“Useful and thought provoking: we can do better for these families.”

Participants of Child Impact Assessment training say they are now in a much better position to support children and young people in Orkney affected by a family member caught up in the justice system. 

That’s according to feedback received from some of the 29 people who attended training sessions organised by the Orkney Community Justice Partnership, in conjunction with Families Outside, a charity which works on behalf of families in Scotland affected by imprisonment. 

Two sessions were held in the St Magnus Centre on Tuesday (19 March), focusing on the impact on families from arrest, imprisonment through to release with the aim of helping professionals develop their understanding of factors to consider when supporting families through the experience. 

Kirsten Law, from Families Outside, said: “Families Outside were delighted to work with the Orkney Community Justice Partnership (OCJP) to provide multi agency training on Child Impact Assessments, at the St Magnus Centre in Kirkwall earlier this week. 

“Participants spent their morning learning about the impact of the justice system on families where a relative is going through the judicial process. In the afternoon we explored the new tool 'This is Me: Child Impact assessments' to support children and young people to have their voice heard and rights upheld when they have a family member in the justice system.” 

Matt Webb, Planning, Performance & Information Officer - Community Justice at Orkney Islands Council said: “We were delighted with the interest shown in the training sessions and the broad range of sectors who attended, including from Social Work, Children’s Panel, Education (primary and secondary), Woman’s Aid, Action for Children, Relationship Scotland (Orkney), Crossroads Orkney, Health Visitors, nursing, the Employability sector, Orkney Advocacy, Voluntary Action Orkney. 

“The feedback received has been incredibly positive and we are delighted that there is an appetite for further training to be held." 

Some participant ‘takeaways’: 

“I have a better understanding of the process people have to go through now for my work.” 

“Often families don’t know what is happening, in the immediate aftermath especially. Knowing this now will allow me to support them a bit better.” 

“Thank you so much, I feel better able to support families/young people who may have been affected by the issues raised. My empathy and understanding of this has really increased.” 

“Useful and thought provoking: we can do better for these families.” 

“Informative, interactive and good conversations among multi agencies.” 

Families Outside will be offering further online sessions, in conjunction with the OCJP, later in the year which will be advertised soon. 

https://prisonreformtrust.org.uk/child-impact-assessment-toolkit/ 

www.familiesoutside.org.uk