Care Cadets: open hands and wings supporting a person beneath an individual imprintSupport without containmentA proposed London prevention,
diversion and rehabilitation model
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A proposed London model · Prevention, diversion & rehabilitation

CARE CADETS

Intervene earlier.
Overstand the person.
Hold the behaviour to account.
Build the route forward.

A proposed London prevention, diversion and rehabilitation model for care-experienced children, young people and young adults aged 11–25.

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ONE CONTINUUM. DIFFERENT POINTS OF INTERVENTION.

The proposed pathways
11–14

PREVENT

FUTURE STRAND
16–17

DIVERT + DEVELOP

PROPOSED CORE PILOT
18–25

REHABILITATE + PROGRESS

PROPOSED CORE PILOT

Proposed initial core pilot: ages 16–25. The 11–14 PREVENT strand would be separately designed and governed.

THE CARE CADETS METHOD

The person. And accountability.

  1. 01STABILISEIN THE MODEL
  2. 02OVERSTANDEXPLORE
  3. 03ACCOUNTIN THE MODEL
  4. 04REPAIRIN THE MODEL
  5. 05DEVELOPIN THE MODEL
  6. 06PROGRESSIN THE MODEL

Six connected stages bring context, responsibility and the possibility of progress into the same conversation.

02 / OVERSTAND

Beyond the first explanation.

Understand the principle
“Understanding asks what happened. Overstanding asks what sits underneath it, what the system has missed, and what must change next.”

Overstanding does not excuse harmful behaviour. Accountability is central to the model.

THE CARE CADETS PRINCIPLE

Person first. Behaviour second.
Responsibility clear. Potential protected.

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Four young adults talking around a picnic table in a London park

WHY THIS MATTERS

“A care file should not become a criminal file by default.”

Care Cadets starts from a simple distinction: understanding a person’s circumstances and holding them responsible for harm are not opposites.

The proposal is at a development stage. The initial core pilot is proposed for ages 16–25; an 11–14 PREVENT strand would be separately designed and governed with children’s-services and youth-justice partners.

Why Care Cadets

For young people

Seen as a whole person. Supported through change. Free to move forward.

More than a file or a label

For professionals

Safeguarding, public protection and statutory responsibilities at the core of the proposed model.

The professional test

THE INVITATION

Help determine what a London pilot should be.

Help determine whether London should pilot Care Cadets — and, if so, how to do it safely, lawfully and in a way capable of producing credible evidence.

01

Senior sponsorship

A senior voice willing to convene and test the proposition.

02

The right people in the room

Access to the right operational, legal and data stakeholders.

03

Agreement to develop

A costed, safeguarded and independently evaluable London pilot proposition.

Partner with Care CadetsEvidence & impact