AS much as £1.2 million is to be spent on improving the futures of 50 of the most challenging young people engaged in “destructive cycles of behaviour” reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The money—£300,000 from Essex County Council and a £900,000 contribution from levelling up charity SHiFT—will pay for a team of four highly specialised social care and youth justice professionals who will work with the most challenging young people in Colchester and Tendring.
The aim is to break destructive cycles of behaviour and improve long-term outcomes.
It has been agreed that the target cohort should be 16 and 17-year-olds in high-cost semi-independent accommodation and 18-plus care leavers.
A statement said: “The Children’s Services budget is currently under significant pressure, primarily driven by the cost of children’s placements.
“Semi-independent accommodation is expensive, and ensuring that young people in this cohort are provided with high-quality, tailored support is vital to ensuring that they are well prepared to lead independent adult lives, including participating in education and training.
“Some young people are in unregistered provision, which is the most expensive, and there is a specific need to support them into other placements where possible.”
Since 2021, SHiFT has worked with 139 children and young people displaying history of offending, missing episodes, criminal and sexual exploitation.
The charity says that for every £1 spent, £8 is saved over 5 years and £33 over 20 years.
As part of a decision set to be signed off by the cabinet, a statement added: “SHiFT operate in partnership with local authorities in specific areas to set up SHiFT practices.
“Local SHiFT practices are established whereby council employees are trained in the delivery of the SHiFT methodology.
“Teams then work with a small number of the most challenging young people who are known to public services and are engaged in risky, harmful and challenging behaviour with the intention of improving their long-term outcomes. The ways of working are intensive, highly flexible and draw on an evaluated and evidenced-based approach known as ‘Breaking Cycles’.
“Breaking Cycles is based on principles and learning applied in the ‘Pause’ project aimed at supporting women at risk of repeat removals of children from their care, which has also been evaluated and shown to deliver positive outcomes across multiple areas.”