1. COLEG BUSNES, Y GYFRAITH, ADDYSG A GWYDDORAU CYMDEITHAS
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, LAW, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Communication is Key
Why Does Communication in Youth Justice Matter?
Gabriella Simak*
Background
What?
 This study explores how communication impacts the referral order process and
whether reparation to the victim is possible for young people with communication
difficulties in England and Wales.
 How are communication difficulties assessed in YOTs (Youth Offending Teams)?
 How do communication needs of young people affect the reparation process in
Youth Offender Panel meetings?
 What impact if any do communication difficulties of young people have on Referral
Order outcomes?
Why?
 Key research points to the difficulties young people with speech, language and
communication needs (SLCNs) face when engaging with services within the Youth
Justice System. Recent studies have estimated the prevalence of SLCNs in the
young offender population in England to be up to 60%.
 Communication difficulties such as lack of understanding, poor listening skills,
and difficulties communication with others have an impact on how young people’s
behaviour is perceived by practitioners.
 Young people with SLCNs are at a disadvantage when interacting with
practitioners in youth justice agencies (e.g. Youth Offending Teams) and often
disengage as a result.
 Research shows that young people with low levels of language ability are likely to
struggle particularly with verbally mediated interventions (e.g. Referral Orders).
Where?
 England and Wales
Aims
 The goal of this study is to examine referral order processes in current youth justice
practices and to understand how the process of restoration is affected by the speech,
language and communication needs of young people receiving referral orders.
 The referral order processes is explored with a focus on three stages: assessment of
the young person’s SLCN in YOTs, the youth offending panel stage and the
outcomes of referral orders for young people with SLCNs.
 Hypothesis: Young people with SLCNs on referral orders are more likely to breach their
orders than those without SLCNs.
Method
How?
 This project explores the impact of SLCNs using a mixed methods approach. 22 YOTs
with seconded SLTs (Speech and Language Therapists) were identified by the Youth
Justice Board. Participants from 22 YOTs in England and Wales:
*Doctorate research for the degree of PhD in Criminology and
Criminal Justice under the supervision of Dr Martina Feilzer
Key Findings
Key Themes emerging from interviews:
Qualitative semi-structured interviews:
 Interviews were conducted over the telephone after recruiting participants via email by
first contacting YOT Managers at 22 YOTs.
Non-Participant Observations:
 Two YOTs were approached for access to Youth Offender Panel meetings.
Observations were conducted through one YOT in Wales.
Quantitative data:
 From one YOT in Wales: YJMIS and CareWorks data
Early findings from observations of Youth Offender Panel
meetings, the following can be highlighted: There was a
significant relationship between the presence of SLCNs in
young people and the Referral Order outcome, τ=.802,
p<.05. The presence of SLCNs in young people on referral
orders are associated with a higher likelihood of young people
with SLCNs breaching their referral orders. Based on the
observations of Youth Offender Panel meetings (n=10) and
following up RO outcomes with Referral Order Coordinator.
Correlations
SLCN
Referral Order
Outcome:
Breach
Kendall's tau_b SLCN Correlation Coefficient 1.000 .802*
Sig. (2-tailed) . .016
N 10 10
Referral Order
Outcome:
Breach
Correlation Coefficient .802*
1.000
Sig. (2-tailed) .016 .
N 10 10
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
Speech
and
Language
Therapy
Provision
within
Youth
Offending
Teams
Role of
Speech
and
Language
Therapists
Speech
Languag
e and
Commun
ication
Needs of
Young
People
Young
People on
Referral
Orders
Referral
Orders
Referral
Orders and
Communic
ation
needs of
Young
People
Full Time or
Part Time
Seconded
SLT Service
Provision in
selected
YOTs
Referral of
Young
People to
SLTs;
various
practices
Receptive
communicat
ion
difficulties
Expressive
communicat
ion
difficulties
SLCNs -
'hidden'
difficulties
Referral
orders:
verbally
mediated
activities
COMMUNI
CATION IS
KEY
Young
People
understandi
ng the goal
of Youth
Offender
Panel
Meetings,
the terms of
the referral
order
contract
Time to
assess and
provide
intervention
to Young
People
Different
standardise
d screening
tools
Young
people
'masking'
communicat
ion
difficulties
SLCNs of
Young
People
externalised
through
behavioural
difficulties
Young
People with
communicat
ion
difficulties:
difficult to
engage
Young
people with
multiple
needs
Reparation:
direct or
indirect
reparation
to the victim
Principles of
Restorative
Justice
embedded
in Referral
Orders
Young
People
communicat
ing with
Volunteer
Community
Panel
Members
Training of
Youth
Offending
Team
Practitioner
s
Engaging
Young
People with
Assessment
and/or
intervention
SLT
intervention:
mandatory
or optional
for young
people on
referral
orders
Length of
the Order:
difficult to
provide SLT
intervention
Referral
Order
Contract:
Standard
Behavioural
contract
Referral
Order
Contract:
reparation
Follow up
services for
young
people after
the referral
order
completed:
what
happens
next?