The Needless Criminalisation of Childrens in Care

Posted by Mark Raw in Childcare Industry Harmony Childrens Services

My attention was drawn to something this week that has been an ongoing concern of mine since starting as a support worker 15 years ago.   I have often come across children in my care who have records of assault, battery, racial abuse or other violent and anti social convictions.

The article I read on the BBC web site( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21773742 ) put me at ease that my approach as been right for some time that far too many of these convictions were unjustified and more down to heavy handed tactics from the support worker and at times encouraged by the organisation as sanction / consequence of the young persons actions.

The BBC article discuss the use of Restorative Justice as a tool and I am proud to say we have been using this method within Harmony since opening, use this methodology as basis of our ethos and myself and Julie have been using this approach for a number of years before Harmony.

That is not to say that it is inappropriate to use the police for criminal activities but I personally would like to see real criminality, e.g street robbery, offensive weapons, GBH etc most of which are pre meditated and use of the powers of the police is justified.

Having read various reports and referral information I have at time had to re-read and seek further information from professionals on what the mitigating circumstances must have been in order to get these convictions. Some of them have bee laughable but have potentially ruined the prospects and life’s of the young person.

Their card is marked so speak when ever a DBS check (CRB in old money) is carried out if they wish to work in a shop with money perhaps and /or even turn their life around and like some wish to give something back by become a support worker to help others.

It is important to understand where the young person has come from in their life, what has made them who they are and what their understanding of their behaviours is after you have considered all that and the reasoning behind their actions you are more than likely to have much more progress after clear reflective discussion on their actions, advising of alternative options and only after that , discuss the criminal aspects of their actions and that continued repletion will result in a course of actions.

This approach and what has become the “Harmony Way” then allows them to start making changes to their behaviours and then allows our staff to see, praise ad reward their progression.