4.6 Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Orders

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This Guidance is intended to assist Youth Offending Service and Children’s Services staff in the implementation of Intensive Surveillance and Supervision Orders. The guidance is based on the Youth Justice Board Case Management Guidance 2010.

Youth Offending Service staff should refer to the National Standards for Youth Justice Services 2010 for further guidance and to the Key Elements of Effective Practice documentation. Social Services Directorate staff should refer to the DOH Framework for the Assessment of Children In Need and their Families (April 2000) and to the Safeguarding and promoting the Welfare of Children In Need for additional guidance.

OTHER RELEVANT CHAPTERS

Young People in Police Stations Procedure

Young People in Criminal Courts Procedure

Electronic Monitoring Procedure

Young People and Custodial Sentences Procedure

Young People and Remands Procedure

This is a new chapter for September 2011.

Introduction
Pre Court Arrangements
Court and Post Court Programme Implementation for Bail
Proposal of ISS as Part of A Community Order
ISS Programme

1. Introduction

1.1

The National Standards for Youth Justice 2010 defines Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (ISS) as “a rigorous non custodial alternative to custody intervention as part of a co-ordinated framework of YOT interventions that responds to the needs of young people who offend or are on bail” (YJB 2010).

1.2

An ISS is available for young offenders when;

The court are dealing with a child or young person for an offence which is punishable with imprisonment
The court is of the opinion that the offence, or combination of offences, was so serious that but for ISS (or IF), a custodial sentence would be appropriate
If the child of young person was aged under 15 at the time of the conviction, the court must be of the opinion that they are a persistent offender
If the offence is non imprisonable, but the young person is already in breach of a YRO, ISS is available only where the court considers there has been wilfull and persistent non-compliance

or

Where the child or young person is alleged to have committed an offence that is serious enough to warrant a remand to custody, the court may consider giving a Bail Support package including ISS (Band1).

1.3

Staff members responsible for bail and are expected to be aware of the ISS definition and clear about the procedures for assessment for ISS i.e. eligibility, suitability and availability.

2. Pre Court Arrangements

2.1	It is expected that as part of the YOS duty officer responsibility in each area, a check will be made on all police custody suites for young people who will be produced at Court.
2.2	Where a young person is identified as a potential secure remand, the duty will advise the officer attending court and notify the local Children’s Services Team. A bail support package should be put forward to meet objections to Bail.

3. Court and Post Court Programme Implementation for Bail

3.1	Under Section 23 CYPA 1969, the Courts must remand to Local Authority accommodation any young person aged 16 or under who is refused bail but does not represent a serious risk to the public. It is recognised that this places a duty of procedure and placement for Children’s Services and risks disrupting a young person’s family circumstances.
3.2	The first point of contact will usually be the youth offending team worker or bail support officer attending as court duty officer. A Bail ISSP will not be considered until the Bail Support package has been refused by the courts.
3.3	A written assessment (Bail Asset) will be completed for all cases and a check made of Children’s Services records. For those young people known to Children’s Services where concerns have been expressed, the duty officer will contact the allocated social worker and discussions will begin as to the young person’s past and current care arrangements and to make sure that the ISS programme and current work provide an integrated approach that meets the young persons needs.
3.4	Current information on the Common Assessment Framework and Every Child Matters can in be located on the Lincolnshire County Council site.
3.5	In instances where Children’s Services are currently involved the allocated officer in YOT will assess the family circumstances by use of ASSET. However if the child or young person is not known, a referral can be made via the Customer Service Centre who will complete a Referral and Information Record and process the information in accordance with the Children’s Services Quality Management Manual.
3.6	At present it is not within the YOS remit to provide accommodation in any form. Where necessary this will have to be arranged by Children’s Services for young people under 16, and for those aged 16 and 17 in conjunction with Children’s Services and appropriate Housing Authorities as part of the joint homelessness Assessment. YOS will negotiate with FAST/LEAP/NACRO for emergency accommodation for those young people who are assessed as not being eligible for statutory provision but have accommodation needs.
3.7	In cases where Children’s Services have provided accommodation it should be a condition to comply with Children’s Services directions, where relevant, in relation to the residence requirement. With regard to the ISS, the direction will be to comply with the Youth Offending Team. In cases where voice verification or curfew is to be used in support of bail conditions, the YOS will consult with the worker, where relevant, to identify the suitability of intervention and how it may affect carers or other clients.
3.8	A copy of the bail notice, which will include a provisional programme for the ISS, will be faxed to partner agencies identified in the contract following the appearance and details provided of future court appearances.

4. Proposal of ISS as Part of A Community Order

4.1	As with a Bail ISS a comprehensive assessment as to the suitability of a young person for the imposition of an ISS will conducted by the YOS for the pre sentence report.
4.2	Where Children’s Services are involved with a young person where ISS may be proposed information will be sought from the Social Worker regarding current circumstances in the family and the potential impact on them if an ISS where to be imposed.
4.3	Where a child is accommodation by Children’s Services this will also include discussion with the placement providers e.g. foster carers, children’s home in order to inform them of the content and commitment that may be required/sought to support the programme but also to ascertain the feasibility of and agreement to the electronically monitored curfew within the ISS.

5. ISS Programme

5.1	The ISS covers 6 core areas within the programme, these are; Education, Training or Employment Intervention to tackle offending behaviour (for bail ISS only offences not connected to those currently charged with) Reparation to the victim or communities (not for a bail ISS) Interpersonal skills e.g. life skills, leisure activities etc Family support A curfew supported by electronic monitoring (if appropriate) Please refer to the Electronic Monitoring Procedure. In addition to this programmes should include access to support for individual problems e.g. homelessness, drug misuse, mental health problems etc.
5.2	The programme should be monitored to reflect the need to promote identity and respect for children’s racial, cultural, religious lifestyles including their first language.
5.3	All programmes should contain a minimum of 25hrs supervised activities each week, a minimum of 2 contacts with the young person each day (although one of these can be the curfew) 7 days a week.
5.4	On being given an ISS a meeting will be held with the young person, their family and relevant service providers within 24 hours, to confirm the programme with an allocated officer from the Area team. Additional parts of the assessment process that are outstanding will be completed i.e. “What do you think” and outstanding screening tools and outcomes shared with appropriate staff.
5.5	Further reviews will be held in consultation with the YOS officer as part of the programme. These reviews will include the young person and their carers and they are held weekly for the first 3 months of the ISS.
5.6	For young people where Children’s Services are intervening further reviews will be held in consultation with Children’s Services and where appropriate linked to Child Care Reviews depending on circumstances. Click here to view Child Care Reviews Flowchart.

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