Warwickshire Children and Young People's Workforce

The Warwickshire Youth Offending Service (YOS) works with young offenders between the ages of 10 and 17 years and, in exceptional circumstances up to the age of 20. We provide services from the point of arrest through to court ordered interventions.

All our interventions with children and young people aim to prevent further offending. An assessment is undertaken using the national assessment tool, ASSET. An ASSET assessment will indicate areas of concern/risk and where interventions should be focussed. This forms the basis of a plan which is reviewed to evaluate progress being made in reducing risk factors. All interventions are managed in accordance with the Youth Justice Board National Standards.

An important part of YOS's work is with victims of crime. Young people are expected to repay the community for the crimes that they have committed through direct or indirect reparation. This could include offenders in activities such as washing graffiti, writing an apology letter to a victim, or directly meeting the victim.

We have a responsibility to recruit, train and support Community Panel Members who, on a voluntary basis, serve on Referral Order Panels. These panels meet to draw up a contract with every young person who appears before the court for the first time unless custody is the outcome. About 250 Referral Orders are made each year requiring approximately 600 Panel meetings. All contracts include an element of reparation and Panel meetings may include victims.

The YOS works closely with other professionals involved with the young person and his or her family, as well as partner agencies both statutory and voluntary, and communities to address the risk factors associated with social exclusion and youth crime to prevent offending by young people.