In to all things relating to restorative practice, kindness, empathy and working WITH.
Joined July 2013
- Tweets 839
- Following 1,369
- Followers 654
- Likes 3,304
53 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
28 Jun 2023
constructive-resettlement.co…
Delighted to be involved in this podcast on Child First approaches in YouthJustice. Already looking forward to round 2 with a few brilliant children sharing their views! @_YJB @NealHazel @SteveCaseCrim @heidi_dix @keithfraser2017 @dez_holmes @Markfinnis
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
8 Oct 2025
✅Child First practices lead to safer communities and better outcomes for children.
Swindon YJS - highlighted in BBC Radio 4’s Youth Justice documentary.
Prof @NealHazel:
“Custody is the last resort within the youth justice system […] the more we treat them [children] as potential offenders the more likely they are to do so. That’s why reoffending rates in custody are so much worse than in community sentences.”
Michael O'Connor:
“Once we started to focus on what shapes what you [children] think and feel about yourself [themselves] – what it is that shapes identity – that’s when we started seeing radical change for many children in Swindon. That directly correlated with a reduction of victims of violence and therefore safer communities.”
Listen to the documentary ➡️ bbc.in/4odPHaf
#YouthJustice #ChildFirst #YJB
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
20 Aug 2025
Happy Child First Day to all of my excellent youth justice colleagues @_YJB @LboroCSSP @AssnYOTmanagers @NAYJtweets @the_AYJ @NealHazel @DrKathyHampson @sfcreaney @keithfraser2017 @MOConnor82
lboro.ac.uk/subjects/social-…
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
15 Aug 2025
Morning Tweeps Child First Day 2025.
Evidence and Practice webinar not to be missed!
14 Aug 2025
🚀 Join us on 20 August (14:30–16:00, Teams) for our Child First Day 2025 – exploring evidence and practice webinar.
The webinar will explore how the Child First evidence base and decision-making framework is transforming youth justice.
💡 Hear from leading voices:
• Prof Neal Hazel & Prof Steve Case – foundational principles & evidence
• Jessica Hull – insights from the latest research
• Marius Frank, Bea Nigolian, Ruth Hayles, Michael O’Connor – practice innovations making an impact
📅 Free registration: bit.ly/4fxQmzW
#ChildFirst #YouthJustice #PartnershipWorking
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
7 May 2025
Morning Tweeps off to the centre of excellence for Child 1st practice in Swindon. It’s the @_YJB on the move. Really looking forward to hearing at Child First Live 25 how the approach supporting better futures for Children and Safer communities!
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
13 Jan 2025
An interesting listen on how children are treated in court and whether they are meeting children's complex needs in @TransformJust1's latest podcast🎙
#ChildFirst
10 Jan 2025
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
Are our courts capable of dealing with vulnerable children? Aika Stephenson @Justforkidslaw & @daniellejmanson @MatrixChambers discuss which cases go to court, how children are treated & how courts can be more child friendly
🎧Listen now: pod.fo/e/29bea1
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
16 Oct 2024
Evening Tweeps - look who I bumped into at the @AssnYOTmanagers Autumn conference.
Yes it’s @NealHazel Child 1st and Youth Justice Subject mater expert, as well as a former @_YJB board member, his passion for all things youth justice, had not deminished .
#Care ##Child1st
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
26 Sep 2024
Delighted to see @metpoliceuk producing its Children's Strategy, underpinned by the Child First framework.
It's taken a lot of work by people at MPS, @MOPACLdn, @_YJB
Good to see CF translated into policing. Proud to be involved.
mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/im…
@SalfordImpact
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
27 Aug 2024
'Child First: Developing a New Youth Justice System' explores Child First as increasingly influential in policy and practice in youth justice systems.
It's a key read for those working in and studying youth justice.
Access the book below ⤵
link.springer.com/book/10.10…
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
8 Aug 2024
This month we're shining a spotlight on the #ChildFirst framework.💡
🎙Listen to our podcast to hear non-executive Board member @NealHazel and @MOConnor82 discuss how to apply the #ChildFirst framework in practice.
Check it out ⤵
yjresourcehub.uk/child-first…
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
19 Jun 2024
Touched by @SteveCaseCrim's generous words in his valuable new book on youth justice policy making.
Just published, highly recommended to all!
Link to book:
policy.bristoluniversitypres…
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
31 May 2024
Key new chapter from me and @SteveCaseCrim published today.
How does the #ChildFirst framework relate to #desistance? How do we achieve positive outcomes within a deficit-focused discourse of 'preventing offending'?
policy.bristoluniversitypres…
To be open access.
@AliWigzell
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22 Mar 2024
Search *Youth Justice*. Some brilliant examples of practice across the country
22 Jun 2023
Interested in learning more about innovative youth justice practice? Here at the YJB, we love highlighting what works, @LGAComms has loads of fascinating case studies from authorities across England for you to check out.👇👇👇local.gov.uk/case-studies
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
22 Jun 2023
Interested in learning more about innovative youth justice practice? Here at the YJB, we love highlighting what works, @LGAComms has loads of fascinating case studies from authorities across England for you to check out.👇👇👇local.gov.uk/case-studies
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21 Mar 2024
Looking forward to today's session. A fantastic line up of speakers @YouthEndowFund
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20 Mar 2024
Delighted to see this work, what a great conversation to be involved in @nickyjanehill @NealHazel. Reflective supervision for police officers is needed to make this a reality in my view.
19 Mar 2024
A big part of my work is challenging & supporting both @MOPACLdn & @metpoliceuk to become #ChildFirst organisations. Delighted that @NealHazel is asking some tough questions of MOPAC this morning about what that really means & looks like.
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
Great fun was had by all at our 1st Juniors pre-season tonight- roughly 20 kids in each age grade attended.
Not bad for a first hit out when so many regular season players are still committed to their winter sports! It'll only grow from here.
#RugbyLeague
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
Preseason training for Junior Boys (U12, 14 & 16s) commences THIS THURSDAY March 7, 19.00 - 20.15 at Old Cranleighans in Thames Ditton.
Be there or suffer massive #FOMO
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
#RugbyLeague is back!
Preseason starts for U12, 14 and 16s this Thursday 19.00 - 20.15 at OCs in Thames Ditton.
You must be registered to train. Links are on our website.
elmbridgerl.com/news-1/seaso…
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Michael O'Connor retweeted
4 Mar 2024
This is what courage looks like...
4 Mar 2024
Officers fearlessly ran into a burning building to rescue those trapped inside.
They arrived in under five minutes and thanks to their quick action no one suffered serious injuries.
Seven officers and six residents were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and have since been discharged.
The fire is being treated as suspicious and a man has been arrested.
Read more: news.met.police.uk/news/man-…
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