Criminal justice

Case studies

The Youth Justice Board is currently piloting a new approach to the housing of young offenders who are particularly vulnerable. The pilot site is a Unit in the North East of England.

Cordis Bright has been engaged by the Youth Justice Board to conduct an action research evaluation of this pilot. The evaluation is over a period of 12 months and covers the entire set-up process of the Unit as well as assessing the way that the Unit operates.

A number of methodologies are being used: quantitative data collection; qualitative interviews with young people, staff, managers and key stakeholders within the YJB; observations of the Unit and outcomes focussed case studies of residents. We are due to report our findings by the end of 2009.

Cordis Bright was commissioned to provide intensive support to a Youth Offending Team following inspection. The work was commissioned by the Chief Executive and actions were focused on helping our client protect the public, prevent offending and reduce re-offending.

Cordis Bright's input included:

• Developing measures to improve service delivery to young people, parents and victims
• Analysing the quality of work being delivered to these groups, and addressing key areas of practice such as assessment which are linked to key interventions
• Providing support for the management team, from one-to-one coaching to group training
• Helping to establish more effective partnership working
• Preparing youth justice plans, policies and strategies for the agencies involved in the YOT