Teenager support team making progress

A report to the council’s lifelong learning committee will tomorrow highlight the positive impact of a local service.

The Reach team was set up in 2018 as a one-stop response to address the needs of young people aged 12-18 who are on the edge of care.

It brings together social workers, a clinical psychologist, speech and language therapist and a teacher.

The team operates 24-7 and aims to support young people in their families, schools and communities.

Committee members will hear about the first year of the project being fully operational, following a major financial investment made by the council since 2017.

The report says Reach is on target to meet expectations for being financially sustainable by reducing the need for young people to go into foster or residential care.

In the past year it has worked with 59 young people who have complex and challenging needs and has delivered a range of positive outcomes from stronger family relationships, improved social skills and engagement, better school attendance, achievement of qualifications and awards and generally healthier lifestyles.

Lifelong learning convener Caroline Shiers said: “This report clearly shows the valuable work that continues to be undertaken by the team at Reach, with much to be achieved over the next two years.

“We have an extremely committed staff team in place, who offer an approach to engaging with young people on the edge of care which was not previously possible locally.

“Now young people across the whole of Perth and Kinross have a range of options for support that can help them remain within their own families and communities and focus on a more positive future.”