1. Ever Increasing Circles
Diz Minnitt

2. Ever Increasing Circles
A number of studies have highlighted the high percentage of young people in the Youth Justice System with Speech , Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) often referred to as Communication Needs / Difficulties .
The majority of these young people had not previously been identified as having Communication Difficulties.
The longer the difficulties have remained unrecognised the greater the potential for them to have negative repercussions for the young person and wider society (Ripple Effect).
What is the evidence of need and impact?

3. Speech , Language and Communication Needs National Evidence
55% of four year olds in areas of deprivation have speech , language or communication needs (SLCN).
[compared to between 5 - 8% in general population of under 5 year olds –Royal College of Speech Language and Communication (RCSLT)] (Locke et al )
Significantly greater numbers of children with SLCN (language impairment) at age 4 develop behavioural problems by age 8.
(Benasich et al )
Children with communication needs (SLCN) are at greater risk of social exclusion in adolescence and adulthood.
(Clegg et al )

4. Ever Increasing Circles
If untreated 33% of children with communication needs (SLCN) will develop mental illness and over 50% will become involved in criminal activity.
(Breakthrough Britain – The Centre for Social Justice – March 2009)
Inner City Secondary – 75% had communication needs (SLCN) that hampered relationships , behaviour and learning.
(Sage et al )
88% of Unemployed young men had communication needs (SLCN) – compared to 1% in the general population .
(Children’s Communication Coalition – July 2010)
Question:
A 17 Year Old is going to be interviewed for an offence . You know nothing about him (no previous criminal record) other than the fact that he stopped going to school at 15 and is still Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET). On only these facts would you consider using an Appropriate Adult?
Identify 88% of the audience = 35 / 40 (5 people remain seated) . Same statistic as those in YOT identified with SLCN who had become NEET at any point (normally repeatedly).
PACE Code of Practice – Code C
(Page 6) 1G ‘Mentally vulnerable’ applies to any detainee who, because of their mental state or capacity, may not understand the significance of what is said, of questions or of their replies. ‘Mental disorder’ is defined in the Mental Health Act 1983, section 1(2) as ‘mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of mind, psychopathic disorder and any other disorder or disability of mind’. When the custody officer has any doubt about the mental state or capacity of a detainee, that detainee should be treated as mentally vulnerable and an appropriate adult called.’

5. Evidence in the Youth Justice System
At least 60 % of young people working with Youth Offending Teams (YOT) have speech , language or communication needs (SLCN). [up to 8% in general population of young people – Royal College of Speech Language and Communication (RCSLT)]
In secure settings this is between 60% - 90% (YOI / STC).
(Prof Karen Bryan)
Research into learning difficulties / disabilities (LDD) which can include SLCN also highlights a high prevalence.
This figure is now thought to be 70% - Which correlates with the figure identified in MK YOT cumulatively since Dec 2008 when we started assessing .
House of Commons Public Accounts Committee Feb 2011 – “More than 70% of young offenders have severe communication difficulties”.
70% of 40 is 28. (12 seated)

6. Evidence Young offenders in the community and custody
25% IQ less than 70
Further 33% IQ 70-80
Harrington et al (2005)
Young people attending a Youth Offending Team
52% special educational needs
66% literacy problems
Stallard et al (2003)

7. Evidence
35% of offenders have speaking and listening skills below level 1 of the National Curriculum [the expected level for a 5 year old]
Davies et al.,(2004)
Young offenders in the community and custody
56% identified with Dyslexia
“Unrecognised Dyslexia and the Route to Offending”
British Dyslexia Association with Bradford Youth Offending Team (2004)

8. Youth Justice 2004 - Audit Commission (2004)
Economic Cost
If these difficulties are not identified and addressed there is a significant cost involved:
‘James’: Real example of a young person with both SEN and SLCN. Total cost = £153,687
Includes two custodial sentences before 16 years of age
Youth Justice Audit Commission (2004)
“James’s story is not exceptional. Many young people in the youth justice system have similar backgrounds and experiences. If a similar saving of £140,000 were made on just one in ten of the young people sentenced to custody each year … more than £100 million would be saved to public services.”

9. Case Study : J J –15 Years Old when first assessed (2009).
Statement of SEN for BESD from Age 8 . Speech and Language Therapy not on the Statement “J does not appear to have any difficulty with his language or communication skills”
CAMHS diagnosis of Conduct Disorder
2009 SLT Assessment – Severe language difficulties : Comprehension below 1st percentile .
2010 (Age 16) Further SLT Assessment: Severe difficulties recalling verbal information/using vocabulary. Age equivalent score 6.5 – 9/10 years 9

10. Case Study : J (Cont) Outcome: Raised Awareness of his needs:
Strategies in SLT report:
Adults to use short sentences and always confirm understanding
Verbal information to be backed up by pictures/easy written text/practical demonstrations ‘show rather than tell’
Adults to scaffold language with J – prompts to try and encourage him to provide more verbal information i.e. use of choices
Access to specialist support at college – language/literacy/peer relationships 10

11. Case Study : J (Cont)
Responsible Officer – aware of J’s language/social needs evidence in the way he talked and managed J.
Intervened when behaviour issues arose at College avoiding exclusion
SLT Assessment report shared with College –appropriate provision / support put in place
Maintained in College placement and by early 2011 completed Court Orders . No longer involved with the YOT on a statutory order. 11

12. Summary of Need identified in Milton Keynes YOT (Dec 2008 – Mar 2009)
88% of those assessed had Speech Language or Communication Needs (SLCN)
25% of females assessed had severe difficulties – compared to..
60% of males assessed had severe difficulties.
All of the NEET group that were assessed had SLCN
62% or just under 2/3 of those identified with SLCN had Severe Difficulties (problems greater that 98% of the population)
Dec 2008 – Sept 2011 – 70.5% of those assessed had Speech Language or Communication Needs (SLCN) (In line with revised figure of 70% - quoted by the Public Accounts Committee in Feb 2011)
70.5% = 98.7 /140 (7 rows and 0.5 of a person – get someone to half stand?)

13. Additional Findings in Milton Keynes YOT (Apr 2009 – Mar 2011)
Link between Speech Language Communication Needs (SLCN) and NEET
82% of those aged 16+ who were assessed by the SLT were identified as having SLCN ; of this sub-group -
92% had been NEET at some point during their order.
28% once ;
17% twice ;
15% three times and:
39% had been NEET four times or more.
92 % of 140 = (11 people sitting down)

14. Additional Findings in Milton Keynes YOT (Apr 2009 – Mar 2011)
Sample analysis of February 2010 DYO Group ,18 young people of whom 12 had been assessed by SLT. Of these 12:
100% were identified as having SLCN ; of this sub-group -
16.7% (2) with ‘Mild Difficulties’ (worse than 84% of population).
8.3% (1) with ‘Moderate Difficulties’ (worse than 94% of population).
75% (9) with ‘Severe Difficulties’ (worse than 98% of population).
8 of the above had a Statement of SEN (only 7 of these were available to check)
Only 2 Statements identified SLCN as part of the need.
Of the 5 young people with no identified SLCN on their Statement:
1 had ‘Moderate Difficulties’ (worse than 94% of population) ,and the remaining
4 had ‘Severe Difficulties’ (worse than 98% of population).
Of the 9 young people with ‘Severe Difficulties’ – 6 (66%) believed they had ‘no difficulties’ and the remaining 3 significantly underestimated their difficulties.
There was evidence that the higher the severity of Speech Language and Communication Needs , the lower the self awareness of the needs.