National Standards for Youth Justice Service 2013: Summary of the key changes

Contents The key changes introduced by National Standards for Youth Justice Services 2013 Some information about the impact for case management recording

Statement of purpose National Standards 2009National Standards 2013 Defines 12 process outcomes (for example, in relation to report quality of assessments and reports) Introduces a defined statement of purpose outlining 4 key policy aims Description This section describes in unambiguous terms the policy and operational foundations upon which the standards have been developed.

Strategic management standards National Standards 2009National Standards standards aimed at YOT managers divided across the 10 broad headings within the standards document 17 strategic standards for youth justice managers in a discrete section Considerable duplication and repetition across the 10 areas Duplication eliminated Contains general responsibilities in relation to working in partnership, establishing protocols and procedures, training, developing and supporting staff, and aligning with other sources of guidance and support Description This section gathers in one section all the expectations for the strategic management and governance of youth justice services. It is divided into 3 sections: generic standards (which apply to all such management and governance activities); community specific standards; and custody specific standards.

National Standard 1: preventing offending National Standards 2009National Standards standards3 standards Defines process and general expectations in relation to working with children / young people before they enter the criminal justice system. Focuses on the ‘core’ features of prevention work (that it is rooted in high quality assessment and that it involves children / young people and their parents and carers) Description This section defines expectations in relation to ensuring that the YOT is equipped to deliver effective interventions if and when children / young people are referred to them, before they enter the criminal justice system. There have been significant changes in relation to the prevention landscape over recent years, in particular the transfer of funding to police crime commissioners and the consequent diversity in how such services are delivered. In consequence, these standards are limited in scope to the core expectations of youth justice services when they are involved in this delivery

National Standard 2: out of court disposals National Standards 2009National Standards standards10 standards Sets the thresholds for YOT intervention (based on Asset scores) Leaves the determination of whether YOT intervention is required for professional judgement based upon high quality assessment Defines expectations about the content of interventions delivered through out of court disposals Leaves the determination of the content of interventions for professional judgement Description This section defines expectations for when and how youth justice services become involved in the delivery of out of court disposals. It also includes expectations for the police in relation to the timescales within which they should inform the YOT of any relevant disposals. This section reflects the changes within the LASPO Act. The revisions place a greater emphasis on professional judgement in determining when YOT intervention is required and what the intervention will deliver

National Standard 3: bail and remand management National Standards 2009National Standards standards48 standards Mandates the form and content of bail supervision and support Leaves the form and content of bail supervision and support to be determined following a dialogue between the YOT and the Court Introduces the LASPO expectations in relation to LAC status of all children / young people remanded into custody Places emphasis upon the transfer of educational information into custody Outlines expectations for aligning remand planning meetings, LAC meetings and any sentence meeting (if relevant) Description This section defines expectations for the delivery of bail and remand services to children / young people in the criminal justice system. These standards have been considerably revised to take account of the changes brought in by the LASPO Act. A greater emphasis has been placed on the role of the Court in defining expectations for the delivery of bail packages.

National Standard 4: assessment for interventions and reports National Standards 2009National Standards standards8 standards 3 month maximum period between assessments and reviews of intervention plans 6 month maximum period between assessments and reviews of intervention plans Each review treated as a ‘new’ assessmentIntroduces the principle of ‘iterative’ assessment (only the required updates are made, as opposed to the assessment in its entirety) Description This section outlines expectations for when and how assessments of children / young people in the youth justice system are carried out. The revisions introduce additional flexibility into the assessment framework, with greater emphasis upon professional judgement in determining when and how assessments should be delivered. The revisions also facilitate the introduction in relation to Asset Plus (the planned replacement for Asset).

National Standard 5: reports for courts and youth offender panels National Standards 2009National Standards standards9 standards Defines timescales for the production of reportsLeaves timescales to the determination of the court Specifies the format and content of reportsLeaves format and content to the specification of the court Introduces new expectation in relation to civil court reports (for example for gang injunctions and Individual Support Orders) Description This section outlines expectations for the production and quality of youth justice reports. The revisions remove much of the process and timescale expectations which featured in the 2009 set. A greater emphasis has been placed upon the role of courts and youth offender panels in defining the quality and timescales required for the production of reports. The revisions also include new expectations in relation to the production of reports for civil courts.

National Standard 6: work in courts National Standards 2009National Standards standards All references to Asset have been updated to facilitate the planned replacement Description This section defines expectations for youth justice practice in court. There have been no substantive amendments to this section.

National Standard 7: work with victims of crime National Standards 2009National Standards standards5 standards Introduces an expectation to have regard to the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime Introduces an expectation to deliver restorative justice services in accordance with the Restorative Justice Council’s national occupational standards and guidance Description This section outlines expectation for the work of youth justice services with the victims of crime committed by children / young people. This section has been updated to cover recent developments in relation to the delivery of restorative justice interventions. This is the only standard for which the individual expectations have increased in number.

National Standard 8: planning and delivering interventions in the community National Standards 2009National Standards standards48 standards Intensive Scaled Approach intervention band 12 appointments per month Intensive Scaled Approach intervention band reduced to 8 appointments per month Any decisions to vary the Scaled Approach model, or standard enforcement practices require management countersignature Requirements for management countersignature of key intervention decisions removed (although will still be encouraged as good practice) Contains considerable duplication and repetition due to treating each sentence outcome separately Reduces duplication through grouping sentencing outcomes together wherever possible Introduces standards relating to delivery of gang interventions Description This section outlines expectations surrounding the formulation, delivery and enforcement of youth justice interventions which are delivered in the community. The revisions place greater emphasis on the role for professional judgement in the delivery of interventions. The Scaled Approach model has been amended. There have been no changes made to the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance model.

National Standard 9: planning and delivering interventions in custody (including resettlement) National Standards 2009National Standards standards68 standards All references are to old forms and paperworkAll references updated to reflect the latest paperwork introduced by the YJB case management project Established schedule of planning and review meetings gives rise to anomalies – particularly for those subject to short periods of youth detention Limited flexibility introduced to the schedule of planning meetings to ensure these facilitate the coherent delivery of a sentence plan to the child / young person Duplicates standard 8 in the section describing practice expectations upon release Removes duplication in favour of a reference to the principles already outlined in standard 8 Introduces expectation that instances of self-harm or suicide attempts are managed in accordance with NICE guidelines Description This section outlines expectations surrounding the delivery of youth justice interventions which in custody. The revisions reflect changes to case management practice introduced in September They place greater emphasis upon education and resettlement. They also mend established problems with the schedule of meetings during periods of youth detention, and facilitate the introduction of the AssetPlus.

National Standard 10: long-term custodial sentences National Standards 2009National Standards standards30 standards All references are to old forms and paperworkAll references updated to reflect the latest paperwork introduced by the YJB case management project Duplicates standard 8 in the section describing practice expectations upon release Removes duplication in favour of a reference to the principles already outlined in standard 8 Description This section outlines expectations for for the management of long-term sentenced prisoners.

Local case recording implications The YJB recognises that there will be some implications for case recording No major impact evident from its analysis of these or from the feedback gathered during the trial of these standards in the community The YJB will be working closely with services and suppliers to scope these additional requirements The YJB will advise services further over the coming year of the delivery plans for any necessary case management changes