To ask the Minister of Health to detail any early intervention and family support services that are available through Health and Social Care Trusts for children who display offending behaviours.

Health and Social Care Trust’s provide a range of services to support children, young people and families, where children and young people are displaying offending behaviours. Each HSCT has distinct arrangements for how they meet the needs of these children and young people with these arrangements grounded in trauma informed practice and based on common themes of providing holistic assessments, early support to meet identified need and divert children and young people from the criminal justice system.

Each HSCT operates a Children’s Gateway service which remains the first point of contact for children, young people and families who need assistance. At this juncture referrals may be made to the community and voluntary sector or other statutory partners to meet an identified need, or an ongoing Social Work led support can be provided. In these circumstances children and young people will receive a holistic UNOCINI assessment which will include the creation of a plan to meet any identified need. These needs can be met through direct service provision by a HSCT or through partnership arrangements with the Community and Voluntary sector or Statutory partners such as the Youth Justice Agency, Education Authority or PSNI.

BHSCT

Youth Diversion Forum, Alternatives, Intensive Adolescent Support Team, Extern Short Breaks, Parent & Adolescent Support Service, Bryson House, Safe Families and Family Meeting Service.

NHSCT

Intensive Family Support Team, Links Team, Children’s Early Intervention Service and Rise NI.

SEHSCT

Family Support Service and Aim to Change.

SHSCT

Young People’s Partnership Service, KAIROS, Safe4U and a joint project with YJA.

WHSCT

Family Response Service, On Your Bike Project, NIACRO, Action for Children, Barnardos, Extern, Dry Arch Centre and Include Youth.