Children's Services Performance Plan 2004

Objective 5: Out of trouble

For children and young people in need (including looked-after)

The results that we would expect: children and young people are able to avoid getting into trouble whether it is relation to the law or in relation to other difficulties.


Outcomes that would be seen and experienced:

  • Children and young people better understand and are able to avoid situations in which they are likely to get into trouble (with the law, with drugs or alcohol, early pregnancy etc).
  • Children and young people who are at particular risk have their needs identified at an early stage and experience services which divert them from crime and getting into other forms of trouble.
  • Children and young people have access to information, advice and support that helps them avoid school exclusion, homelessness or the need to runaway.
  • Children and young people are able to access services in the evenings, weekends and during holidays, which offer safe, constructive environments where there is an emphasis on building resilience.
  • Parents and carers are easily able to access specialist advice when they are concerned about their child / young person getting into trouble.
  • Children, young people, parents and carers experience a Youth Justice system that focuses on early intervention, restorative justice and diversion.

back to top

Strategic Actions and Indicators table for Objective 5:

Strategic Actions: Indicators:

1. Preventative Strategy, including:

  • Information sharing and assessment
  • Resource directory
  • Joint initiatives to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people
Strategy consultation carried out and final version ready for approval

2. Joint work with YOT to reduce offending and re-offending by LAC through greater use of diversionary and restorative justice methods:

  • Rationalise remand foster care scheme
  • Develop joint tier 4 substance misuse accommodation strategy (links to FCW, supported lodgings and remand foster care)
Joint priorities agreed and implementation plan established
3. Prioritisation of LAC and CIN within Substance Misuse and Teenage Pregnancy strategies.

Outline proposals in place for consultation
4. Work to prioritise LAC and CIN in local district council planning through CDRPs and Homelessness/housing with support strategies.

Work to develop proposals underway
5. Development of a teenage runaway protocol with police and ACPC

Protocol developed and agreed


back to top

Locality Actions and Indicators table for Objective 5:

Locality Actions: Indicators:

1. Fieldwork Teams

  • Improve liaison with YOT
  • Develop use of FCG / RJ approaches to resolve disputes
  • Strengthen participation in local CDRP and substance misuse groups
  • Ensure full participation in preventative strategy through LPIGs
  • Improve liaison with health and Connexions to support maximum transition planning for young people with learning difficulties or mental health problems
  • Ensure substance misuse and sexual advice champions in each care leavers team

2. Resources

  • Improve liaison with YOT
  • Develop use of FCG / RJ approaches to resolve disputes
  • Ensure strategies to manage overnight stays and runaways are in place and being implemented
  • Ensure substance misuse and sexual advice champions in each unit

3. Business support / SACS

  • Ensure effective payment systems are in place for care leavers and accommodation providers



  1. Numbers of final warnings and reprimands of looked-after children
  2. Offending and re-offending rates of looked-after children
  3. Level of teenage pregnancies
  4. Level of young 'runaways' looked after
  5. Use of restorative justice to divert looked-after children from trouble
  6. Numbers of looked-after children receiving substance misuse advice


back to top

The key partners that can help us achieve these changes:

  • Communities, residents associations, neighbourhood watch and warden schemes
  • Police and youth offending teams
  • Health visitors, midwives, GPs, A&E, school nurses, public health, drug and alcohol services, mental health services
  • Schools and educational welfare services


back to top

What research tells us about what can help us achieve these changes:

  • Access to good quality advice and information about substance misuse and sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Good interagency information sharing, joint agency assessment and planning - care pathways.
  • Youth Inclusion and support panels which identify children at risk and intervene at an early stage.
  • Positive activities and adult relationships that support resilience.
  • Being in school and having ambition.
  • Access to mediation and restorative justice approaches to support diversion.