Why did we commission MST in Manchester ?

1. Why did we commission MST in Manchester ? Paul Dempsey, Head Of Looked After Children Services

2. Public Sector Reform The Public Sector Reform agenda at the time was focused on interventions that: • Reduce demand for services • Reduce mainstream budgets • Make better use of limited resources • Are evidence based • Are integrated and co-ordinated • Take a family based approach

3. Why MST ? MST matches up with those aims: • It aims to reduce demand • It can reduce financial costs • It is a family and community based service • It has a strong evidence base – it works!

4. Reducing Demand for LAC Services • We wanted to reduce demand on our LAC services and budgets • We knew that our LAC population was and is still high • We knew that a high number of admissions were and are of adolescents • And we know from research that outcomes for children entering care in adolescence are on average poor

5. Reducing Demand for LAC Services • So we wanted to support families on the edge of care to stay together • Evidence indicates that MST can reduce the likelihood of children becoming looked after. • MST was introduced as one important intervention amongst others to safely and appropriately reduce our LAC population

6. How are we using MST? • MST is used for a very specific cohort of young people on the edge of care • Adolescents(11 to 17) at risk of care primarily and also displaying other anti-social behaviours • MST requires the consent and engagement of the young person and family • Social workers make referrals to our ‘At Risk of Care Panel’ to request MST

7. Referral Criteria • Is the young person at risk of family breakdown because of their behaviour (wilful misconduct)? • Are they likely to become looked after if nothing changes? • And……..

8. Referral Criteria does the young person display two or more of these antisocial behaviours • · verbal aggression at home • · verbal aggression in the community • · physical aggression at home • · physical aggression in the community • · school non-attendance • · poor school behaviour likely to lead to exclusion • · Anti-social behaviour (ASB) or criminality • · substance misuse/alcohol seen as antisocial behaviour • · absconded/going missing

9. Alternative Edge of Care Services • MST is not appropriate where the risk of a child entering care is as a result of abuse or neglect by parents • In these circumstances other family support and/or child protection services are used

10. Alternative Edge of Care Services • Where MST is not appropriate other family support initiatives are used, such as intervention from our Families First support team, Family Group Conferences and other bespoke support packages. • In addition in the coming year we will be seeking to establish an ‘adolescent support unit’ in the city as another intervention to support young people to stay with their families.

11. Alternative Edge of Care Services • These interventions will compliment MST rather than compete with it, and along with MST, will form a wide range of edge of care support services.