YOT court officers are the face of the YOT for magistrates. Delivering effective court services is therefore critical to increasing court confidence in YOT services and programmes, as well as actively promoting alternatives to custody where appropriate.
The YJB and HM Courts Service guidance, Making it Count in Court, provides YOT practitioners with a framework for effective delivery in court. It can be used as part of induction programmes, local training events, or to encourage dialogue with court user groups.
To deliver excellence in court services, the YOT should always consider whether there is adequate resourcing cover for courts (both Crown and magistrates’) and carry out regular reviews to ensure that basic services are being delivered as set out in the YOT’s service agreement with the courts.
Making it Count in Court training materials
To supplement the Making it Count in Court guidance, the YJB’s Community, Secure and Resettlement Programme Support developed a template for a training programme/workshop, details of which are set out below.
Aim
The workshop aims to encourage all staff that a professional and effective court service is central to the ability of the YOT to deliver excellence in court services. The aims of the event are to:
- understand what is effective court working
- understand and discuss what magistrates, legal advisors and YOT colleagues want from the court services.
Structure
The example provided is a stand-alone workshop for a maximum of 20 staff, lasting two hours.
The example includes a session presented by legal advisor/magistrate to illustrate how court may be involved in YOT training, however this may not be possible or appropriate in some areas.In addition, involving court staff in training may only be suitable for some of the delivery models described (e.g. it may not be suitable to involve magistrates in team management meetings). The content and structure of this session will also need to be adapted and discussed with the court, but an illustrative example is provided.
Target audience
All managers and staff who may be asked to carry out court duties, attend court on behalf of the young person or contribute to reports prepared for court.
Facilitators/presenters
- operational manager responsible for court/PSRs
- one or two practitioners/senior practitioners/practice development assessors experienced in court work
- legal adviser (youth) and chair of youth panel or a youth magistrate
Possible models for delivery
Depending on the time available, structure of teams and what staff events have already been planned, these sessions can be delivered as:
- a stand-alone workshop for selected court staff – as described in the example provided – maximum of 20 staff for two hours
- part of court staff or all staff induction briefings – maximum of eight staff and run Session 1 only; no court staff involved; session would last one hour as part of normal induction briefing
- part of court or area team normal management meetings – regular court or area team meetings are usually brief; maximum of 8–10 staff; run Session 1 only; one hour
- a session in planned day/half-day staff briefing or training events – 20–80 staff depending on the event; the workshop would fit into the day’s training and would last 1–2 hours; group discussion would have to be organised around tables of 10.
Further sessions
The workshop can have any number of sessions added to it as part of a themed staff training event on promoting alternatives to custody. For example, other linked sessions might include:
- Why manage demand for custody? Explaining Performance Measure 4 and the motivation behind reducing the use of the secure estate
- ISSP key messages for staff.
Materials
Sessions should be informed by:
Approach
Workshops will be maximally effective if they involve a high level of staff participation, interaction and discussion.
Other court staff training
Leeds Youth Offending Service developed a series of events for staff working in court to improve skills and confidence through a combination of existing team briefings and focused training events. For more information, contact terry.burnett@leeds.gov.uk or maggie.smith@leeds.gov.uk.
Other examples of training include:
- Leeds Youth Offending Service developed a “Re-launch of Court Services” day for all YOT managers and staff carrying out court duties, or who attend court on behalf of the young person or contribute to reports prepared for court. Contacts as above.
- Rhondda Cynon Taff youth offending team developed a code of practice for YOT staff. Contact: susan.m.mckelvay@rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk.
- Liverpool youth offending team developed a staff access day for all YOT staff, including a session on performance and managing demand for custody. Contact: angela.parton@liverpool.gov.uk.