1. Appropriate Adult scheme models December 2014

2. Contents Introduction to Appropriate Adults
Appropriate Adult scheme models
What models are available?
Models 1- 5
Summary of models
Further information

3. Introduction to Appropriate Adults
Each Youth Offending Team (YOT) has a duty to provide an appropriate adult scheme for children and young people detained and/or interviewed in their area, irrespective of their home area.
If a parent, guardian or carer is unable, unwilling or unsuitable to act as Appropriate Adult, the Custody Sergeant will contact the Appropriate Adult scheme provided by the YOT.
Appropriate adult provision should be an integral part of a YOT’s bail and remand management strategy

4. Appropriate Adult scheme models
Youth Offending Teams meet their statutory obligation to secure the provision of Appropriate Adults using a variety of models.
The Youth Justice Board and National Appropriate Adult Network have created this resource to support YOTs in ensuring effective Appropriate Adults in their area, whether provided directly or commissioned.
The resource outlines the main models currently in use, factors for consideration and an example of where it has been implemented.

5. What models are available?
Youth Offending Team
Commissioned
MODEL 1: Non-profit paid staff
MODEL 2: Non-profit volunteers
MODEL 3: Private sector
In house
MODEL 4: YOT volunteers
MODEL 5: YOT paid staff
Please note: Model numbers assigned do not imply preference by YJB or NAAN

6. Model 1: Commissioned - non-profit (paid staff)
Key Elements:
YOT commissions non-profit (e.g. charity or public sector) to co-ordinate and deliver
Often a local AA or children's’ non-profit
Scheme designed collaboratively and the non-profit reports management information
The non-profit employs a scheme co- ordinator plus either dedicated staff, sessional staff, or rotas existing staff
Police contact non-profit directly for AAs
Usually a fixed cost which does not rise or fall in-year dependent on call out volume
Factors for consideration:
High quality, timely information sharing between YOT and provider before and after detention is critical
Non-profits may have additional services to which they can refer a child they support in police custody
AAs are under employment obligations, are likely to fulfil role regularly, be specialised, and have relatively low turnover, reducing spending on initial training.
Example: Lancashire, Bury, Bolton and Wigan (Child Action North West)

7. Model 2: Commissioned - non-profit (volunteers)
Key Elements:
YOT commissions non-profit (e.g. charity or public sector) to co-ordinate and deliver
Often a local AA or children's’ non-profit
Scheme designed collaboratively and the non-profit reports management information
The non-profit employs a scheme co- ordinator who recruits, trains and supports volunteers and acts as AA if required
Police contact non-profit directly for AAs
Usually a fixed cost which does not rise or fall in-year dependent on call out volume
Factors for consideration:
High quality information sharing is required before and after call out
Additional services for children
Volunteers’ passion /commitment; call out costs are expenses only
Community involvement in justice
Volunteer turnover must be managed and may increase initial training costs; need right number for regular utilisation plus effective support
Example: Kent (Young Lives Foundation)

8. Model 3: Commissioned - private sector
Key Elements :
YOT commissions a private sector provider to co-ordinate and deliver scheme
Scheme design as specified in contract by commissioner
Usually a specialist organisation
Provider recruits AAs, provides YOT with management information as specified
AAs are usually casual/sessional staff paid on an hourly basis
YOT usually charged per hour
Factors for consideration:
Costs fall directly if call outs reduce (e.g. first time entrants) but increase directly if they rise (e.g. extension to 17 year olds)
Costs are lower for simple, short call outs but higher for more complex, longer attendances
Level of local knowledge (e.g. for referrals to local services)
Additional services may be available at additional cost
One main provider in the market
Example: Enfield (The Appropriate Adult Service Limited)

9. Model 4: YOT - co-ordinated volunteers
Key Elements:
YOT establish and run the scheme directly
YOT employs an AA Co-ordinator to recruit, train and support AAs (depending on scheme size they may have other duties)
Volunteer AAs are recruited by the YOT, often as part of a wider volunteer scheme
Training may consist of core modules for all volunteers, plus specialist AA training
Police contact YOT directly for AAs
Co-ordinator (or other staff) provide cover if no volunteers are available
Factors for consideration:
Information sharing is within the single organisation
AA service is physically embedded within core YOT team
Training volunteers in multiple roles can increase utilisation and may improve retention
Community involvement in YOT
Time required for recruitment, training and support is significant; requires increase in staff hours
Example: Ceredigion (Ceredigion YOT)

10. Model 5: YOT – paid staff Key Elements:
YOT establishes, co-ordinates and delivers the AA scheme directly
AA duty may be assigned to a single member of YOT staff, the lead worker for a known child, a YOT social worker (if available), rotated between staff, or sessional staff
Police contact YOT directly for AAs
Factors for consideration:
AAs have full access to YOT information systems
YOT staff may be able to provide additional services or assessments
YOT staff must be trained and developed in the AA role
YOT staff may know, and be known to, some children, affecting levels of trust
Call outs occur at any time and may last from minutes to several days, affecting work schedules
Example: Warwickshire (Warwickshire YOT)

11. Out of Hours Provision of AAs
The duty to ensure provision applies equally during the day and night.
However, enabling an interview of a child out of hours is a matter of the individual child’s best interests taking into account; their usual sleep/wake cycle, their last period of rest, the PACE requirement for 8 hours rest in any 24 hours, the need to avoid unnecessary delay to their release, the likelihood of overnight detention and the seriousness of the offence.
YOTs currently ensure out of hours provision through (a) the above models and/or (b) the Emergency Duty Team (EDT). For example, contracted provision could run 8am to 12am and EDT 12am to 8am.
The YOT should ensure that all out of hours AAs have the necessary training, resources, information and on–call support arrangements

12. Conclusion
Each model identified will have various benefits and some may be more suitable dependent on factors including the geographical location of the YOT and the number of call outs for Appropriate Adults in the area
Commissioning decisions are a matter for individual YOTs but should take into account best value, considering statutory responsibilities, outcomes for children and young people and costs
A budget calculator tool has been produced by The National Appropriate Adult Network which will allow YOTs to compare the cost effectiveness of different models. NAAN members have access to the budget calculator and can be accessed via their website.

13. Further information Youth Justice National Standards
Youth Justice Board- Case Management Guidance: Section 3
Home Office guidance for appropriate adults
National Appropriate Adult Network