News
Restorative Practices ‘first’ for University of Ulster and the Youth Justice Agency (28/02/2008)
The University of Ulster and the Youth Justice Agency have worked together in piloting a course which has led to the University designing the first Postgraduate Diploma in Restorative Practices available in the UK. This collaboration has resulted in the School of Sociology and Applied Social Sciences delivering the part time course at their Jordanstown Campus.The Diploma aims to improve the understanding of the complex principle which ultimately helps restore the balance where harm and hurt has been caused. Modules in the course include the history, theory and research of restorative practices as well as family group conferencing and restorative responses to harm, loss and grief.
A number of Youth Conference Co-ordinators from the Agency recently graduated with the Postgraduate Diploma in Restorative Practices and in doing so are the first practitioners in Northern Ireland to hold a formal qualification in this field. Restorative Practices underpins the pioneering work of the Youth Conference Service, part of the Agency which brings together young people who have committed a crime, face to face with their victim.
After a period of preparation, Youth Conference Co-ordinators facilitate these meetings which are also attended by victims’ supporters, young people’s families, a specifically trained Police Officer and even community representatives. A Youth Conference Plan is negotiated which lists specific actions the young person must complete to repair the harm done by the crime they committed.
Alice Chapman, Director of the Youth Conference Service is grateful to the University ofUlster for facilitating their specific needs as employers. Speaking at an event to acknowledge the Co-ordinators achievements, Alice said “Restorative practices as employed in youth conferences provide a unique form of justice in Northern Ireland giving victims a voice. As it is such a powerful phenomenon, restorative practices can also be applied to other situations beyond the criminal justice system.
“Designing the Diploma has been a long but absolutely worthwhile process and I commend the University of Ulsterfor investing in they manner they have done. They showed enthusiasm right from day one and they took on a risk with such a new unknown concept. We are delighted they are now opening the Diploma and the Masters in Restorative Practices to a wider audience who will be able to benefit from our joint efforts.” commentedAlice.
Professor Anne Moran, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, extended her congratulations to the first students from the Youth Conference Service to graduate with their Postgraduate Diploma in Restorative Practices. She added "We greatly valued the opportunity to work with the Youth Justice Agency in providing this new course.
“The University is also supporting the development of restorative practices in community organisations in Northern Ireland and we believe this work is making a significant contribution to the development of civic society here. Our role in the University is to provide training which respects and enhances the experience of participants. We recognise restorative approaches have also been developed in education and social services settings and we look forward to developing further partnerships in these areas".
ENDS
Notes to Editor
- The Youth Justice Agency was set up under the Justice [NI] Act 2002 as was the statutory authority to deliver restorative youth conferencing
- The Youth Conference Service is one of the four Directorates of the Youth Justice Agency and is tasked to deliver the restorative justice intervention to children aged 10 to 17.
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