Response
Response is a Borough wide youth service provision, providing counselling, support, advocacy and information for young people age 13 – 19 years.
Many young people who use Response have complex needs requiring intensive support from the service, often in several areas of need, including homelessness, and threatened homelessness, abuse, poor health, mental health issues, pregnancy, sexuality, sexual exploitation, relationship difficulties, drugs, alcohol and associated risk taking behaviour, exclusion from school and poverty. This list is not exhaustive and young people are worked with on an individual basis to address a huge variety of needs.
Partnership work plays an important role in targeting vulnerable, hard to reach groups of young people. Service level agreements and regular joint working and multi agency involvement ensures that the needs of young people are met.
Specialist workers provide support to young people with drug and alcohol problems. Staff work with individuals in a variety of settings including outreach street work and one to one work in their homes or wherever they feel safe. The team deliver educational programmes within schools and other youth settings on the risk, consequence and health implications of substance misuse. This work is commissioned by the DAAT and funding is given by them to support this work.
Case Studies
Case Study 1: Young Woman aged 13.