1. Benchmarking Excellence in Restorative Conferencing
Conference Unit sits under the umbrella of the Youth Court and the Courts Administration Authority. The unit is responsible for the management of all state wide court based conferencing initiatives.
The development of the benchmarks need to be understood in the context of CAA Strategic goals and the Conference Unit Vision
Benchmarking Excellence in Restorative Conferencing
Conference Unit
Youth Court of South Australia
Courts Administration Authority
Manoj Radhakrishnan, A/Manager
Linda Polito, A/Supervisor

2. The thee pillars of CAA strategic goal 2020 are :
Continuous improvement leads to providing excellent services
Staff use this tool to provide excellent services
Ongoing engagement of staff
Administrative process and procedures are effective, efficient and standardized
Measure the CU performance
Resources are managed effectively and efficiently
Staff are engaged, flexible and adaptable
CAA Strategic Goal 2020

3. Conferencing Unit Vision
Strategic Goals of CAA
It is based on restorative philosophical framework of giving victims a voice, meeting victims needs and taking steps to prevent the recurrence of offending or victimisation
Conferencing Unit
Vision
“Achieving excellence in restorative conferencing opportunities, in pursuit of social justice outcomes for a stronger and safer community.”

4. Conferencing Unit Services
Currently the CU conducts .
Amalgamation of both Care and Protection and Family Conference Unit in 2010
20 year celebration
Accountability for young people
Victim’s voice in criminal justice proceedings
Independent facilitation model
Family Decision Making Model
Family participation in care and protection proceedings
2 groups of Coordinators 9 FC & 7 CP Coordinators, two group of jurisdiction, diversionary program
Conferencing Unit Services
Family Conferences under Young Offenders Act 1993
Family Care Meetings under Children’s Protection Act 1993
Port Lincoln Aboriginal Conferences
Victim Impact Meetings

5. Developing Benchmarks- Context
Benchmarking is a way of discovering what is the best performance being achieved, it is a process for obtaining a measure and is an ongoing process
We used internal benchmarking type as we don’t have any comparable organization available in SA
What set of behaviors, practices, capabilities should be achieved to close the performance gap
What it takes to be a high performance organization
Need for standards practice and benchmarks for both jurisdiction
No National Standards for Conferences
Identifying and developing consistent measures and references for excellent conference practices
Identifying and responding Changing needs and demands of clients
Developing Benchmarks- Context

6. Purpose and Objectives
Achieve excellence in restorative conferencing
Identifying, understanding and adapting excellent practices from Conferencing Unit Coordinators
Develop Practice Standards and Benchmarks for best practices to ensure consistency in conferencing practices
Develop a self reflection tool that assists Coordinators to determine and evaluate their practice
Assists in identifying training and developmental needs of Coordinators
Enhance the Conferencing Unit’s capacity to provide effective and efficient services to clients
Purpose and Objectives
Aligning the practice with the vision of restorative justice and diversion

7. Process of Developing Benchmarks
Staff Engagements in the process
Ongoing consultation with Staff, series of team discussion with a clear agenda of engaging coordinators to embrace the process of developing benchmarks, overcoming concerns, suspicions and resistance to the concept of common practice standards; challenging the mindset of a diverse work group, recognizing the need for common practice standards, harnessing coordinators expertise in identifying the common practices..
Clearly communicated the purpose, objective, expected outcomes and process
Opportunity for the staff to contribute and have regular update,
Process of Developing Benchmarks
Staff Engagement
Consultation
Communication
Phase 1
Engagement
Phase 2
Working Group
Phase 3
Workshop
Phase 4
Benchmarking
Phase 5
Implementation

8. Process of Developing Benchmarks
Formed a working group with representation from both jurisdiction and had clear Activity/implementation plan
Process of Developing Benchmarks
Established Working Group
Formed Working group
Implementation plan
Developed Practice Standards
Phase 2
Working Group
Phase 1
Staff Engagement
Phase 3
Workshop
Phase 4
Benchmarking
Phase 5
Implementation

