Events

AYM Parliamentary Reception / Website Launch

12 January 2005

The AYM is holding its first Parliamentary Reception to launch its website. The event will be hosted by John Cryer MP (Hornchurch) and attended by YJB Chair, Prof Rod Morgan.

The new site is designed to appeal to both the general public and YOT managers across England & Wales. Both groups will have their own sections of the site with areas to promote careers in Youth Justice and the role of the AYM in the public area.

Police Review magazine Crime and Justice Annual Conference 2005

26th and 27th January 2005

Pauline Batstone (AYM Chair) speaks at the Youth Crime Panel Debate on {i:Improving Joined-Up Service Delivery}.

The Annual Nacro youth crime conference

13, 14 and 15 April 2005

The conference is entitled 'What's the problem?: reducing crime and anti-social behaviour by children and young people'

AGM 2005

9 and 10 May 2005

The next AGM for the Association takes place at Stratford-upon-Avon on 9 and 10 May, 2005.

The next AGM for the Association takes place at Stratford-upon-Avon on 9 and 10 May, 2005. Keynote Speaker, Professor Rod Morgan, Chair of the Youth Justice Board.

Further details can be obtained from the Treasurer, {mailto:jp.hawkins@members.v21.co.uk:John Hawkins}.

Birmingham Member To Address LGA Conference

September 13th - 14th

{b:Charlie Spencer}, an AYM member from the Birmingham YOS, will address the Local Government Association (LGA) Safer Communities Board Annual Conference in Birmingham next month. This year’s conference, which takes place in Birmingham on September 13-14, will focus on issues surrounding young people and offending.

Charlie, 40, who is based in the city centre at the YOT’s Broad Street office, is the team’s Preventions and Development Officer. He has a lot to do with the prevention work of the YOT, the YIPs and YISPs programmes, and the European Youth Exchange.

His line manager Graham Fletcher says: “Charlie has done a fantastic amount of work on ‘Gangs and Guns’ and is very well respected locally in the area. He is the proud new father of a baby boy, Otis Marley … so you can see where his musical tastes lie.”

Other speakers at the two-day event include, YJB chief Executive Ellie Roy, Kathy Evans from the Children’s Society and Professor Liz Kelly from the London Metropolitan University.

Further details of the LGA conference can be found at: {link:www.lga.gov.uk/Event.asp?lsection=46&id=SXC46E-A782F776:www.lga.gov.uk}

Youth Justice: Past, present and future

13th – 15th September 2005

The National Association for Youth Justice present - Youth Justice: Past, present and future.

The National Association for Youth Justice present - {b:Youth Justice: Past, present and future}.

{link:http://pic.aym.org.uk/download/NAYJ%20programme.doc:Programme}

{link:http://pic.aym.org.uk/download/youthjustice_past_present_future.pdf:Booking Form}

ACPO Youth Justice Conference

13 - 14 October 2005

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Youth Justice Conference takes place on October 13-14, at the Europa Hotel, in central Belfast.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Youth Justice Conference takes place on October 13-14, at the Europa Hotel, in central Belfast.

The sixth national conference will examine the key issues that have had a real impact on youth crime, at a national and local level, over the past 12 months and consider the emerging priorities for the year ahead.

The conference will bring together those who work with young people, police officers, local authorities, magistrates, probation officers, social workers and YOTs, to those involved in the community and voluntary sectors.

Conference themes include: Demystifying the Youth Justice system, how the ACPO strategic approach works on the ground, Youth Inclusion and Support Panels, the YJB, Safer Schools Partnerships, and future issues/challenges for YJ practitioners.

Key speakers include Charles Clark, Deputy Chief Const. Essex; Prof Rod Morgan, YJB; Alice Chapman of the Youth Justice Agency and Nigel Williams, NI Commissioner for Children & Young People.

Donna Traynor from {i:BBC Newsline} will chair the conference.

{link:www.acpo-yjc.org.uk:More information}

Mental health and children in the penal system

4 November 2005, 10am - 4pm

Second in a series of the Howard League for Penal Reform conferences looking at children and the criminal justice. The conference will be aimed at practitioners working in the field and will offer training as well as an opportunity for debate. It will discus current policy and explore good practice .

The conference will consist of a main plenary session with keynote speakers with time for questions and discussion and breakout sessions. The conference will focus on practice and will provide opportunity for debate, networking and exchange of ideas.

Speakers:

Claire Rayner, Writer and Broadcaster (Chair)
Chris Callender, Assistant Director and Head of Legal Team, The Howard League for Penal Reform
Prof Richard Williams, Professor in Mental Health Strategy, Glamorgan University and Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Brendan Finegan, Director of Policy, Youth Justice Board
Chris Stanley, Head of Policy , Nacro
Ian Langley, Association of Youth Offending Team Managers & Head of Wiltshire Youth Offending Service

Who should attend
The conference is aimed at a wide audience including youth offending teams, mental health practitioners, youth and social workers, probation practitioners, lawyers, sentencers, voluntary organisations, academics and anyone working in the criminal justice system and concerned about reform.

