Minority voices: Research into the access and acceptability of ... - MMC
Minority voices: Research into the access and acceptability of ... - MMC
Minority voices: Research into the access and acceptability of ... - MMC
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Tier 1 servicesAt Tier 1, essentially, are allservices that work withchildren <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir families.How effective <strong>the</strong>y are inpromoting <strong>the</strong> mental health<strong>of</strong> children <strong>and</strong> young peoplewill depend upon <strong>the</strong> extentto which <strong>the</strong>se services are<strong>access</strong>ible to BME families<strong>and</strong> have an underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>ir needs <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> skills towork with <strong>the</strong>m.Two projectsare given as examples: <strong>the</strong>Marlborough RoadProject <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> NevilleStreet Project, both run byBarnardo’s.Good practice examples 4 & 5 - Barnardo’s projects in CardiffMarlborough Road <strong>of</strong>fers a variety <strong>of</strong> projects,including supported housing for single young people<strong>and</strong> for young families; this includes specific projectswith Black <strong>and</strong> minority ethnic young people. TheCaterpillar Project is a mental health project for 16-25year-olds, who can self-refer or be referred by aparent or ano<strong>the</strong>r agency. One-to-one work can becarried out as needed by any young person, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>project will also work alongside statutory mentalhealth services to provide support. A PresentationGroup campaigns to help reduce stigma associatedwith mental health <strong>and</strong> to develop positive solutionsfor <strong>the</strong> care <strong>of</strong> young people with mental healthproblems. The group gets toge<strong>the</strong>r regularly to writepresentations <strong>and</strong> to attend conferences <strong>and</strong> events.A CD has been produced for <strong>the</strong> Open University.Young people are given opportunities to express<strong>the</strong>ir views <strong>and</strong> to feel listened to, which helps<strong>the</strong>ir confidence <strong>and</strong> self- esteem. Confidence, selfesteem<strong>and</strong> well-being are also promoted in agentler Girls’ Group. Staff from <strong>the</strong> