Tackling Risky Behaviour in Children and Young People in Richmond Priorities for 2011/12 and 2012/13

Risky behaviour includes drinking alcohol, taking drugs, having sex early or with many partners, gambling and are often caused by the lack of protective factors such as positive role models, good parenting, and high self-esteem. What constitutes risky behaviour is subjective and can depend on personal perceptions. Some level of risk taking behaviour is thought to be normal and part of growing up. There is increasing evidence that early intervention and prevention is the best way to tackle the causes and so reduce the levels of risk.

A needs assessment(pdf, 1234KB) (short version(pdf, 631KB)) was undertaken in Spring of 2011 and this contained a list of recommended best practices that would, if implemented, help to tackle the causes of risky behaviour and so prevent them happening. These recommendations have been reviewed to assess if they are any gaps within current practice/service.

The priorities below have been developed from the review of recommendations. Each priority will be led by an accountable officer and a project plan developed with clear timescales and outcome measures of success.

What is excluded

Throughout the needs assessment, parenting and early years work are highlighted as being crucial to reducing the causes of risk taking behaviour later on in life. These have been excluded from the priorities below as they will be picked up as part of the Parenting Strategy and the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Strategy development and the Direction of Travel for Early Years paper, all of which are being developed in 2011/12.

Also, since the time of the development of the needs assessment the government has published the Child Poverty Strategy and Social Mobility Strategy. The priorities below complement the strategy's direction of travel and will be reviewed once the needs assessment for child poverty has been completed.

Priorities
Action Lead Timescale
Develop and implement a universal offer to all schools for the training of teacher and leads on all aspects of risky behaviour (RB) Workforce Development By September 2011
Develop and implement a generic training course for professionals in contact with children and young people on all aspects of RB Workforce Development By September 2011
To review current spend on prevention/early intervention/treatment to ensure the emphasis is on prevention Head of Finance By March 2012
To review all cross cutting strategies to ensure synergy and co-ordination Head of Protective and Preventative Services By January 2012
To commission a service to meet the gap in the Tier 1/2/3 interfaces for treating risk taking behaviour in older children, as well as increasing the protective factors for example self esteem and targeting specific less well resourced vulnerable groups such as young carers and those with parents with drug, alcohol and/or mental heath issue. This service will be evidence-based or based on best practice and work across partner agencies Head of Integrated Youth Services To be in place from 1 April 2012
To further develop course/offer based on feedback and assess impact of training Workforce Development Lead September 2012
To develop and implement a local tool for collecting and measuring risk taking behaviour data TBA
To develop and keep up to date a Directory of Local Services for children and young people and professionals to include referral guidelines TBA

Next steps

The priorities for 2011/12 will be fed into the Children and Young People’s Plan to be agreed by the C&YP Partnership Board.

Once this has been done then leads will be assigned and project plans developed for 2011/12 and 2012/13 priorities by the end of August 2011. A small steering group will be set up to ensure that the plans are reviewed and kept on track. The steering group will report into either the Children’ Families, Health and Wellbeing Board or the C&YP Partnership Board.