We are pleased to bring you a profile of Liverpool’s YPAS. Since 1966 YPAS has been supporting Liverpool’s marginalised young people and helping them have the chance they deserve to fulfil their own potential. Children and young people are supported in a safe environment, with a primary focus on respect and acceptance, and their need to be heard and understood.
Youth Access’ Policy development Officer Steve Lee visited YPAS in June and said “I was hugely impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the staff and inspired by the high quality work they’re doing. They offer a wide range of services which are obviously hugely valued on Merseyside and seem to me to embody all that’s best about YIACS. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”
What is YPAS?
YPAS is a registered charity and partner agency in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), and is at the heart of the drive to deliver community based services for children and young people aged 10 to 25 years who are experiencing poor mental. Their work is possible thanks to continued investment from Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Youth Service, Drug and Alcohol Action Team and the Liverpool Primary Care Trusts.
YPAS Values
- YPAS’s values are based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Children and young people should be protected from all forms of violence exploitation.
- Everyone has a responsibility to safeguard children and young people.
- YPAS listens to people, respects their views and responds to them directly.
- Children and young people should be protected from all forms of violence exploitation.
- YPAS’s values are based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The agency offers:
Counselling Service:
The counselling team consists of qualified and BACP accredited counsellors, carrying a wide range of skills and experience, and subscribing to a variety of therapeutic approaches. The service delivers professional training to city wide organisations covering emotional and mental well-being awareness, self-injury awareness, working with young people with anger difficulties and policy development.
Children & Young People Counsellors work with children from 10 to 15, recognising and encouraging the importance of family co-operation or involvement. The children’s counsellors deliver therapeutic projects and awareness raising work in a variety of citywide schools. Youth Counsellors work with 13 to 19 year olds, delivering services in the Youth Offending Service, community centres, schools and colleges. Generic Counsellors work with 16 to 25 year olds and referrals include mental health crisis teams, hospitals, G.P’s, Connexions and various young people and adult services. The service provides a range of group work programmes including Anger Awareness Project, Self-Injury Project, Survivors of Sexual Abuse Project (SOS) and a Relaxation Group.
Support Service:
YPAS’s support service consists of is a multidisciplinary team, which includes a variety of projects/services:
The Drop-in Service is the first point of contact for many young 16 to 25 year olds. The drop-in has refreshments and laundry facilities for young people and is a safe space to come and be listened to. The drop-in works reactively on a day to day basis, on issues such as gaining young people hostel accommodation and enabling young people to access welfare benefit.
The Substance Misuse Project addresses 13 to 25 year olds’ substance misuse issues with a positive non-judgmental approach, enabling them to make informed choices. The project provides a range of support and advice services, including preventative education workshops, harm reduction strategies, 1-1 support and referrals to a range of specialist agencies.
The Community Outreach Service supports young people to live independently and help them recognise their full potential, working within the person centred framework.
The Mentor Service provides support to young people who are in education, training or employment by providing needs lead action plans.
Gyro – This service provides individual and group support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people.
Participation:
YPAS practices true participation in that it involves children, young people and families in all aspects of service development, delivery and evaluation. It uses a holistic family centred approach within all the support offered, with work including: Disabled children taking part in a Bereavement DVD ‘Remember Me With Pride’. DVD have been produced around the issues of ‘Self Injury Awareness’, and ‘attitudes and understanding of sexuality’ from the Gyro group.
Young people play a key role in the recruitment of staff and are consulted around policy and strategic developments.
Working in Partnership
YPAS works in partnership with the voluntary and statutory sectors including specialist CAMHS. The aim of the partnership working is to play a key role in the joint thinking arrangements in order to address the needs of children, young people and their families.
YPAS also opens its doors to external agencies, for example, using therapeutic rooms for formal assessments.
Challenges faced by the service
The on-going expansion of the counselling has had an impact on the referral rate, which ultimately has affected the waiting list, generating a capacity issue for the service. A major challenge is to pick up the referrals at the same rate as they receive them.
Why YPAS joined Youth Access
The YPAS team tell us that “since joining as a Youth Access member, YPAS has felt fully informed with strategic arrangements, practice and dilemma situations, funding opportunities and topic review and evaluations. We have also benefited from the inclusion aspect, feeling a sense of belonging to something in the counselling world of professionals and “we thank you for that”.”
Plans for the future
YPAS is currently involved in a comprehensive review of Liverpool CAMHS funded services. Their hope is that the review report will highlight the need for an extended commissioned agreement as we have organically generated a wide range of therapeutic interventions and services as a result of the initial funding in 2005. Watch this space!
Check out the YPAS website
http://www.ypas.org.uk/
