Juvenile Justice Diversion in Victoria - Assignment Example

CRIMINAL JUSTICE YSS is an abbreviation that stands for Youth and Shelter Services. YSS therefore is an independent charity with a 25 years’ experience of providing community based support services for young people, children, adults and families who are vulnerable, have special and complex needs and face difficult challenges in life. In most cases these children, young adults, and families tend to be at risk of social exclusion. The organization specializes on giving practical support and guidance to the vulnerable in the society. They also focus on developing emotional resilience; independent living and problem solving skills that allow people lead a\positive lives and have constructive roles in society through advocacy, intensive support programs, mentoring, intensive support programs, personal development programs, employability projects, education curriculum, and vocational training. This is illustrated in their mission statement that stipulates they are working with children, young people, families, and adults through supporting them to reach their maximum potential (Lutterman & Gonzalez, 2004). They achieve this by helping people set or come up with goals and then offer them the support they need to make their dreams and goals come true or realize their goals. They also raise awareness by identifying the issues raised, lobby for change, and make referrals to partner agencies in order to come up with informed decisions. Apart from focusing on the income generation and job creation, the charity organization also provide emotional support to its members. This way they help people with relationship issues arrive to working solutions and also those who are mentally ill or those with mental problems are also helped in order to lead a healthy life. They also major in improving the self-esteem of individuals who fear facing the society and impart skills in them that would help them lead a productive life. They also provide or give their members high quality information and guidance to ensure continuity in ongoing projects. YSS is based and operates across the West Midlands region. Its main base is in West Mercia. These include Worcestershire, Telford, Shropshire, and Herefordshire. In these areas the organization conducts a variety projects such as social enterprise, work programs, intensive supervision and surveillance, enhanced supervision and support. Youth and shelter services works with many other organizations and systems to help the vulnerable groups in the society. The organization has an extensive experience of working and dealing with those in the criminal justice department. They also work with those who are at risk of committing offending and anti-social behavior. Another group of vulnerable people who the organization works with include those at risk of being not in employment, education and training. Also known as NEET (Sorensen, 1974). These are groups of individuals who lack income generating activities, lack or possess little formal education and little experience of skills that could help them live an independent life. For example the organization in 2010 signed a partnership deal with West Mercia Probation Trust that will last for seven years. This arrangement is already recognize at the ministerial level. This partnership has contributed immensely in skill development; the partnership has seen the harnessing of skills between the two organizations hence increasing capacity building. Other agencies from the private and public sectors plus the voluntary ones have also been in the forefront to deliver better outcomes for offenders. This has help in reducing reoffending among families and the wider community across West Mercia. The new partnership between YSS and West Mercia Probation Trust has seen the charity organization gain recognition and take lead in spearheading programs, for example in the new partnership the charity organization can be commissioned to design, and deliver tailored services for offender based work to address the local needs. In principle, it includes the provision of being a guide for the ministry of justice if required. They can also commission community and voluntary organizations offer services on behalf of the trust. They also develop key services to offenders and their families so as to reduce cases of re offending. The issues of offenders and their families are also well represented in statutory and voluntary sectors. They are also involved in capacity development on behalf of the trust. They are also involved in the service user voice for offenders to inform policy, commissioning, and practice, The partnership has seen the procurement of a new Pathways project being led by YSS. This project is mainly for the prolific offenders, the most chaotic and at risk offenders and their families in West Mercia. This project comprise of YSS staff, staff from the trust and other voluntary organizations. The aim of the project is to provide mentoring, support, and supervision. Some of the partners involved are The Fold, ASHA Women’s Care, Business Enterprise Support (BES), YMCA, Willowdeen, Holly well Care Farm (Rohlfs, Murphy, Song & Slatkin, 2013). YSS has been involved in a number of projects across the West Midlands region. Most of the projects are mainly in the criminal justice system and some aimed at generating income to the vulnerable groups. The projects include appropriate adult with the theme of criminal justice. There is also bail, which is staff seconded to the youth offending service. The theme of this project was criminal justice, children, young people, and family support. Another project is the Bradley Mental Health with the theme of mental health. Carden street is also one of the projects in the series and it is themed employability with the sole purpose of developing skills to help the groups generate income. Another project named enhance implemented in Shropshire themed