Resettlement provision for children and young ... - Ministry of Justice

1.30 In the 41 questionnaires returned, when asked about what happened to the young people on
release, case supervisors told us that 26 young men went to live with family, nine had
accommodation provided by the local authority, three had gone into bed and breakfast
lodgings and two had had to report as homeless (including a section 20 looked after child).
Details on the type of accommodation for one young person were not provided. Case
supervisors felt that a fifth of these places were not suitable and/or sustainable, including two
cases where young men were living with family members.
1.31 A month later, 22 young men were living with family, six were back in custody, one young
person was ‘on the run’, one young person was in local authority accommodation, two were in
bed and breakfast lodgings (one had been in a bed and breakfast since release), two were in
hostels and there was no information for the other seven, including the two young men
released homeless.
ETE
1.32 From follow-up information received, only 13 of the 41 young men had an ETE placement to go
to when they were released and case supervisors reported that all of these young men also
had suitable accommodation. Of these only half were still attending the placement a month
later and three young men were back in custody. Of the 28 young men without something
arranged on release, a month later three were back in custody, one young person was ‘on the
run’ and only six had a placement arranged.
1.33 Case supervisors attributed successful engagement in ETE to a young person being
motivated, engaged in something they wanted to do and having family support. As well as the
absence of these elements, unsuccessful placements were often associated with unstable
accommodation.
1.34 Only 13 of the 41 young men had suitable accommodation (as reported by case supervisors)
and an ETE placement arranged on release.
Recommendations
To the Ministry of Justice
1.35 The Ministry of Justice should work with other government departments to ensure that
young people leaving custody are treated as children in need and, in accordance with
Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, are assessed for the provision of a range and level
of services to meet their needs.
To the YJB
1.36 The YJB should work with the Department for Education to agree a strategy that
ensures that resettlement planning for young people leaving custody is effective. The
strategy should include arrangements for the collaboration and coordination of all
agencies involved in planning and providing services for young people leaving custody,
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