Education, offending behaviour and family relationships

Basic English and Maths

The majority of young people who come onto this programme have learning and social difficulties, which have not always been addressed. We have set up sessions in basic Maths and English for those who need added support.  This will be done on a one-to-one basis, as its intention is not to replace training providers or school, its purpose being to give extra support on top of the existing curriculum. We had help from the Education Welfare Officers as well as help from a teacher from Outreach to gather relevant material for this programme.

In Bury we have strong links with West Suffolk College; each young person who comes onto an ISSP has their basic skills (numeracy and literacy) assessed.  A plan is then put together, which incorporates the Study Skills Workshop at West Suffolk College or One-to-one basic skills tuition led by our ISSP Practitioner Janeann who is qualified in this area.

Further to this, all of our young people undertake one or more of the ASDAN Award Programmes. This award scheme is split into modules that are designed to develop, assess and accredit key skills to the young person through tasks that recognise their personal achievements. Some of the modules and task are as follows:

The Bronze Award requires the young person to gain a minimum of 6 credits which is equivalent to approximately 60 hours of work and encourages the young person to become more skilled in the following key skills:

Offending Behaviour Work

By examining a young person's asset scores as well as the young person's offence, we will determine which areas the offending behaviour work will focus on. We will link in to other agencies to tackle these issues. For example, if the offence of a young person was committed because of their drug use, then we will work in partnership with Norcas. We also work in conjunction with the fire service on the road kill project, to tackle car offences. The fire service also provides assistance in trying to prevent further arson offences. There is further information about The Fire Service, Crime Concern and Norcas in the Linking into other Organisations category.

We also work on a one-to-one basis with a young person, addressing individual attitudes and motives related to offending behaviour. This work is undertaken alongside any intervention being delivered by the young person's individual caseworker.

A young person will complete a project that encapsulates his interests and will have a link to his offending behaviour intervention plan. If a young person is of school leaving age and are not in employment, part of their project will be link to finding and preparing for suitable employment.

Attitudes to offending will be addressed at every opportunity throughout the whole ISSP programme, particularly project work and mentoring sessions.

Working With the Family

Gill Toal is helping us to develop better relationship with parents and carers and she states that the aim of the parenting interventions undertaken during the ISSP programme is to improve the supervision of the child or young person, after the intensive part of the programme has been completed. To accomplish this aim, we endeavour to work with the parent and the child to improve their relationship, ensure boundaries are set by the parent/carer and that the parent enforces these boundaries with reasonable contingencies. The setting of goals by the practitioners for both young person and parent and the breaking down of these goals into manageable steps will assist the parents to regain control and parent their children.

The model we use will be behavioural and based in social learning theory. The case holder will work with the parent and the ISSP practitioner with the young person. The interventions are planned and co-ordinated to teach both the young person and the parent skills that will assist the aim of the parenting intervention.

Below are further links to some of the activities carried out with the young people as part of their ISSP's: