Youth Offending Team (YOT)
The Youth Offending Team (YOT) works with young people between the ages of 10 to 17 who have been arrested for committing a crime.
The team is made up of a number of professionals from different agencies, who work together to prevent children and young people from entering the youth justice system for the first time, supporting them to move away from offending. They can also help them understand the effects offending behaviour can have on others and themselves.
The team includes:
- Caseworkers
- Police officer
- Substance Misuse worker
- CAMHS Practitioner (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
- Social workers
- Speech and language therapist
- Restorative Justice Workers
- Volunteer and project worker
- Education and resettlement worker
- Employment Coach
- Youth justice worker
- Court worker
Supporting people who have been affected by youth crime in their recovery is also a priority for the Youth Offending Service.
Restorative Justice is the process of bringing together victims with those responsible for the harm, to find a positive way forward.
What to expect
The Youth Offending team believe that it is important to work closely with families. This is to make sure that you have a chance to speak about the things that are important to you and your involvement with our service.
Our goals are that together we:
- Achieve the best outcomes for you.
- Support you to make your Court order a priority and to keep the conditions of the Order.
It is important for us to meet you and your parent/carer to explain to you what our service to the court, the public, and to you is. It will also give you and your parent/carer the chance to express any concerns or queries about the referral to our services.
How we will work with you and what we expect of you
During the time that we are working with you and your parent/carer we will do all we can to make sure that you are treated with respect. We will also carry out our role to the highest standards within our power.
We ask from you that you also communicate with us with respect and that if you are not happy, that you try to resolve this with us without shouting or making threats.
During your first meeting at the YOT, your caseworker can give you more details about what the YOT expectations are around how we speak to and treat each other. This also includes information about what behaviour might mean that you do not successfully complete your order.
Your caseworker will speak with you and your parent/carer so that we can agree the best times, days and types of future meetings.
We look forward to working with you during this time to support you and your family towards positive outcomes.
What help and support can YOT offer?
- Volunteering Opportunities - for more information contact Angela Thomas, Volunteering and Project Co-ordinator: Tel: 07971920542 / Email: [email protected]
- Reparation Projects
- Education Resettlement worker
- Support into employment
- Parenting support
- CAMHS
- SEND support
What different interventions mean
Youth Caution
A Youth Caution is an Out of Court Disposal, which means that an offence will be dealt with without you going to Court.
A Youth Caution may be considered when a young person is under the age of 18 and:
- Commits an offence
- Admits the offence
- There is enough evidence that they could be sentenced if the case went to Court
- It is not in the public interest for the case to go to Court
A Youth Caution means that you will have to meet with a Police Officer from the Youth Offending Team (YOT) to talk about the offence. They will give you the caution. You might also be asked to work with someone from the Early Help Service. They will offer you sessions to help you to keep out of getting into trouble with the Police again. If you already have an Early Help worker they will see you each week for about 3 weeks.
Youth Conditional Caution
A Youth Conditional Caution is a formal Out of Court Disposal. A Youth Conditional Caution may be considered when a young person is under the age of 18 and:
- Commits an offence
- Admits the offence
- There is enough evidence that they could be sentenced if the case went to Court
A Youth Conditional Caution requires the young person to work with the Youth Offending Service.
You will be allocated a YOT worker who will talk to you about your offence and ask you questions about what is going well in your life and what you might need support with.
They will then help you to take part in sessions to support you to keep out of trouble with the Police.
A Youth Conditional Caution usually takes 12 weeks to complete. A Police Officer will give you the caution and your YOT Worker will see you each week.
How we use your information
The Westminster Youth Offending Team have legal obligations to support young people (and their families) within the criminal justice system. If you are referred to us we will need to collect personal data in order to meet these obligations, to help us work with you and plan services to support you.
You can find out more about how we use your information here.
If you have a concern or complaint about the use of your information please email: [email protected]
Other organisations who can help
Employment
- Westminster Employment Service
- Street League - employment, education, training, sports.
Mental Health
Substance Misuse
Mentoring
- Future Men Mentoring Service - 020 7237 5353
- Integrated Gangs Unit Mentoring - for prevention and exit support [email protected]
Sexual health or pregnancy advice
- [email protected] - 0207 851 2955
Parenting
- YOT Parenting support - One to one and groups, ask the YOT for more information
Family Support
- Befriend a Family practical and emotional family support if there’s a child under 5 - 020 7828 2765