“The work you did with our son was wonderful. You connected to him in such a beautiful and positive way, you gave him confidence and the opportunity to turn something he was ashamed of into something he felt proud to put right.”
C (Parent of child supported by DIVERT)
DIVERT has worked in partnership with Cardiff Youth Justice Service to deliver diversion since 2010 on behalf of Cardiff Council. Case managers work with children and young people aged 10-17 to deliver and engage in a restorative disposal known as a ‘Community Resolution’ as an alternative to receiving a punitive outcome.
YOUNG PEOPLE
The DIVERT service is for young people aged 10-17 who have been arrested for a low-level offence in Cardiff.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
A Divert worker will contact you and offer you the opportunity to engage in a restorative intervention. If you consent you will receive a ‘Community Resolution’ for your offence, this is the lowest outcome you can receive and is not a criminal outcome or caution, but an opportunity to complete work that you agree on to support you moving forward.
WHAT WILL WE DO?
- We will provide you with a safe space and listen to your thoughts and feelings.
- We will focus on what you can do now, and in the future, rather than what you did in the past.
- We will support you and help you use your strengths to succeed.
- We will create and intervention plan to support you with your goals and needs.
PARENTS AND CARERS
If a child/young person (CYP) that you have parental responsibility for is referred through to DIVERT we will contact you directly and introduce the service.
We will work with you and the CYP holistically to complete an intervention to encourage future desistance. As an outcome for their offence the CYP will receive a ‘Community Resolution’, this is not a criminal outcome or caution but instead an opportunity to engage with a worker to complete a restorative intervention.
Divert utilises a youth work approach to all interventions to ensure that young people accessing the service feel heard, are included in decision making, and are empowered to increase personal agency to make positive choices. Young people engage in, and complete tailored and bespoke interventions on a one to one and group work basis that discuss and challenge offending behaviour, substance misuse, peer pressure and life goals among other key topics. Practitioners aim to enable a safe space for young people to complete their intervention. Interventions intend to support young people’s future desistance and encourage positive engagement with local communities and the people around them.
“My worker listens to me and doesn’t judge me on my past. It doesn’t feel like a punishment. We look at the good things in my life and how we can make it better.”
D (Female, 14)
“I want to thank you for the support you have given me, the work we have completed together has helped me to think first. I used to be really angry and take it out on others, now I think of the conversations we have had, and it helps me make better choices.“
J (Male, 14)
