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New website to help improve communication with young people in the youth justice system
The Communication Trust is pleased to announce the launch of the Sentence Trouble website, www.sentencetrouble.info. The website has been created to support the Sentence Trouble booklet launched in November 2009 which helps improve understanding and communication with children and young people, particularly those with communication needs. The website provides additional resources and support for staff working in the youth justice system.
It is estimated that two thirds (60%) of young people who offend have undetected communication needs and struggle to understand written or spoken language. This also prevents them from benefiting from verbally mediated interventions such as education and offender behaviour work which can contribute to re-offending.
In addition, many staff who work in the youth justice system may not feel confident enough in their knowledge of communication needs to adapt their own approach. This means that many young people might not get the help and support they need to help them communicate effectively - seriously affecting their chances of leaving the system at the earliest opportunity.
The Sentence Trouble website builds on the booklet, examining what communication needs are, providing examples, and providing advice to support youth justice staff in their work.
The website also features a forum to help the youth justice workforce to network, share ideas and share best practice related to communication needs. It is through some of these small changes to practice that frontline staff can better support young people with communication needs.
The launch of the website is the latest outcome in a range of projects aimed at training and supporting front line staff in speech, language and communication needs.
It is estimated that two thirds (60%) of young people who offend have undetected communication needs and struggle to understand written or spoken language. This also prevents them from benefiting from verbally mediated interventions such as education and offender behaviour work which can contribute to re-offending.
In addition, many staff who work in the youth justice system may not feel confident enough in their knowledge of communication needs to adapt their own approach. This means that many young people might not get the help and support they need to help them communicate effectively - seriously affecting their chances of leaving the system at the earliest opportunity.
The Sentence Trouble website builds on the booklet, examining what communication needs are, providing examples, and providing advice to support youth justice staff in their work.
The website also features a forum to help the youth justice workforce to network, share ideas and share best practice related to communication needs. It is through some of these small changes to practice that frontline staff can better support young people with communication needs.
The launch of the website is the latest outcome in a range of projects aimed at training and supporting front line staff in speech, language and communication needs.
