Partner/Working Agreement
between
LC Law Centre and YA Youth Agency
[referral project to increase access for young people]

1. Description of both projects – short summary will do

1.1 Casework

LC is staffed by caseworkers who offer legal advice and representation across a range of areas of social welfare law including housing and child protection. We can also take referrals in employment, welfare benefits, and immigration (adapt) matters which we will refer either internally or to an external specialist law firm.

We can also provide information and source quality representation in criminal law although we cannot provide representation in criminal matters ourselves.

All clients must be referred to us by YA through the Law Centre’s main office. Please refer to our referral policy for more information. (attach or adapt)

1.2 Community legal education

Add in if there is already PLE offered

2. Outreach service – at YA

2.1 Set out description of referrals – numbers, who to ring, when, or alternatively adapt the current referral policy, in a way that is short and accessible. Examples are:

LC will run an outreach session at the YA offices on a weekly basis every Wednesday. The service will run between 3pm and 7pm and will be staffed by one LC caseworker.

Appointments must be booked through the main Law Centre on our referral forms (see Appendix I) and according to our referral policy (see Appendix II).*

LC may from time to time book appointments for clients referred from other agencies during this outreach session.

Desk space and an interviewing room will be provided by YA.

* All referrals to LC will remain confidential and the source of referrals of specific clients will not be disclosed without prior permission from the referrer.

2.3 Other referrals

YA staff may also refer clients to LC at other outreach locations and at other times according to the general LC referral policy (as attached).

Adult clients aged over 19 may be referred to the Law Centre’s main

office details of which can be found at Appendix II.

2.4 Referrals from LC to YA

Reference here to current referral policy or, if none, a short summary such as –
The case may arise when it is appropriate for LC to refer clients referred from other organisations to YA for support, advice or information. Referrals to YA can be made verbally or by YA referral form depending on how well the LC worker knows the young person i.e. if LC have a lot of information about the young person then a referral form is appropriate, if not then it would be appropriate for brief details to be given over the phone. YA will give feedback re. the clients progress if LC require it.

2.5 Cancellations

If a LC caseworker is unable to attend an outreach session the caseworker will inform staff at Law Centre who will inform a YA staff member.

If the LC caseworker is unable to attend an appointment with a client, the caseworker will inform the client as soon as possible and rearrange the appt. If the client is not contactable by telephone LC will inform the staff at YA who will inform the young person immediately upon arrival and they or client will call LC in order to arrange a new appt.

2.6 Confidentiality

LC staff have a duty to keep each client’s affairs confidential. Thus the client’s affairs may not be discussed with any person outside the Law Centre, including YA staff, or with any other client, without their prior authority.

The duty to keep a client’s affairs confidential continues unless or until the client permits disclosure or waives the confidentiality. This permission or waiver should be in writing and signed by the client. In addition, prior permission from the caseworker responsible for the case should be sought.

Information about a client includes the following:

• Whether or not they have used Law Centre’s services
• Confirmation of name or address
• Whether they are currently in the building seeing someone
• Any details regarding their contact with the local authority
• Any details regarding their personal and family relationships

Child protection and confidentiality
LC will not keep confidential matters involving child protection issues which may put the client or another child at risk. This means that when a client discloses abuse of which they or another child is a victim we may have to report this to social services even without the client’s permission.

Criminal matters and confidentiality
LC caseworkers have a duty to maintain absolute confidentiality in criminal matters. This means that if a client discloses their own or someone else’s involvement in a criminal matter the caseworker will advise them to report the matter to the police but cannot do so themselves without the consent of the client.

Where a LC caseworker and YA worker are working closely together on a case client confidentiality must continue to be respected by both parties. Express permission to share information must be obtained from the client by both parties.

2.7 YA confidentiality policy

YA can only work effectively for the benefit of young people if it has a confidentiality policy that is credible and seen to work. It is essential that this policy is given both a high profile in the publicity material of the service and is re-emphasised during the initial contact between service user and staff member.

Confidentiality will be maintained within the project. In practice this means

• no service users name or other identifying features may be used or discussed by staff outside the project without the given consent of the young person involved
• advisors may discuss a service users details with a senior
• advice worker or supervisor and when appropriate at a staff meeting
• in cases of disclosure of abuse whether physical, mental or
• sexual then confidentiality cannot be guaranteed and the local authority’s policy re. Child Protection comes into operation – copy available at project
• all staff, both paid and unpaid, must be made aware of policies regarding confidentiality and child protection during induction and in-service training must be provided within a reasonable length of time from onset of employment
• any paid member of staff who breeches confidentiality will be
• disciplined in line with the local authority’s guidelines for disciplinary and grievance procedures
• any voluntary worker who breeches confidentiality will be
• disciplined in accordance with the terms of their contract
• this policy will be reviewed annually by staff and by the Young Person’s Consultation Group

Child Protection Procedures
If abuse of a young person is suspected then Child Protection procedures must be followed in the interest of the safety of that young person and/or other siblings who may be at risk. A young person is a person under 18 years of age or under 21 if they have a mental disability or learning difficulty.

It is a member of staff’s professional duty to pass on a disclosure of physical or sexual abuse by a young person to the designated person within the Youth Service or to Social Services in an emergency.

If a member of staff finds themselves in the position where a young person is about to disclose an incident of abuse they should tell the young person that it is their duty to pass that information on to the appropriate people. At this point it would be appropriate to discuss options open to the young person. This will enable them to make a decision regarding what action they wish to take.

The occasion may arise when a person over the age of 18 may disclose or give reason to suspect that they are being abused or have been in the past. If this is the case, Child protection policy and procedures will be followed if there are young siblings at home who may be at risk.

3. Project Leads

For Law Centre
Contact details:

YA Centre
Contact details: