Youth Justice System
Parenting
Parenting programmes provide parents with an opportunity to improve their skills in dealing with the behaviour that puts their child at risk of offending. They provide parents/carers with one-to-one advice as well as practical support in handling the behaviour of their child, setting appropriate boundaries and improving communication.
By improving the parenting skills of parents/carers, these programmes are addressing one of the major risk factors associated with young people at risk of offending.
Parents with a child that has become involved with the youth justice system may be offered the opportunity to voluntarily attend a parenting programme by the local youth offending team (YOT), if they consider that it would be useful. However, if voluntary participation cannot be achieved, a Parenting Order can be sought by the YOT which compels the parents/carers of a child at risk to attend.