There has been concern about the high numbers of children and young people with mental health problems and complex support needs who come to the attention of youth offending services. More recently research has shown that high numbers may also have speech and language difficulties or learning disabilities.

In order to ensure these young people are properly identified and receive appropriate treatment and support we need to know more about what is happening in individual YOTs.

The Association of YOT managers has joined forces with the Prison Reform Trust to undertake some research that we hope will not only show how young people with particular impairments are being identified and supported by YOT staff, but will also demonstrate gaps in service provision, examples of good practice, and additional training and support needed by YOT staff.

The amount of research we are asked to participate in takes up an enormous amount of time - and we don't always see the results. The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) has a good track record of gathering data and presenting evidence in such a way as to encourage and effect change. In working together with the PRT I am hopeful that their ability to campaign directly with relevant ministers and officials will move things forward.

But we need your help. The Association of YOT managers and PRT has developed a questionnaire that has been piloted by Wigan YOT. If every YOT returns four completed questionnaires we will have a wealth of data on which to draw conclusions and make recommendations for change.

The questionnaire takes around half an hour to complete. There are no 'right' answers to any of the questions and we don't want staff to go looking for the 'best answer'; we are interested in knowing what staff believe to be true at the time of completing the questionnaire. A 'don't know' response to one question is as valid as the ability to quote
chapter and verse for another question.

The questionnaire can be completed on line, as a hard copy or by telephone. If there are at least four members of staff available to be interviewed during a morning or afternoon, a researcher from PRT is available to visit individual YOTs.
To see the questionnaire, and complete it, follow the link http://tinyurl.com/yk6wwl8

If you have any questions about the research, contact either Jenny Talbot at PRT (020 7251 5070) jenny.talbot@prisonreformtrust.org.uk or Diz Minnitt on behalf of the Association of YOT managers at Diz.Minnitt@milton.keynes.gov.uk