Intense Children - Behavioural Difficulties
Intensive support for children with serious social, emotional or behavioural difficulties
Children and their families who encounter such difficulties require sensitive and responsive services to address their needs at home, at school and in the wider community.
Often such children will display difficult, risk - taking and challenging behaviour.
Such behaviour is driven by experiences and feelings which need to be dealt with and understood, not merely controlled. Such children display complex characteristics, such as:
- low self esteem
- lack of concentration
- lack of motivation
- difficulties with learning
- poor interpersonal skills
- feelings of helplessness
What Social Care offers
A thorough and careful assessment of need focused on the child, but not ignoring family members is a first step. A Care Plan can then be drawn up, bringing in other agencies as required to offer professional advice, support and services.
Social Care offers support, guidance and advice for children and families through formal and informal supervision of young people who are cared for at home or away from home.
They offer help for parents as well as children to help them address personal or relationship problems that are affecting their parenting, such as counselling or alcohol and drug advice.
Outreach support provides individual work with children and young people and can be provided by staff at Leog Children's Centre or by the Family Support Service.
Childcare social workers can offer one-to-one individual work with young people to help them address their problems, with the aim of preventing them entering the care or youth justice systems.
Day care is available directly from the Council, or purchased from the independent sector and can offer a safe, stimulating environment for children, and respite for parents.
There is a Behaviour Support service in Lerwick for children who may be excluded from mainstream education because of their emotional or behavioural problems, with access to the Educational Psychology Service. There is a home teacher service available for those unable to attend. Brae High School offers a confidential drop-in for pupils in need of support or assistance.
Health Board services offer a Primary Care Team including a Child & Adolescent Community Psychiatric Nurse and other visiting Mental Health specialists.
The Shetland Youth Information Service provide a free, confidential service for young people who may require information or assistance.