children, young people and family support and diversion from crime aimed at diverting groups from crime and reforming their personalities. Enhanced supervision and support, pertemps people development group women’s project, senior attendance center, stoke prolific and priority offenders, women’s specified activity requirements are all projects themed criminal justice. Social enterprise and work programs are themed employability and are aimed at generating income to the vulnerable groups (Turner & Fain, 2006). Young carers and young adult carers, Worcester city early help are projects themed children, young people and family support and they aim at rehabilitating and supporting individuals to get a productive life. YSS plays a critical role in the criminal justice system. Through SAC, that is Senior Attendance Center, this is a programmer that intends to support young adults aged 16-24 in the youth and adult criminal justice systems. Magistrates are the ones who spearhead the program. This programme offers a variety of life and practical skills to provide opportunities to seek further training and employment possibilities. Causes and consequences of offending behavior are among the list of items that are given priority throughout the sessions. This project has seen the partnering and working together between YSS, youth offending services, west Mercia probation, other voluntary agencies, and police who are involved with the support of need of young adults. These sessions always explore topics like construction of confidence and anger management. This way the service users are able to develop skills and acquire knowledge that will help them deal with offenders and anger control within the communities. Another programme is the integrated offender management. This programme is intended for cohort of offenders who are mostly at risk of re offending. YSS has been in the forefront to pioneer new ways of supporting ex-offenders/ offenders by breaking removing barriers that hinder employment based on knowledge and experience of what works. The carden street experience, for example is set to offer emotional and practical support. Those referred to the programme will benefit from the following carpentry, mental health support sessions, independent living skills, and employment workshops. Equality and diversification in an organization tend to focus on the composition of the workforce. Therefore diversity and equality of staff and service users disintegrates into the following; volunteers who forms a vital part of YSS as they are recruited and given training and support to pass to other service users. The various specialization in the staff department inform of their work experience brings on board the aspect of diversity. Among the service users diversity comes into play in the range of programs and services offered to the people with all kinds of traits such as age, disabilities, and race. Valuing diversity is key to success in any organization that appreciates diversity. Having a diverse workforce with individuals from different educational, social, age, and racial background tend to open up a range of possibilities and helps to foster innovation and encourage creativity. A diverse organization is in a greater position to understand the needs of a wide range of clients, and interact with a broad customer base. Talents in such organizations also tend to be recognized and are well nurtured. National occupational standards specify UK standards of performance that people are expected to achieve in their work, and the knowledge of skills they need to perform effectively. When dealing with groups or vulnerable groups one is expected to demonstrate high levels of competence and efficiency in their work. For example when handling vulnerable groups one is expected to have proper communication skills (Jordan & Farrell, 2012). This includes the use of appropriate language and avoiding derogative language. One should also avoid victimization. Active listening is also another skill required when dealing with vulnerable groups. This aid in getting their needs and getting to offer solutions. Questioning is also another aspect staff members have to watch. Use of appropriate questioning to avoid scaring of individuals. Clarification of meaning and feedback is another aspect that needs to be taken care of. When dealing with groups working relationships are key to success of any organization. Confidentiality of information should also be adhered to. Vulnerable groups possess sensitive information, therefore as a service provider ethical considerations should observe to treat information of service seekers with utmost confidentiality. The service provider should also be empathetic and not sympathetic (Rodriguez, 2005). This way he will be able to handle emotional issues with tact and avoid worsening the situation of service providers. Offenders and ex-offenders tend to be aggressive people. Therefore the service provider ought to be friendly and accommodative in order to handle aggressive individuals to avoid violence and bad blood between individuals. References Lutterman, T., & Gonzalez, O. (2004). The Uniform Reporting System. Mental Health United States, 65. Jordan, L., & Farrell, J. (2012). Juvenile justice diversion in Victoria: A blank canvas. Current Issues Crim. Just., 24, 419. Rohlfs, R. V., Murphy, E., Song, Y. S., & Slatkin, M. (2013). The influence of relatives on the efficiency and error rate of familial searching. PloS one, 8(8), e70495. Rodriguez, L. (2005). The end of the line: California gangs and the promise of street peace. Social Justice, 12-23. Sorensen, J. L. (1974). The effect of a juvenile referral system on prevention of recidivism with early offenders (Doctoral dissertation, University of Rochester. Dept. of Psychology.). Turner, S., & Fain, T. (2006). Validation of the risk and resiliency assessment tool for juveniles in the Los Angeles county probation system. Fed. Probation, 70, 49. Read More