Meeting the health needs of young offenders

A recent review of health care for young people who offend recommended that youth offending teams should include healthcare provision. The type of provision that is common may not be meeting the general health needs of this vulnerable group who are known to have multiple health needs that can influence their offending behaviour An advanced nurse practitioner/general health nurse piloted onsite general health provision, working alongside a multidisciplinary team supporting the young people attending a youth offending team in London. An audit of the first 70 clients confirmed the complex family, social, health and other factors affecting the lives of these young people. There was a significant amount of general health care needed among this group that was not being addressed and more than three quarters of the young people whose records were audited required follow-up by the general health nurse. A nurse who is trained to work with young people and able to deliver holistic health care complements the roles of the youth offending team's extended support team and enables young people to receive general health care and follow up onsite.