1. ©AMK 2015 Education, Vulnerable Offenders and the Criminal Justice System Working in Partnership: Addressing Mental Health and Learning Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System www.siaradda.org.uk 25 th June 2015 Dr April May Kitchener 1

2. ©AMK 2015 Why Siarad Da? 2

3. ©AMK 2015 Our purpose, our aim … Siarad Da’s critical aim is to promote understanding and awareness of the hidden disability that many people live with, particularly those in our CJS or experiencing school and social exclusion. Receptive, expressive and pragmatic language disorders impact on all aspects of a person’s life, often presenting as challenging and inappropriate behaviour. We support: What Siarad Da offers: - Training for professionals, carers and family members - Psychometric Assessments and Court Reports - Face to face work with individuals at risk of social exclusion - Direct work with families struggling to understand challenging behaviour of loved ones 3

4. ©AMK 2015 SOME FACTS… 23 – 32 % of young people in custody have a generalised learning disability 2 - 4 % in the general population (Hughes, et al., 2012) Young adults make up less than 10% of the British population, but account for: more than 33% commencing a community sentence 33% of the probation service’s caseload almost 33% of those sentenced to prison every year ( Transition to Adulthood Alliance, 2012 ) 95% of young people in Young Offenders Institutions, aged 16 – 20 years had a mental disorder and many of them have more than one disorder (Lader, et al., 1997) Nearly 90% of young people in Young Offender Institutions had been excluded from school (Berelowitz, 2011) 4

5. ©AMK 2015 Risk Factors There are a number of risk factors that increase the chances of children and young people getting involved in crime, and many of these are similar to risk factors for mental health problems, (Young Minds, 2013) A recent evaluation of the Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion pilot scheme (Haines et al. 2012), found that 80% of young people had between one and five vulnerabilities, which range from mental health issues, behavioural issues, and social problems. Education and risk factors Lack of commitment to school (including truancy) Aggressive behaviour (including bullying) Low achievement beginning in primary school Attending a school with a high delinquency rate/school disorganisation. 5

6. ©AMK 2015 Developments for C&YP with ‘challenging behaviour’ 1996 Education Act Crime and Disorder Act 1998 6

7. ©AMK 2015 Partnership Working The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 s 39 (1) requires the co-operation of the named statutory partners to form a YOT. Section 38 (1, 2) identifies the statutory partners and places upon them a duty to co-operate in order to secure youth justice services appropriate to their area. These are: - the local authority – Local Education Authority and Social Services - police - the probation service - health 7

8. ©AMK 2015 How effective are the new roles linked to YOT? 8

9. ©AMK 2015 A publication by HM Inspectorate of Probation (2013) raised concerns about the reluctant relationship between managing agencies and schools working with C&YP with HSB. The Inspection found that some workers were reluctant to share information with education and ‘…rarely included in multi-agency strategy discussions or subsequent meetings…’ (page 6) The Inspection also found that on the occasion that education were involved the outcomes were greatly improved. 9

10. ©AMK 2015 Good Practice Teachers and CJS 10

11. ©AMK 2015 Educational Links in Gloucester There is a new Alternative Provision School Formally structured as PRU Now has same delegated powers and duties as maintained schools Excluded students Learning disabilities Many in CJS or at risk of offending A number of different sites covering county Cheltenham and Tewksbury Gloucester and Forest of Dean Stroud and Cotswolds Executive Head Teacher Heather Ingram Specialised and experienced staff 11

12. ©AMK 2015 Finally… 12

13. ©AMK 2015 Hughes, N. et al. (2012) Nobody made the connection: The prevalence of neurodisability in young people who offend. London: Office of the Children’s Commissioner. http://www. childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/ publications/content_633 Lader, D. et al. (1997) Psychiatric morbidity among young offenders in England and Wales. London: Office for National Statistics. Brown, E.R. et al. (2012) A chance to change: delivering effective parenting programmes to transform lives. London: Centre for Mental Health. http://www.centreformentalhealth. org.uk/pdfs/chance_to_change.pdf Transition to Adulthood Alliance (2012) Pathways from crime. London: Transition to Adulthood Alliance. Berelowitz, S. (2011) I think I must have been born bad. London: Office of the Children’s Commissioner. http://www. childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/ publications/content_503 Young Minds (2013) Same Old... the experiences of young offenders with mental health needs. http://www.t2a.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/YoungMinds-Same-Old...-2013-low-res.pdf http://www.t2a.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/YoungMinds-Same-Old...-2013-low-res.pdf HM Inspectorate of Probation (2013) Examining Multi-Agency Responses to Children and Young People who sexually offend London, HMIP References 13