Accreditation
The conference is accredited for Law Society and Bar Council 4 hours CPD.

Registration and refreshments
Registration with fairtrade tea/coffee at 10am. Buffet lunch will be provided.

All participants will receive a comprehensive conference pack, guide for the conference and a valuable reference resource.

Course fees:
Full rate (statutory organisations) : Ł135
Supported rate (voluntary organisations): Ł110

Further information and booking form available at {link:http://www.howardleague.org:www.howardleague.org}

Youth Justice Convention

16 / 17 November 2005

The annual Youth Justice Convention hosted by the Youth Justice Board is one of the leading policy and networking events of the year for people commited to reducing youth crime. Look out for the AYM stand in the Greenwich Room.

AYM / YJB Consultation Meeting : 5 October 2005

5th October 2005

Minutes of AYM/YJB Consultation Meeting : 5 October 2005

Present: Pauline Batstone
John Hawkins

Rakesh Gupta
Chris Hume
Chris Wright

1 Notes of Previous Meeting
(a) Non-police staff accessing PNC: CH said that David Harvey is working closely with ACPO to agree guidelines for YOTs.

(b) Youth Justice Bill: CH stated that discussions were continuing between the Home Office and the Leader of the House to secure a legislative slot for the Bill.

2 Performance Management
CW and RG stressed that they would welcome feedback from the AYM on the new performance framework and that this is still to be seen as work in progress. PB and JH acknowledged that the intention behind the new framework is to produce a more rounded and comprehensive assessment of a YOT’s performance but commented that they and many colleagues had found the first report for April-June very complex. JH confirmed the AYM would submit a formal response by the end of October.

CW stated that the next revision of National Standards will take more account of risk of reoffending in determining contact levels and programme dosage.

In relation to the audit of National Standards, CW stressed the need to improve performance generally on enforcement, specifically compliance with community sentences. He said that the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and the Home Office view compliance as one of the top priority performance indicators for both adult and young offenders and that YOT managers may have to brace themselves for more frequent reporting on National Standards than hitherto. The reporting process for this will be simplified by a development in Themis anticipated in April 2006.

3 Prevention
CH asked for the AYM’s views on the reporting requirements for the new Prevention grant. CH stressed that there will be an expectation on YOTs to collect information on prevention but he was sensitive to the concerns of YOT managers about the demands made of them for data on performance and monitoring.

PB responded that YOT managers will expect there to be some monitoring framework for the new grant but our view could not be considered final until we have had a chance to look at the proposed model. JH stressed that prevention outcomes are generally long-term and that simply counting numbers of young people or parents accessing a service would be of limited use. It was also noted that in ‘Youth Matters’ it is proposed that the grant is transferred to local children’s trusts.

4 The Respect Agenda
PB sought the view of the YJB on the Respect agenda. CW saw this agenda as quite compatible with the objectives of the youth justice system in terms of holding young people to account for their actions but also in terms of promoting mutual respect between young people and adults. JH stated the key policy points of the AYM in relation to ASBOs, specifically a reduction in the minimum length of an ASBO for young people, a change of approach to naming and shaming young people on ASBOs, and the need for a balanced approach to dealing with ASB by young people. CH emphasised that the YJB’s approach to this issue is tactical in the sense that the Board is not going to push at a door that is not going to open.

CW asked PB and JH why only 7 ISO grants have, to date, been applied for by YOTs when there is funding for 250. JH stated that the evidence he has seen indicates that ASBOs on conviction are being applied for by prosecuting authorities more readily than stand-alone ASBOs because the focus of this agenda has shifted in many areas from young people with no criminal history to those who are more regular or persistent offenders who would not qualify for an ISO.

5 HR & Learning
CH confirmed that, given the sharp budget reductions in this area, the YJB is drawing up a strategy which comprises the following key elements:-
• The reduction of HR & Learning Co-ordinator posts to 0.5 wte per region
• Keeping PCEP but at a reduced level
• Develop management development training

6 Funding Issues
PB raised the concerns of those AYM members facing disinvestment in Children’s Fund programmes following the ending of the ring-fencing for youth crime prevention projects. CH acknowledged that the levers and sanctions available to the YJB to tackle this problem were very limited and that the guidance for the new prevention grant would specifically rule out its use as a substitute for existing funding streams.

PB asked what the Board’s plans are to fund ISSOs once they replace ISSP in 2008 (assuming the Youth Justice Bill becomes law by then). CH anticipates that the current ISSP grant will be allocated to YOTs in future as part of the overall formula funding package in the same way as the Referral Order grant was subsumed into the formula grant a few years ago. CH acknowledged that the anticipated increase in ISSOs compared to ISSP will have implications for programme integrity but he felt that the content and dosage of an ISSO should be tied more to the ASSET than to a standardised programme, as at present.

