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Early Help Reaches 300+ Children in Six Months
5 Jul
Summary
- Over 300 children received aid in the first six months.
- Youth workers support young people and families early.
- Scheme targets anti-social behaviour and escalating issues.
An early intervention scheme spearheaded by Northamptonshire's police, fire, and crime commissioner's office has aided over 300 children in its first six months of operation. The program, which began in January, deploys specialist youth workers alongside neighborhood police teams and school staff.
These dedicated workers target anti-social behaviour and early signs of concern in young people. Their goal is to provide timely support to both youngsters and their families, thereby lessening the demand on emergency and police services.
The scheme has supported 310 children, some as young as nine, offering tailored advice and one-to-one sessions for up to 12 weeks. The primary reasons for intervention include causing a nuisance, followed by assault and violence without injury.
Initially, referrals came from police officers, but the process has since expanded to include direct school involvement. Youth workers are now embedded in seven secondary schools across Northampton, Kettering, and Wellingborough, identified using police data. This allows for early identification by heads of year or safeguarding staff, aiming to prevent school expulsions.
