Youth Offending Services are at the forefront of the Government's agenda to reduce crime, particularly youth crime. Set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, each Youth Offending Service must consist of representatives from the Police, Probation, Social Care, Health, and Education, and deliver co-ordinated Youth Justice services.
“As a statutory organisation we have a responsibility to protect our staff and take reasonable steps to ensure a safe working environment, which quite often is away from the office. We feel the Guardian 24 scheme is a simple but effective way of giving staff that extra level of security, knowing that if help is needed, either during or outside working hours, it is only a phone call away”. Deborah Royston – Performance Manager
“Our Youth Offending Team has been using Guardian 24 since April 2007. Staff have commented that they are very happy with the service, stating that it is quick and easy to use, and how they feel reassured by the immediate response from Guardian 24 when an alert is raised to a respondent. The service has now become an integral and valuable process in our working environment”. Patricia Morgan – Operations Manager, Blaenau Gwent & Caerphilly YOT
Richmond Fellowship is now one of the biggest voluntary sector providers of mental health care in England, working with over 6,000 people towards the achievement of the best possible quality of life for each individual. With over 100 Services across the country, they offer a wide range of housing, care, employment and community support services to enable people to live life to the full.
“I work as a Housing Support Worker within the Richmond Fellowship Liverpool DISH. We provide and manage properties along with delivering support to our tenants so they feel confident and competent living in the community and dealing with mental illness. I have worked for the Liverpool DISH for 6 months and make between 12 and 15 lone working visits in any given week. My visits involve visiting tenants in their homes or meeting them in a public place e.g. for a doctors appointment or to do their shopping. Working alone and working unsociable hours can mean I face risks when traveling to certain parts of the city. Having said this I personally have not felt threatened while doing my job, however, as a lone worker I recognise the potential dangers and feel Guardian24 is an important safety tool that allows me to carry out my job whilst feeling safe.”
Vinny Walsh, Richmond Fellowship