Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice

The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) will be hosting a two day In-person START:AV training on Thursday 27th & Friday 28th August 2026. (9.30 am – 4.30 pm each day).

This training is specifically for professionals who conduct assessments in relation to high-risk behaviours displayed by, or experienced by, children and young people.

The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) will be hosting a two-day CARM training in person on 14th and 15th of September (9.30 am – 4.30 pm each day). 

This course has been developed to assist those working with young people under 18 to explore the use of risk assessment and risk management planning with young people whose behaviours are considered to present with  “serious risk of harm”. Over two days, practitioners will put into practice the use of skills which help guide assessment, intervention and management of cases. These include: risk factor identification, risk formulation, scenario planning and risk management planning. The course aims to place in a practice context the guidance from FRAME and the appended Care and Risk Management guidance, whilst also defining the interface with GIRFEC, Child Protection, and MAPPA.
 
Day 1 
Framework for Risk Assessment Management and Evaluation (FRAME) & Care and Risk Management (CARM) requirements   
•    The policy and guidance backdrop to CARM
•    What’s changed  
•    Risk practice with children
•    Rights in risk practice  
•    The 5 frame standards 
•    Risk assessment & formulation 

Day 2 
FRAME standards continued  
•    Planning & responding to change 
•    Risk management measures  
•    Partnership working 
•    Quality assurance  
CARM process 
•    Requirements  
•    What means for practitioners?  
Discussion  
•    What do you need now?

The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) will be hosting a two day online START:AV training via Teams on Tuesday, 1st December 2026 and Wednesday, 2nd December 2026 (9.30 am – 4.30 pm each day). 

This training is specifically for professionals who conduct assessments in relation to high-risk behaviours displayed by, or experienced by, children and young people.

The training is delivered over two days and participants must be able to commit to attend both days of training.
 
The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability: Adolescent Version (START:AV) was developed to guide the individualised assessment of vulnerabilities and strengths that can lead to, and mitigate against, the risk of adverse outcomes occurring, including harm to others and rule violations and harm to the adolescent. The aim of the tool is to guide evidence-based intervention planning to reduce the risk of harm occurring and promote healthy development. It is intended for use with males and females aged 12-18 years with a focus on intervention planning to reduce the risk of future adverse outcomes. Regular reassessments are recommended, at least every three months, in order to review progress in risk reduction. START:AV is based on the Structured Professional Judgment (SPJ) approach.
 
Participant requirements for the training:

•Participants MUST be able to attend both days of training
•Participants MUST have access to a START:AV User Guide/Manual for the training which can be purchased here: buy START-AV manual
•Participants MUST be working in the youth justice field in Scotland