- The remit of the ASB Team will remain focused on prevention as a first option and a close working relationship will be maintained with the Council's Integrated Youth Support Service and Youth Support Teams who target and support young people who are vulnerable. For example, if they are involved in anti social behaviour, truanting or at risk of exclusion, the young person and their parent or carer will be contacted to offer support and interventions on a voluntary basis. This can include one to one work to look at specific issues, accredited learning, school support, group work or diversionary activities. Every referral made to the Council's Youth Support Team is discussed at area based multi agency panel meetings where around 20 agencies take part. This reduces duplication of work across different agencies and ensures that the interventions being offered are timely and appropriate to reduce the risk of the behaviour escalating.
- The ASB Team will increase the number of secondary schools (including special schools) they work in. By March 2008 82% 14 of the 17 state schools were covered. The range of this work stems from informal discussions to advise to young people on the role of the team and the impact of anti social behaviour, to specificwork with young people who are causing problems in their school or outside school hours. When a young person comes to the attention of the ASB Team on a number of occasions or for a serious incident a warning letter is sent to their parent(s) or carer and a referal made to a targeted youth support worker who will also offer support such as: full preventions package, one to one work, and parenting support.
- We will continue to use the Cornerhouse to provide positive play activities during the school holidays on three sites where SSP have sited three PODs (Play Out Doors). These are mobile containers that can be moved around into areas where we are experiencing problems. The Cornerhouse will also provide work for us in a wider area linking in with other youth provision and detached work. This work encourages young people to play positively and is geared toward those who may not be able to access mainstream youth provision.
- The Council's Targeted Youth Support Services will work with some of the most vulnerable and challenging young people (aged 13-19) in our Borough by educating, supporting and empowering them during their transition to adulthood, to reduce offending, truancy and exclusion. Young peolpe excluded from school are referred to the team by agencies across the borough, including the Bishopton Centre (Pupil Referral Unit), they are provided with activities getting them off the streets and into mainstream society.
- We will maintain the E2E/Freshstart programme, which is primarly aimed at young people aged 16-18 not participating in any form of post-16 learning. It is designed to help them to develop their motivation and confidence, personal effectiveness and basic and key skills, and to give them a range of opportunities to gain vocational knowledge, skills and understanding.
- Street based youth work sessions will be organised around the Borough. The existing youth bus provision will deliver youth work sessions, in locations that are identified and agreed following consultation with Councillors, Police and partner agencies.
Partnership Working
- Council outreach workers will undertake street-based work in wards with higher levels of crime, disorder and anti social behaviour. Youth work will continue at the Clarences, an area that suffers above average levels of deprivation and crime and disorder. This provides a local youth service ran by the Clarence's Partnership working with A Way Out offering a range of services that divert young people from anti social behaviour and into positive out comes and initiatives
- Council Youth Support Teams will work with the YOS RAP Team (Resettlement and Aftercare Provision) to use Youth Space to provide support to young people given a Community Sentence or those leaving custody on a Drug Treatment Order, Licence or Bail Support and who, following assesment, have been identified as having significant substance misuse or dual diagnosis (substance misuse and mental health needs).
- Evening and weekend operations will run through the year where the ASB team, council's NES and the Police carry out patrols in areas with the highest level of complaints of anti social behaviour. Once again if a young person is spoken to becuase they are causing anti social behaviour or misusing alcohol or drugs their parents will be contacted.
- We will run at least two LIFE programmes provided by the Fire service to help young people become responsible citizens.