On a more strategic level CH floated the idea of developing ‘a Standard Spending Assessment’ for youth justice that attempts to measure the likely demand for youth justice services in each area based on certain objective criteria. He stressed that thinking on this was at a very early stage.

7 Attendance Centre Devolution
CW stated that plans to progress this issue are on hold until the position with the Youth Justice Bill is clarified. CW referred to the discussions that have been held with interested parties, including AYM members, and that it has not been easy to agree a consensus as to the best way forward. He confirmed that the Youth Justice Bill will provide for ACs to become the budgetary responsibility of local authorities and that, in the first year following transfer, funding will be allocated to those local authorities where ACs are located.

8 Date of Next Meeting
To be confirmed.

NACRO’s Annual Youth Crime Conference

29-31 March 2006

NACRO is holding its 16th annual youth crime conference at Nottingham University. Pauline Batstone, Chair of the AYM, is one of the guest speakers.

YJB Youth Justice Managers Conference 2006

24-25 April 2006

The YJB Youth Justice Managers are holding their Conference 2006 at the Stratford Moat House.

More details to follow

AYM AGM 2006

19-20 June 2006

The AYM is holding its 6th annual conference at The Moat House, Stratford-upon-Avon. Details of guest speakers to follow.

The AYM is holding its 6th annual conference at The Moat House, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Details of guest speakers to follow.

Joint Conference

September 2006

APYCO Conference

27th and 28th September

APYCO – The Association of Principal Youth and Community Officers

AYOTM – The Association of Youth Offending Team Managers

NACP – The National Association of Connexions Partners

AYM AGM 2007

18-19 June 2007

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2007

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2007

MONDAY JUNE 18 & TUESDAY JUNE 19 2007

THE HOLIDAY INN, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

GUEST SPEAKERS: ANNE OWERS,
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
PETER FAHY,
Chief Constable, Cheshire

BOOKING FORM

NAME……………………………………………………………………………………

YOT/YOS………………………………………………………………………………..

ADDRESS……………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………..POSTCODE………………....................

E-MAIL………………………………………………………………………………….

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS……………………….....................................................

INVOICE ADDRESS (if different from above)………………………………………

…………………………………………….....POSTCODE…………………………….

Please post completed form to: John Hawkins, Treasurer, AYM, St Mark’s House,
14 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, E.Sussex BN21 1EP
or fax to: 01323 466634
or e-mail: john.hawkins@eastsussex.gov.uk

OUTLINE PROGRAMME

MONDAY 18 JUNE

1200 Arrival
1300 Lunch
1400 Opening Remarks
1415 Keynote Speakers: Anne Owers
Peter Fahy
1615 Tea/Coffee
1645 Officer Reports
Election of Officers for 2007/08
1730 Session Ends
1830 Dinner

TUESDAY 19 JUNE

0800 Breakfast
0930 Policy Motions
1100 Coffee/Tea
1120 Final Keynote Speaker (to be confirmed)
1230 Close
1245 Lunch and Departure

CHARGE: Ł150 per delegate to AYM members*

Ł199 per delegate, if not an AYM member

Special Rates:
*YOTs with 2 members attending: Ł270
*YOTs with 3 members attending: Ł360

Charges are inclusive of all meals and one night’s accommodation on June 18th

Youth Offending – Prevention, Intervention and Rehabilitation - Conference

20 April 2007

This timely and informative conference will consider the end-to-end strategy that needs to be put in place to prevent offending and reduce re-offending.

The Youth Justice Board has agreed a tough target with the Home Office to reduce the number of young people in custody by 10% by 2008. Youth crime is high on everyone’s agenda
and reducing the number of young people committing crimes requires the buy-in of schools, communities, local authorities and youth offending services.

This timely and informative conference will consider the end-to-end strategy that needs to be put in place to prevent offending and reduce re-offending. Our expert speakers will discuss the key issues from early identification of risk factors and supporting vulnerable young people through to engaging with offenders and helping them to address their behaviour.

Benefits of attending include:

• Hear from the Youth Justice Board on their strategy for preventing youth offending

• Take advantage of best practice case studies on early intervention, multi-agency working and building links across the sector

• Find out how one local authority is working with the victims of crime to help prevent re-offending

• Learn about the current situation and the implications of the duties in the Criminal Justice Bill for your organisation

• Understand how to incorporate mental health services into the youth justice system and support
• young offenders with disorders in both community and institutional settings

• Take part in an interactive panel discussion looking at the way forward for the youth justice
• system

• Network with peers and share your ideas and concerns in a neutral forum

For further information and booking details contact Ben Aslet on 020 7808 5289 or email ben.aslet@capita.co.uk

AGM and annual conference on the 16/17th of June

16/06/2008

AGM and annual conference on the 16/17th of June 2008 at Stratford upon Avon

Application forms for members are available on the members section of the website under Useful Documents.