The Intensive Support Team that focuses on meeting the needs of young people aged 16 and 17, who are at risk or present themselves as homeless and in need of support.
Who are the IST?
The IST consists of professional youth workers who have experience and knowledge of case work and family work. They are practitioners who are familiar with the CAF process and have the ability to work intensively with young people and their families/carers to address some complex needs that are presented. There are currently four FTE workers in post and the service is in the process of recruiting an addition three FTE workers via funding from the EIG.
The project is currently coordinated by a Service Manager within Youth Services, based at Frederick Street Youth Centre, Frederick Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, PL1 5JW
Why is the service being developed?
The team has been commissioned through the Commissioning and Finance Programme Board to support the diversion from care agenda to:
- Reduce pressure on Children’s Social Care
- Reduce pressure on budget due to high cost intervention once in care
- Support drive to embed CAF
- Support integrated youth support - close gaps in system
- Enhance the way youth services work with vulnerable young people
At present the team is focusing on those aged 16/17 years, who are at risk of entering the care system. However, it is envisage that as the team develops that the age range will be reduced to 11.
How does the team work?
The team provides intensive support in the community delivered by key-workers who aim to maximise young people's engagement with services that can meet identified need. The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is the primary assessment/planning tool that enables need to be identified and addressed.
The critical outcomes for the team are to:
- Divert children and young people from care
- Stability
- Young people are safe from harm
- Increased family functioning
- Reduction in drug and alcohol use
- Develop effective coping strategies
- Managed transfer into adult services
- Develop self-care
- Develop independent living skills
- Engagement in education, employment and training
- Safe environment and prevention of absconding
To date, evidence suggests that the programme appears to be very effective at reducing the rate and numbers of young people 16+ becoming looked after.
Young People's Sexual Exploitation
The Intensive Support Team and REACH Plymouth are working alongside other practitioners on the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and trafficking within the UK.
Our team is made up of specialists with a range of skills and are there to offer support, advice and expertise to young people.
We are developing a programme to be able take out to schools within Plymouth to inform young people on the issues of CSE, offering support and raise the profile, provide updates, share national developments, influence the development of national and local policy informed by practice.