Solution Focused Training for Youth Offending Teams
The Western Bay Youth Offending Team at the close of a three day course
Stop Press: We now also provide all of our training courses via MSTeams and Zoom – please get in touch via info@brief-therapy-uk.com or Tel: 07779 242 289 for further information.
Our Solution Focused Training for Youth Offending Teams equips teams in their work with young people who offend and their families.
“First Class training! Practical, captivating and engaging. Eileen’s approach is direct and informative, leaving participants with the confidence to apply their learning. Thanks!”
Paul Thomas Chester, Youth Offending Service.
Working with young people in a statutory setting due to their offending behaviour brings its own difficulties, not least that it can often be that the young person doesn’t recognize that there is a problem other than s/he is obliged to work with the statutory worker!
Especially useful in the face of a multitude of “I don’t know” is the curiosity of the Solution Focused worker about “Times when you resisted the risky behaviour/Stayed sober/took control of the situation“. This curiosity about exceptions to problem behaviour early on in the conversation is a track that young people are not necessarily expecting and generates useful conversations. We also provide frameworks for YOS staff that encourage partnering agencies, key workers, etc to contribute any known “exceptions” in the young person’s disruptive or offending behaviour.
These “exceptions” are not collected in order to highlight “You’ve done it once – you can do it again!” a motivational style that is not usually successful or sustainable. However, subtle curiosity about the “how” the young person did x,y and z can be the start of a new conversation towards “doing more of what works”.
Because many of the frameworks that YOT staff must adhere to is focused on the “stopping of offending behaviour” which is easier to say than it can be for young people to do – it seems to us much more conducive in providing better outcomes in “change-work” when we instead collect any small success from the past, any small existing success and begin the conversation about “the start of new behaviour”.
I can see how my language can influence the young people and I will now be aware of this during my sessions.
I have never been so engaged during a training course! I felt as thogh I was learning very useful concepts continually and felt very comfortable within the group. I feel that this may be the key for me to be effective in my position (current and future)
Stephanie Hughes, Crime Concern for Youth Inclusion & Support Panel, Cheshire
Our Solution Focused Training for Youth Offending Services provides teams with tools for change when working with young people who offend and their families. Both approaches are fit for purpose for Statutory orders including Parenting Orders and ISSP (Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme).
Very energetic, interesting and captivating presentation. I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given to change my practice and have a more positive way of working.
Julie Allen, Social Worker, Cheshire Youth Offending Team
This course has been commissioned by Youth Offending, YISP and YADAS teams across the UK in their work with young people at risk of offending or who are referred under statutory orders. The training offers Youth Offending teams a whole-team strengths-based resource.
One of the new courses we have developed in 2017 is the Solution Focused Life Coach programme that is proving attractive to young people as it is in keeping with the non-stigmatised concept of Fitness Coach, Football Coach and Personal Coach. Elements of this structure is included in all of the YOS training that we implement with advice on how it can be built in to the YOS framework in their work with young people.
The Consultancy have extensive experience in training staff from all agencies involved in a young person’s life and have devised strengths-based, future focused programmes, using the Solution Focused Approach as the principle model. The ethos of working with young people to help them move towards a more constructive life rather than implementing punitive measures is proving effective for better outcomes.
“This will affect my practice in helping to look at working with the whole family of Young Person on ABC Contracts or families of YIP at risk of Anti-social behaviour orders. Extremely good course, well worth attending. A real perspective change on how to look at future change with young people and their families”.
Laura Woodrow, ASB Coordinator, Divisional Police HQ, Crewe
One of our programmes Affecting Early Years (AEY) was included in the West Midlands Police Authority’s Early Intervention Programme developed by Inspector Chris Dowen of West Midlands Constabulary who created a shared, community-based programme with schools that saw Police Officer as a source of help and encouragement for those at risk of an offending lifestyle . The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) included our AEY Programme on their Best Practice website in February 2011. This allows Police Forces from across the UK to have access.
Affecting Early Years training programme with PCOs and Police Constables in partnership with West Midlands Police.
There have been good outcomes by the West Midlands Police and Community Support Officers – pictured below at the close of training in our Solution Focused Affecting Early Years Course to prepare them for their collaborative work with schools. housing managers and community renewal officers to provide an early intervention strategy to support children and young people within the community.
Dudley PC and PCSOs with Inspector Chris Dowen far left and Eileen Murphy far right
For further information about our courses for Youth Offending and associated Teams – please call us direct on 0208 947 8093 or 07779 242 289 or email info@brief-therapy-uk.com
