 groups of Coordinators 9 FC & 7 CP Coordinators, two group of jurisdiction, diversionary program Conferencing Unit Services Family Conferences under Young Offenders Act 1993 Family Care Meetings under Children’s Protection Act 1993 Port Lincoln Aboriginal Conferences Victim Impact Meetings

Developing Benchmarks- Context Benchmarking is a way of discovering what is the best performance being achieved, it is a process for obtaining a measure and is an ongoing process We used internal benchmarking type as we don’t have any comparable organization available in SA What set of behaviors, practices, capabilities should be achieved to close the performance gap What it takes to be a high performance organization Need for standards practice and benchmarks for both jurisdiction No National Standards for Conferences Identifying and developing consistent measures and references for excellent conference practices Identifying and responding Changing needs and demands of clients Developing Benchmarks- Context

Purpose and Objectives Achieve excellence in restorative conferencing Identifying, understanding and adapting excellent practices from Conferencing Unit Coordinators Develop Practice Standards and Benchmarks for best practices to ensure consistency in conferencing practices Develop a self reflection tool that assists Coordinators to determine and evaluate their practice Assists in identifying training and developmental needs of Coordinators Enhance the Conferencing Unit’s capacity to provide effective and efficient services to clients Purpose and Objectives Aligning the practice with the vision of restorative justice and diversion

Process of Developing Benchmarks Staff Engagements in the process Ongoing consultation with Staff, series of team discussion with a clear agenda of engaging coordinators to embrace the process of developing benchmarks, overcoming concerns, suspicions and resistance to the concept of common practice standards; challenging the mindset of a diverse work group, recognizing the need for common practice standards, harnessing coordinators expertise in identifying the common practices.. Clearly communicated the purpose, objective, expected outcomes and process Opportunity for the staff to contribute and have regular update, Process of Developing Benchmarks Staff Engagement Consultation Communication Phase 1 Engagement Phase 2 Working Group Phase 3 Workshop Phase 4 Benchmarking Phase 5 Implementation

Process of Developing Benchmarks Formed a working group with representation from both jurisdiction and had clear Activity/implementation plan Process of Developing Benchmarks Established Working Group Formed Working group Implementation plan Developed Practice Standards Phase 2 Working Group Phase 1 Staff Engagement Phase 3 Workshop Phase 4 Benchmarking Phase 5 Implementation

Process of Developing Benchmarks Phase 2 – An external facilitator facilitated a workshop to identify and define critical skills and behavior required to measure the identified practice standards, 5 days Prioritizing the practice standards and identifying indicators and descriptions (essential to excellent conference) Defined benchmarks as excellent, achieved and needs improvement Process of Developing Benchmarks Workshop External facilitator Prioritizing the practice standards and identifying indicators and descriptions (essential to excellent conference) Defined benchmarks as excellent, achieved and needs improvement Finalised Benchmarks Phase 3 Workshop Phase 1 Staff Engagement Phase 2 Working Group Phase 4 Benchmarking Phase 5 Implementation

Process of Developing Benchmarks Piloted benchmarking as a self-reflection tool Reviewing and refining Benchmarks Agreement reached with Coordinators Co-ordinators are skilled responsive and dynamic in bringing people together to make informed decisions to resolve issues and where possible, repair harm Child/children’s needs and wishes are represented at the Family Care Meeting Victim is offered genuine opportunity to participate in the Family Conference Coordinator ensures the services are relevant and efficient Coordinator ensures due process in exercising statutory responsibilities Coordinator facilitates tailored outcomes for participants that also contribute to a stronger and safer community by keeping children safe and repairing harm Process of Developing Benchmarks Finalising and consolidating practice standards and benchmarks Practice Standards Effective Engagement Voice of Child/Children Victim Participation Purposeful Engagement of Service Providers and Stakeholders Legislation and Procedural Compliance Responsive and Restorative Outcomes Piloted benchmarking as a self-reflection tool Reviewing and refining Benchmarks Agreement reached with Coordinators Phase 4 Benchmarking Phase 1 Staff Engagement Phase 2 Working Group Phase 3 Workshop Phase 5 Implementation

Process of Developing Benchmarks Benchmarking Practice Standards….. One example Effective engagement Measures Excellence A meeting is offered to the participants prior to the meeting Achieved Questions are answered and adequate information is provided Needs Improvement No contact with parties before the meeting date. Indicator Family Care Meetings and Family Conferences are inclusive and empowering of clients Phase 4 Benchmarking Phase 1 Staff Engagement Phase 2 Working Group Phase 3 Workshop Phase 5 Implementation

Implementation Present Future Self Reflection tool to reflect on Coordinator’s practice (Target 3 Files for CP Coordinator & 4 files for YJ Coordinator) (CAA Strategic Plan) Regular Supervisions and Performance Development and Management Plan (CAA Strategic Plan) Live document, always responding to the changing needs of Unit, Legislation, policy, opportunities and gaps Linked to Client Feedback Survey (CAA Strategic Plan) >95% of participants remarked that the conference was a fair process Achieving continuous improvement and consistency leading to ensure outstanding client services (CAA Strategic Plan) Easy to use the tool, reflection is not only based on practice, but on reality (effectiveness of tool) Implementation Present The benchmark tool to reflect on Coordinator’s practice Regular Supervision Performance Development and Management Plan Future Peer Review Focus Discussions Feedback Survey with stakeholders Phase 5 Implementation Phase 1 Staff Engagement Phase 2 Working Group Phase 3 Workshop Phase 4 Benchmarking

Practice Standards and Benchmark for the Conferencing Unit File Number: Effective engagement Co-ordinators are skilled responsive and dynamic in bringing people together to make informed decisions to resolve issues and where possible, repair harm Benchmark achieved Comments On what basis did you give that benchmark   Family Care Meetings and Family Conferences are inclusive and empowering of clients Excellence Participants are offered an opportunity to meet with the Coordinator prior to the conference Participants needs and understanding are explored and addressed Participation of family and support persons are explored Achieved Information is provided to participants and questions answered Needs and barriers identified in the referral are addressed. Opportunity provided for participants to shape the process Needs Improvement No contact attempted prior to the meeting Participants needs are not identified and addressed No opportunity for participants to shape the process Meetings are culturally responsive. Specific cultural needs and practices of an individual or family are identified and implemented Cultural practices and norms identified in the referral are implemented/observed Culturally appropriate support people including interpreters are used where possible Ignores cultural needs and practices