The Diversion Project is a scheme run by Halton and Warrington Youth Offending Team. The key aim of our service is to divert young people with specific health needs or learning difficulties away from the Criminal Justice System, by providing appropriate and professional support at the earliest possible stage.

A young person is referred into the service by the Police following an arrest and the Divert worker will contact the young person and the young person’s parent or carer to arrange a home visit.

An assessment will be undertaken by the worker within which areas of vulnerabilities may be identified such as, learning difficulties, mental health concerns, substance misuse issues or family concerns. If any mental health issues are identified a full assessment will be undertaken by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health worker who is specifically linked to the Diversion project.

Based on any issues identified the Diversion worker can signpost young people and families to various agencies for support or refer into the Prevention Services for intervention to be delivered over a number of sessions, for example on anti-social behaviour, anger management etc.

The Diversion worker will also report the assessment back to the Police, who may in some circumstances agree not to pursue a charge under the condition that the young person undertakes the appropriate identified intervention, required to assist in changing their behaviour and thus potentially diverting them away from the Criminal Justice System long term.

Contact us:

The Halton and Warrington Youth Offending Team has now moved from Grosvenor House to:

Halton and Warrington Youth Offending Team
Unit 10, Turnstone Business Park
Mulberry Avenue
Widnes
Cheshire
WA8 0WN

Telephone 0151 495 584 0 (there are 4 incoming lines. You can replace the last 0 with 1, 2 or 3)