What is Turnaround?

Turnaround is a Ministry of Justice funded programme for children and young people aged 10-17 years old on the cusp of entering the youth justice system. It aims to improve outcomes for children and young people by reducing the likelihood of further offending by providing support at the earliest point. 

The programme has been developed with the Supporting Families model of early intervention in mind and therefore takes a whole family approach with the following principles:

• One Assessment – strengths-based
• One Plan – evidence-based interventions and developed in collaboration
• One Lead Practitioner – young people will be allocated with a dedicated Turnaround Intervention Worker who will work also work with the wider family.

A Turnaround Intervention Worker will be based in each of our 4 Specialist Adolescent Service Hertfordshire (SASH) area teams.

Who is eligible?

Children or young people, aged 10-17 years old, must have met one of the following in the last three months to meet eligibility for Turnaround.

• Subject to No Further Action (NFA) decision
• Interviewed under caution following arrest or subject to a criminal investigation attending a voluntary interview
• Subject to a Community Resolution
• Received a first-time youth caution (not a conditional caution)
• Released Under Investigation (RUI) or subject to Pre-Charge Bail (PCB)
• Discharged by a court
• Acquitted at court
• Fined by court
• Those who have come to the notice of agencies with enforcement powers for repeated involvement in anti-social behaviour
• Those involved in anti-social behaviour who have received:
• Community Protection Warning/Notice (CPW/N)
• Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC)
• Civil Orders for ASB

 Turnaround does not require admission of guilt by a child referred and joining the programme is voluntary.

Who is not eligible for Turnaround?

The following children and young people are not currently eligible for Turnaround:

• Those open on a Child Protection (CP) plan
• Those open to Early Help (or awaiting a Families First assessment)
• Child Looked After (CLA)
• Child in Need (CiN)
• Care Leaver
• Those who have a current or have had a previous Youth Justice intervention (irrespective of time passed)

How do I refer?

Referrals must be made via the dedicated web form.

All referrals must have informed consent from the child/young person and their parent/carer at the point of referral. This can be verbal consent.

Further Information

You can find the referral form and other information, including an e-leaflet for young people and families being referred which explains more about Turnaround, on our dedicated webpage: Turnaround Programme | Hertfordshire County Council

If you have any questions about whether a young person is eligible or to arrange an informal joint visit, please contact a member of the team Turnaround@hertfordshire.gov.uk