Equality impact assessment - youth offending service risk management

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1. What is the name of the policy or service that is being assessed?

Policy on the assessment of management of risk of harm.

2. What are the aims of the policy or service? Whose needs is it designed to meet? What are the current priorities?

The aim of this policy is to ensure by means of effective practice that there are no new victims. However, it is realistic to acknowledge that even if all supervision practice is perfect, it is inevitable that some young people for whom the Wiltshire Youth Offending Service has responsibility will commit further offences which cause serious harm to others, and will be the subject of serious incident management reviews. This policy provides a means of sharing responsibility in such circumstances and of protecting staff who have adhered to the policy and the associated practice standards.

3. In what ways might this policy or service affect some groups of people differently? Might some groups find it harder to access the service? Do some groups have particular needs that are not well met by the current policy or service?

Wiltshire Youth Offending Service assesses and manages risk in four main categories:

• Children
• The public
• Known adults
• Staff

If a young person is assessed as presenting a risk of harm to individuals in more than one of these groups, the protection of children and other vulnerable persons would take precedence.

The policy clearer states that all assessments, decisions and actions should take account of diversity and equal opportunities issues.

4. What evidence do you have for your judgement? Is there evidence of public concern (e.g. complaints)? Have staff raised concerns? Is there local or national research to suggest that there could be a problem?

No complaints from clients/staff regarding this policy.

5. Who have you consulted with as part of your assessment? What were the results? Have you published the results of that consultation? If so, where?

YOS staff.

6. If you have found that the policy or service might have an adverse impact on a particular group of people, can you justify this?

-

7. If the impact cannot be justified, what do you intend to do about this? Are there changes that you could introduce which would make the policy or service work better for this group of people? Is further research or consultation required?

See section 3.

8. How will you monitor the take-up or impact of the policy or service in future?

Annual review of policy.

9. What actions do you plan to take as a result of this equality impact assessment? Please state any resource implications

None necessary at this time

10. There is a legal requirement to publish the outcomes of Equality Impact Assessments. Please outline how/where this will happen

Via the YOS website

11. Name of person completing form

Head of Youth Offending Team

Date assessment completed

30 March 2007

12. Senior manager approval

Assistant Director Resources, Improvement and Young People

Date

2 April 2007

Last updated: 13 May 2009