Polmont Young Offenders Institution is the main institution in Scotland for the detention of young males aged 16 to 21(YAs). It can hold up to 650 young males. Social workers within the unit provide a duty service for all YAs as well as a throughcare service for all YAs who will be subject to a statutory licence on release.
Throughcare involves completing induction and assessment interviews, risk assessments, working with the YA to address offending behaviour and reduce risk of further offending and harm, completing reports such as home leave and parole reports, liaising with the YA's community based social worker, and involvement in Integrated Case Management case conferences where the YA's risk and needs are discussed among all professionals involved and the YA and his family. These case conferences take place at regular intervals throughout the sentence, leading up to the prerelease meeting.
Social workers are also involved in the delivery of groupwork programmes| such as the sex offender treatment programme and addictions programmes. They also provide a social work perspective to many groups and meetings that take place within the institution.
For more information on any of the services detailed in this section, please contact the Criminal Justice team on 01324 506464.