AYM

The Association of Youth Offending Team Managers

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Autumn Conference 16 October, University of Derby

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The AYM autumn conference is taking place at the University of Derby on 16 October 2019.

Talks and speakers are as follows and presentations will be available on the events page soon after the event.

  •  Youth Justice Institute: ‘Setting the Scene’ – Rob Allen and Professor Phil Hodgson
  •  Learning Hub – Sally Brown
  •  Apprenticeships – Louise Morgan
  •  Looked After Children: Research Findings – Ann-Marie Day
  •  Secure College – Steve Chalke MBE
  •  HMIP YOT Inspections – Justin Russell

The event is open to YOT Managers but there is a waiting list for other professionals if spaces allow. Please contact us if you would like to attend,

 

Another Successful AGM: More YOTs Awarded with the Quality Mark for SEND!

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The Annual Conference and AGM on 5 June 2019 in Rugby proved to be another great success with speakers providing some really interesting information on peer reviews, sport in prisons, overuse of remands and approaches to serious violence.  The AYM was also pleased to recognise the achievements of four more areas – Blackburn, Hackney, Kirklees and St Helens – in reaching the required standards for our Youth Justice SEND Quality Mark Award. 

Blackburn Send Award
Hackney SEND award

The Youth Justice SEND Quality Mark recognises good partnership work in local areas for the benefit of children with special educational needs. The standards for the award were developed with the support of the DfE and YJB and with input from academics and practitioners.

Kirklees SEND Award
St Helens SEND Award

For information on how to gain this award follow this link.

Independent Evaluation of Youth Justice Peer Reviews

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At the request of the Programme Board for Youth Justice Sector-led Improvement, Dr Kerry Baker and Dr Christine Magill have undertaken an independent review of the peer-review process and their report is now available to download

The key findings from their review are:

·         Youth Justice Peer Review (YJPR) is viewed positively by those who have experienced it.

·         YJPR shares many of the features of similar effective peer review processes in other sectors.

·         The current arrangements between YJB and the sector are working well, and the role of the YJPR Facilitator is key to this.

·         In most cases, respondents agreed that the Peer Review Teams had achieved an appropriate balance between being rigorous and challenging whilst also being informal and supportive (i.e. they were successful in the role of ‘critical friend’).

·         The skills and experience of the YJPR teams were valued by host YOTs. 

·         The Framework Guidance and the training for reviewers were well received and seen as useful.

·         The ‘non-shaming’ approach of YJPR creates a receptiveness to feedback and enables an open discussion of strengths and challenges.

·         All the participating YOTs identified specific ways in which YJPR had made an impact on their governance, organisation, practice or morale.

·         There is, however, more to be done to foster engagement from the wider youth justice sector and a need to communicate the value of YJPR more effectively.

·         There is potential to better capture and share good practice flowing from the Peer Reviews.

·         The benefits YJPR offers to Peer Reviewers are a significant strength of the process.

·         Continuation and development of YJPR requires appropriate resources, particularly to support the critical role of a central coordinator.

The Evaluation made a number of helpful recommendations for improving the process further, and the Sector-Led Improvement Partnership Programme Board is confirming  an action plan to follow up the recommendations.

Managers/ heads of service wishing to find enquire about a Peer Review for their service, or interested in becoming part of a  review team should contact us using the contact form and we will put you in touch with the  co-chairs of the programme board