The Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, along with other partners, launched a new support service at Liverpool Youth Court, called Merseyside Youth Court Solutions, building on the success of Merseyside’s Custody Navigator Programme.
The service aims to assist children and families navigate the justice system.
Details
Many children experience anxiety, confusion and distress while attending court, which can be an overwhelming environment. It is therefore important to help children better understand court processes, such as by providing emotional support, creating suitable environments, and making agencies more trauma-informed in their practices.
To address these concerns, the following actions, amongst others, were taken:
- Using Court Navigators who provide emotional and practical support to children.
- Developing digital resources that help children understand, prepare for, and manage being involved in court processes.
- Creating a ‘comfortable space’ via a dedicated room to provide children with a more welcoming environment.
- Redesigning the holding cell to be more ‘trauma-informed’.
- Providing an interactive LEGO® courtroom scene that seeks to familiarise children with the layout of a courtroom and what to expect.
- Giving Youth Magistrates and partners awareness training on trauma, neurodivergence and the National Referral Mechanism. Similarly, additional guidance was provided for police officers, magistrates, and custody teams.
Impact. In its first three weeks, the programme supported 37 children and their families. Practitioners and partner agencies have highlighted the positive impact of Court Navigators.
The programme also identified, amongst others, the following learning points:
- Building rapport with the child’s support network (particularly parents) and providing support to the whole family are highly constructive and improve engagement with children.
- Child-friendly spaces were especially appreciated, supporting meaningful conversations and effective preparation before appearances.
The project will be extended into the court witness suite and family court setting, with the establishment of dedicated family rooms and the provision of more digital resources to support attendees.
Commentary
Importantly, the project draws attention to how even small changes – such as creating child-friendly rooms or using dedicated navigator staff – can make courtrooms significantly more welcoming for children.
Other regions may wish to follow the new services progress to build similar initiatives in their area.
For related information, visit the Youth Justice Resource Hub.