The importance of local authorities and fire and rescue services intervening at an early stage when children, young people and their families are at risk is highlighted in a new publication from EMIE at NFER. It outlines initiatives that combat some of society’s most intractable problem areas, including teenage pregnancy, race and faith issues, mental health, young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and fires in schools.
The book is based on submissions from the seven shortlisted authorities for Round 7 of the I&DeA Beacon scheme, on the theme of Early Intervention (Children at Risk), and interviews with senior staff in local authorities and fire and rescue services.
The report’s author, Gordon Mott, said: “Across the country local authorities and fire and rescue services are tackling deep-seated problems with energy and imagination. They have been able to demonstrate that their initiatives have impacted positively on what in some instances have been seen as long-standing, deeply intractable issues. While there is a great more to do this early promise bodes well for the future.”

Examples of effective early interventions

The Fire and Rescue Service demonstrate beyond doubt  the gains of engaging with young people and deterring them from anti-social activities, including firesetting and arson, by showing the human face of the service to bring the young people onside. Both Merseyside and Tyne and Wear confront problems associated with setting fires, and the attacks on fire service personnel when they turn out to extinguish them. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority has taken a series of steps metaphorically to extinguish fires before they start. They have put together a wide range of imaginative initiatives tailored to suit children from primary age up to teenagers. They have also used the strengths of the service, the equipment, the uniform, the climbing walls, the training, their physical fitness, and the inherently dangerous nature of the work, to carry their cause into schools and win youngsters round. The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority has also developed and delivered a range of programmes and initiatives that specifically engage with young people, particularly those who are at risk. It does so through identifying areas which are judged to be ‘hot spots’ - unhappily, both literally and metaphorically in terms of setting fires - and enrolling youngsters on its Firesetting Intervention Programme. The authority has established a Young Firefighters Association which, among other things, provides a BTEC qualification in Basic Firefighting Skills. Local authorities have also developed some very effective programmes in the early intervention agenda to deal with specific problems including:

Teenage pregnancy: Tower Hamlets has seen a progressive decline in teenage conception rates well ahead of the decline both nationally and in the capital, part of a broader strategy to improve sexual health. To drive this forward, Tower Hamlets is recruiting five trainers to provide sex and relationship education in secondary schools and provide youth workers with additional training to deal with sexual health.

Race and faith issues: Telford & Wrekin have established a Mirpuri community development project. Pakistani (Mirpuri) pupils are among the three lowest academic achievers according to 2003 National Data. This is a language-based project that targets a small and isolated group and looks to improve communication skills, selfesteem and attainment levels. A specific project was established with the appointment of a Community Outreach teacher and two bilingual Community Development Workers. A range of interlocking and complementary school- and community-based activities were put in place which realised a very sharp improvement in performance.

Mental health: York has established a city-wide, schools-based, primary mental health team funded via Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Its key tasks are to bring about engagement with children at an early stage, to provide support for front-line staff, to develop strategies for individual children, and to ensure appropriate referrals to tier three services. A further specialist post for 16-18 year olds was established, located within a Youth Service facility specifically to provide a service in an environment which would be seen as significantly more user-friendly than the ‘Adult Service’. The clear message is that such services need to be sensitive to the perceptions of their clientele regarding location, social context and stigma-free accessibility.

Early intervention: children at risk is available from EMIE at NFER, priced £8.00 via the NFER online bookshop at website: http://www.nfer.ac.uk/ bookshop/