Ian Carter & Kierra Brand Essex Police Rainer

Background

• Devised by Essex Police in partnership with Essex Youth Offending Service in response to police identified need

• Successful bid to The Children’s Fund, Essex. Contract awarded to Rainer following tender process

• Launched on 1st September 2004 & further developed through partnership of Essex Police, Rainer & Children’s Fund, Essex

• With support from Essex Youth Offending Service, Essex Social Care, Essex Education Welfare Service, Basildon Women’s Refuge & Braintree Pathfinder Children’s Trust

Aim

Rainer RAP aims to divert young

people from future offending by helping

them re-establish a positive lifestyle

and reach their full potential

“A pioneering way forward to address issues affecting young people, who are currently outside of, or fall below the threshold

for, statutory provision.”

RAP objectives

• Provide an independent outreach worker to rapidly assess the risk to children & young people

• Offer short term intensive practical support to the family at a time of crisis

• Work individually with young people to develop realistic, measurable action plans and support them in working towards these goals

• Develop the personal, social and coping skills young people need to keep out of trouble and to succeed in education

• Establish agency partnerships to signpost young people and families to the appropriate long term support services

Service locations

Basildon

Rayleigh

Harlow

Braintree

Criteria for referral

• Living with domestic violence• Receiving a police Reprimand• Engaging in offending behaviour when aged

under ten years• Truanting or at risk of exclusion from school

Independent youth outreach workers in police stations, providing rapid assistance and support to children & young people aged 5-13 years and their families, who become known to the police through;

Principal referrers

Referrals are received from:

Police

Education Social Workers

Women’s refuge

Other Voluntary Organisations

RAP Statistics

Over 500 referrals in the first year; 16% refused to engage

Of the successful referrals: 59% for domestic violence 23% for police Reprimand 11% for truancy/risk of exclusion 7% for offending behaviour under 10

Impact

• 70% of parents/carers noted significant improvement in young person’s behaviour

• 80% noted improvements in self esteem and self confidence

• 90% noted improvements in how the young person is getting on at school

• 100% noted improvements in the young person’s general level of happiness

Opening a referral

• Receive a referral

• Contact parent

• Complete an Initial Assessment Form

• Contact any professional involved with family (e.g. social services)

• Design program to what young persons needs are

• Start sessions

• Anger management • Behaviour• Bullying• Emotions and feelings• Law (what the law is and how this affects them)• Relationships• Self esteem • Setting targets

What we look at

Independent Evaluation

• Discussions with staff

• Telephone and face to face interviews with young people

• Parental impact questionnaires

• Telephone interviews with agencies

• Questionnaire for agencies

Agencies & professionals’ view

• Quick response• Responds in a crisis• Works directly with young person • Provides support for whole family• Flexible about where they work• Draws together agencies• Early intervention

Feedback from parents/carers

• “Absolutely brilliant, can’t believe the difference, got me through.”

• “Different child, made a big difference, not the child he was.”

• “If it wasn’t for Rainer RAP…..supported us 100%.”

• “I think it is brilliant to have an organisation for our young people that experience these situations.”

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• “Wasn’t sure at first but came to realise they were there for help and advice and not judgement.”

What young people want from RAP

• “to make me happier”

• “to help me and have someone to talk to”

• “help me so that I am not scared”

• “just some help because of what happened with dad”

How young people describe RAP

• fun• happy• enjoyable• trying to help• teaching me not to be worried• being nice to everyone• helpful