9. Process of Developing Benchmarks
Phase 2 – An external facilitator facilitated a workshop to identify and define critical skills and behavior required to measure the identified practice standards, 5 days
Prioritizing the practice standards and identifying indicators and descriptions (essential to excellent conference)
Defined benchmarks as excellent, achieved and needs improvement
Process of Developing Benchmarks
Workshop
External facilitator
Prioritizing the practice standards and identifying indicators and descriptions (essential to excellent conference)
Defined benchmarks as excellent, achieved and needs improvement
Finalised Benchmarks
Phase 3
Workshop
Phase 1
Staff Engagement
Phase 2
Working Group
Phase 4
Benchmarking
Phase 5
Implementation

10. Process of Developing Benchmarks
Piloted benchmarking as a self-reflection tool
Reviewing and refining Benchmarks
Agreement reached with Coordinators
Co-ordinators are skilled responsive and dynamic in bringing people together to make informed decisions to resolve issues and where possible, repair harm
Child/children’s needs and wishes are represented at the Family Care Meeting
Victim is offered genuine opportunity to participate in the Family Conference
Coordinator ensures the services are relevant and efficient
Coordinator ensures due process in exercising statutory responsibilities
Coordinator facilitates tailored outcomes for participants that also contribute to a stronger and safer community by keeping children safe and repairing harm
Process of Developing Benchmarks
Finalising and consolidating practice standards and benchmarks
Practice Standards
Effective Engagement
Voice of Child/Children
Victim Participation
Purposeful Engagement of Service Providers and Stakeholders
Legislation and Procedural Compliance
Responsive and Restorative Outcomes
Piloted benchmarking as a self-reflection tool
Reviewing and refining Benchmarks
Agreement reached with Coordinators
Phase 4
Benchmarking
Phase 1
Staff Engagement
Phase 2
Working Group
Phase 3
Workshop
Phase 5
Implementation

11. Process of Developing Benchmarks
Benchmarking Practice Standards…..
One example
Effective engagement
Measures
Excellence
A meeting is offered to the participants prior to the meeting
Achieved
Questions are answered and adequate information is provided
Needs Improvement
No contact with parties before the meeting date.
Indicator
Family Care Meetings and Family Conferences are inclusive and empowering of clients
Phase 4
Benchmarking
Phase 1
Staff Engagement
Phase 2
Working Group
Phase 3
Workshop
Phase 5
Implementation

12. Implementation Present Future
Self Reflection tool to reflect on Coordinator’s practice (Target 3 Files for CP Coordinator & 4 files for YJ Coordinator) (CAA Strategic Plan)
Regular Supervisions and Performance Development and Management Plan (CAA Strategic Plan)
Live document, always responding to the changing needs of Unit, Legislation, policy, opportunities and gaps
Linked to Client Feedback Survey (CAA Strategic Plan) >95% of participants remarked that the conference was a fair process
Achieving continuous improvement and consistency leading to ensure outstanding client services (CAA Strategic Plan)
Easy to use the tool, reflection is not only based on practice, but on reality (effectiveness of tool)
Implementation
Present
The benchmark tool to reflect on Coordinator’s practice
Regular Supervision
Performance Development and Management Plan
Future
Peer Review
Focus Discussions
Feedback Survey with stakeholders
Phase 5
Implementation
Phase 1
Staff Engagement
Phase 2
Working Group
Phase 3
Workshop
Phase 4
Benchmarking

13. Practice Standards and Benchmark for the Conferencing Unit
File Number:
Effective engagement
Co-ordinators are skilled responsive and dynamic in bringing people together to make informed decisions to resolve issues and where possible, repair harm
Benchmark achieved
Comments
On what basis did you give that benchmark
Family Care Meetings and Family Conferences are inclusive and empowering of clients
Excellence
Participants are offered an opportunity to meet with the Coordinator prior to the conference
Participants needs and understanding are explored and addressed
Participation of family and support persons are explored
Achieved
Information is provided to participants and questions answered
Needs and barriers identified in the referral are addressed.
Opportunity provided for participants to shape the process
Needs Improvement
No contact attempted prior to the meeting
Participants needs are not identified and addressed
No opportunity for participants to shape the process
Meetings are culturally responsive.
Specific cultural needs and practices of an individual or family are identified and implemented
Cultural practices and norms identified in the referral are implemented/observed
Culturally appropriate support people including interpreters are used where possible
Ignores cultural needs and practices