Careers Scotland and Strathclyde Police Employment Initiative
Owner / Author:
Inspector Bob Hope, Strathclyde Police North Lanarkshire Division.
Organisation:
Police
Contact Details:
Strathclyde Police North Lanarkshire Division
Strathclyde Police
'N' Division Cumbernauld
South Muirhead Road
Cumbernauld
Strathclyde Police
'N' Division Cumbernauld
South Muirhead Road
Cumbernauld
Strategy / Initiative Name:
Careers Scotland and Strathclyde Police Employment Initiative
Local Authority(ies):
North Lanarkshire
Group Targeted:
Disaffected unemployed young adults.
Crime Type / Violence Activity:
Diversionary Activity
Level(s):
Secondary
Tertiary
Tertiary
Aims:
- Reduce crime and the fear of crime.
- Engage with unemployed young adults who have become or may become involved in crime and assist them in gaining employment.
Approach:
This is a long term joint initiative involving Strathclyde Police and Careers Scotland. Through providing complementary services and well structured, partnership working protocols they seek to divert disaffected, unemployed young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, support and opportunities necessary to enter the world of employment.
Strathclyde Police encounter many disaffected, unemployed young people in the course of tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. By making them aware of the project and gaining their consent to participate in it, a referral can be made to Careers Scotland. Careers Scotland undertakes to speedily make contact with the young person and assess their individual skills, social and training needs. Dedicated workers will thereafter provide the necessary resources, support, training and guidance that will assist the young person to gain employment.
Project's Methodology:
The identification of responsibilities included:
- The senior Police Officer and the manager of Careers Scotland in Cumbernauld would agree the process, procedures and sign the protocol agreement.
- Police Custody Sergeants would be responsible for the identification of suitable candidates for the project, providing them with information and if appropriate processing the necessary documentation.
- The manager of Careers Scotland in Cumbernauld would be responsible for making contact with the young person within 5 working days, assigning the appropriate resources and the objectives of the project.
- The area Inspector and the manager of Careers Scotland in Cumbernauld would be responsible for the coordination and day to day management of the project.
- A number of discussions took place between the two agencies to establish the style, content and method of making referrals. They took into considerations the relative legal and administrative needs of the organisations.
Other Agencies Involved:
Careers Scotland
Evaluation Process:
The project is subject to bi-monthly reviews and evaluation meetings.
The project performance indicators include:
- The number of disaffected youths referred under the project contacted by Careers Scotland within 5 working days.
- The number of those who co-operate with Careers Scotland staff once referred.
- The number of youths who sustain their participation and co-operation over a six month period.
- The number of those referred who are on a training for work scheme or obtain employment after participating in the project.
- The number of offences committed by those referred whilst on the project.
- Regular feedback on the progress of the young people referred is provided to the officers promoting the project on a bi monthly basis.
In addition qualitative information is gathered regarding factors that influence participation such as contact difficulties. The information is recorded in the form of a joint agency spreadsheet and in case studies.
Evaluation Impact:
The pilot project is in its first six months of operation and to date it is showing encouraging results. All those participating in the project were both unemployed and offenders, some with a significant record of offending, it is encouraging to see that only two offences were committed by the project participants since they engaged with their key workers. 80% of those referred are still engaging with the key workers and 50% of them have moved into employment, full time education or onto a training for work programme. Careers Scotland has a 100% record in making initial contact with those referred within five working days.
The regular monitoring and evaluation meetings enable adjustments to be made rapidly to the referral criteria to ensure that Careers Scotland's capacity matches the demand placed on it and that each person receives the same level of service.
The regular monitoring and evaluation meetings enable adjustments to be made rapidly to the referral criteria to ensure that Careers Scotland's capacity matches the demand placed on it and that each person receives the same level of service.
The project is successful for the majority of young people who participate in it.
Evaluation Result:
Awaits Evaluation
Criticism:
Enquiries were made to see if more young offenders could be encouraged to participate in the project, however, many remained reluctant. The Police and Careers Scotland staff are currently looking at ways in which barriers relating to this problem may be overcome.
Potential:
If successful there is considerable potential to use this model throughout Strathclyde. There are however implications for our partner agencies in dealing with the increased demand for their services.
