Youth justice specialist nurses

The youth justice service is a multi-disciplinary team of staff from social care, health, education, housing, police, probation, and drugs and alcohol services. Its aim is to identify the specific issues that may be influencing the child or young person’s behaviour using a trauma-informed approach. The service then offers a suitable intervention that aims to meet the young person’s needs and reduces the likelihood of them getting in to further trouble.

The youth justice specialist nurses work alongside the youth justice service to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes. They are a small team of qualified specialist community public health nurses. Their role is to ensure that the physical and emotional health needs of young people who are working with the youth justice service are identified and addressed through appropriate health services.

Youth justice service staff will refer any child or young person for whom they identify unmet health issues, to the youth justice specialist nurses. The nurses will then undertake a holistic health assessment and will offer advice and support where appropriate or may act as an advocate for young offenders to assist them to access the health services that they require.

Who is the service for?

Children and young people aged between 10 and 18 years of age who are within the youth justice system.

For more information please call Jo Staves, lead youth justice specialist nurse, on 01872 326782.

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