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Age Appropriate Accommodation is Essential
All agree that without access to a suitable post-custodial accommodation placement and the necessary levels of support, a young person has little chance of achieving success in the community. Opportunity to build on the small steps of personal change that may have begun whilst in custody is critical, which is why the Social Exclusion Unit made it clear that 'effective resettlement practice requires a coordinated, multi-agency response across the crucial transitions between community and custody that is sustained long after release'. Central to any strategy is young people having access to suitable accommodation.
Reality Check
For local authorities to achieve the resettlement vision set out in the Youth Justice Board's 2003 Resettlement Practice Guidance document, and then again in the Youth Resettlement: Framework for Action launched in 2006, they may well be required to look beyond their existing support services for young people in the community. They will need to acknowledge that effective resettlement is an area of 'specialist work' requiring sustained and concerted effort if they are to ensure that robust support services are delivered to the target group. To succeed, local authorities will be required to develop dedicated and specialist support services for young custody leavers which are probably not currently in existence.
The Purpose
Resettlement UK therefore aims to:
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Professionalise the resettlement of young custody leavers at a local level
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Support the reduction of post-custodial re-offending rates within the target group
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Improve long-term outcomes for young custody leavers and their communities
