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Education, Training, and Employment Support for Young People Leaving Custody

Help with education, training, employment and SEND support for young people in or leaving custody.

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Overview of Service & Education, Training, and Employment Support

Sutton Youth Justice Service (YJS) provides tailored Education, Training, and Employment (ETE) support for children and young people (up to age 18) who are in custody or preparing for release. Recognising that education and skill-building are central to successful resettlement and reducing reoffending, the YJS Case Managers along with the specialist oversight of the ETE Lead works closely with young people, families, local schools, colleges, training providers, and the custodial estate.

ETE support offered by Sutton YJS includes:

  • Pre-Release Resettlement Planning: Conducting visits to young people in secure accommodation as part of Reviews and Resettlement meetings prior to release to map out educational goals, career pathways, and training options. 

  • Education Placement & Re-engagement: Coordinating with colleagues at the Limes College and the London Borough of Sutton’s education services to secure a suitable educational placement for school-age children upon release. For individuals post-16, this involves establishing connections with local colleges, alternative Post 16 Providers, or specialised training providers.

  • Assessment & Support Coordination: Utilising screening tools, such as YJS initial assessments, to identify speech, language, communication, and learning needs early.

  • Information Disclosure & Support for Post-16 Providers: Providing guidance on disclosure protocols and determining when a sentence is spent. This includes sharing necessary risk assessments with Post-16 providers and facilitating multi-agency reviews to guarantee that the EHCP is updated appropriately, ensuring it contains no derogatory language regarding offending behaviour. Information shared from risk assessments is strictly limited to relevant details concerning the young person, such as their presentation while in custody.

  • Multi-Agency Joint Working: Collaborating with the London Borough of Sutton SEND team, health professionals, social care, and local post-16 transition teams to facilitate holistic reintegration into the community. This involves assisting the EHCP Co-ordinator with coordinating and organising monitoring meetings for the EHCP while the young person is in custody.

Alignment with the SEND Code of Practice (0–25)

Under Chapter 10 of the SEND Code of Practice (0 to 25 years), local authorities, Youth Justice Services, health commissioners, and custodial establishments have statutory duties toward children and young people with SEND who are detained or leaving custody.

Sutton YJS fulfills these requirements in the following ways:

  • Maintenance & Continuity of EHC Plans: An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) must not be ceased simply because a young person enters custody. Sutton Local Authority maintains the EHCP while the child is detained, ensuring the custodial establishment is aware of the specified provisions.

  • Re-integration & EHCP Reviews: Prior to release, the Sutton YJS ETE Worker collaborates with the Local Authority's EHCP Coordinator to review and update the young person's EHCP. This review incorporates any progress or changing needs identified during custody, drawing on insights from the Personal Education Plan (PEP) and the final monitoring meeting.

  • Meeting Arrangements: An in-person visit should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis (for instance, depending on the young person's location). If an in-person meeting is not feasible, a virtual meeting must be conducted to ensure continuous oversight.

  • Provider Consultation & Plan Updating: Before finalising the update, the draft EHCP and monitoring findings are shared with the young person's preferred educational provider for consultation. Measures are put in place to ensure the provider understands that the EHCP requires updating upon release. Crucially, the young person's current perspectives are captured within the "All About Me" section to accurately reflect their present situation.

  • Cross-Borough Transfers: If the young person relocates to another local authority, the YJS ETE Worker will notify the EHCP Coordinator to manage the transfer of the plan to the receiving borough. The Sutton YJS ETE Worker will support the new YJS throughout the EHCP update process and consult Sutton SEN for guidance as required.

  • Assessment Requests While Detained: If a child or young person in custody without an EHCP is identified as having previously unrecognised SEND, Sutton YJS supports requests for an EHC Needs Assessment so that provision is established seamlessly for their post-custody transition.

For further information please contact the Youth Justice Service: