Pioneering ‘problem solving’ youth court scoops national award

Blackburn with Darwen’s Youth Justice Service was named a winner for the delivery of a Problem Solving Court for young people at the Children and Young People Awards in the Youth Justice section.

Problem Solving Courts (PSC) were developed in partnership with Blackburn Magistrates Court and Blackburn Youth Justice Service (YJS), with input crucially from young people aged between 10 and 17 using the service.

The PSC works alongside partners GO2, the local substance misuse project, Nightsafe, which supports young people with accommodation needs, the Supporting Families Project, which is for those parents who are unemployed, with children displaying anti- social behaviour, problems with school attendance and displaying offending behaviour and New Directions to support young people back into education, training or employment.

There is also the Fast 4wd Project which supports those adults experiencing problems with alcohol or substance misuse, and the Carer’s Service for partners, parents, family members affected by another person’s addiction

The focus is early intervention to prevent further offending and give early help and support through a multi-agency approach. The Problem Solving Court has been upheld as best practice nationally.

David Fleming, Service Leader for Youth Justice, said:

I am really pleased that the partnership has won this award and want to give my biggest congratulations to everybody involved. The Problem Solving Court provides an excellent service to young people and their families and has been recognised as the gold standard nationally.

This award also reflects the high standard of work and support from our staff and volunteers and it is an acknowledgement of their dedication to providing a consistently excellent service for young people.”