The Integration of Youth Inclusion Support Panels and Common Assessment Framework by Carolyn Knight and John Bustin

1. The Integration of Youth Inclusion Support Panels and Common Assessment Frameworkby Carolyn Knight and John Bustin

2. Youth Inclusion Support Panels • A multi-agency response to young people at risk of offending • Utilises CAF and ONSET which is an assessment of the risk factors associated with offending • Panel comprises representatives from: Connexions, Police, Social Care, Education Welfare Service, Youth Service, Sova, ASB Co-ordinators and Health

3. YISP Referral Criteria • Young person aged 8 to 16 years • Behaviour of the young person is of concern to two or more agencies • Young person is exposed to four or more out of nine risk factors • Young person is known to be involved in offending (up to Police Reprimand) or antisocial behaviour or concern over possible future involvement .

4. The Prevent and Deter Framework Children with complex needs Children with additional needs Children with no identified need

5. WHAT IS COMMON ASSESSMENT • One national framework for children’s services throughout England • Common initial assessment • Ensure that referrals are necessary and to right services • Centred on the child and their needs • For children with additional needs

6. When to undertake a common assessment Undertake a common assessment when it will help the child to achieve one or more of the five priority outcomes. Follow LSCB procedures where appropriate • Designed for when: • There are concerns about progress • Needs are unclear • The support of more than one agency is needed • Need not be done when: • Progress is good • Needs are identified and being met • Needs are clear and can be met by family/assessing agency

7. The link between CAF and YISP • The CAF is a process for early identification and intervention to address unmet additional needs. It is not in anyway geared towards identifying those at risk of offending or analysing the risk factors associated with offending behaviour. • However, the risk factors associated with offending behaviour are risk factors for many other adverse outcomes for children. The crime prevention agenda is inextricably linked with all other dimension of a child’s life (Youth at Risk, Joseph Rowntree, 2002) • CAF provides the holistic foundation for the ONSET assessment of risk factors associated with offending

8. COMMONALITIES • Early identification • Multi-agency response • Holistic • Voluntary • Require consent • Information sharing • Inclusive of young person and family

9. Integrated process • Professional identifies that a young person has additional needs or is at risk of offending • Discusses with the Young Person and family the possibility of CAF +/or YISP • CAF completed and faxed to the Customer Service Unit, recorded on one database • YISPs screened out to progress via ONSET and panel • CAF Meeting arranged for remainder

10. Integrated Process • Minimum of 6 weekly reviews • If YISP is successful in addressing the risk of offending and additional needs remain, transfers back to CAF process • CAF and YISP are evolving processes which are reviewed regularly