YOUTH CARE A Clear Approach


A pilot scheme to address the often-neglected needs of care leavers in the criminal justice system could play a vital part in a wider strategy to deal with their problems. Tomorrow’s Care hears more about the scheme’s findings from some of the contributing experts.


The impact of the pioneering ‘Clear Approach’ project in Greater Manchester has been assessed by Dr Claire Fitzpatrick, a lecturer in criminology at Lancaster University, and Patrick Williams, a senior lecturer in criminology at Manchester Metropolitan University.


They are calling for funding and resources to be made available to roll out the programme on a long- term, sustainable basis “so that it has the opportunity to bed-in to mainstream provision”.


The findings of the assessment team have just been published. Their report looked at the impact of the ‘Clear Approach’ intervention, which was made available to care leavers who had been given an Intensive Alternative to Custody (IAC) order.


The project, which was run by the charity The Care Leavers Association, gave the young men involved the chance to talk about their experiences in care to others who have gone through the system.


The participants were also given information about the support they might be entitled to upon leaving care legislation.


Fitzpatrick and Williams, co-authors of the report into the programme, said: “The particular vulnerability of care leavers was reinforced through interviews with a sample of the young men.


“A needs-focused analysis leaves us in little doubt that care leavers as a group are worthy of specific, specialist attention when they come into contact with the justice system.


“Whilst our research is based on a small sample, we identified a number of very positive features of the intervention. The space to talk to someone who had ‘been there’ about


- 24 -


care experiences was clearly valued by some of the young men, particularly when they had very little conventional support available elsewhere.


“The ‘user perspective’ emphasised in ‘Clear Approach’ was viewed as very important by both practitioners and young men. Also of crucial importance was the knowledge gained about the support those leaving care might be entitled to under existing legislation.


That some care leavers engaged with the


programme, despite non- engagement with other conditions of the IAC order


is a testament to the quality of the intervention.


“A further factor was the increase in confidence that care leavers reported through being helped to make sense of, and articulate, difficult past experiences.


“That some care leavers engaged with the ‘Clear Approach’ programme, despite non-engagement with other conditions of the IAC order is a testament to both the quality of the intervention and the facilitator.”


However, the researchers did find a number of barriers to delivering ‘Clear Approach’ as intended.


These included defining what a ‘care leaver’ actually is and identifying relevant young men to refer to the programme.


The “often-chaotic lives of the young men involved” also had an impact on their ability to participate, the research team found.


Dr Fitzpatrick added: “A lack of knowledge and understanding about care leaver issues and the purpose of the ‘Clear Approach’ intervention itself led to uncertainty amongst some front-line practitioners and a certain amount of fear about even asking the ‘care’ question. This linked in with concerns about stigma and labelling the young men.


The authors concluded: “Despite the obstacles identified, these are not insurmountable and should certainly not detract from the positive benefits that engaging with ‘Clear Approach’ could bring.


“Nationally, there is very little specific support available to care leavers in the criminal justice system, and an intervention, like ‘Clear Approach’ has great potential to help fill this gap.”


www.careleavers.com www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50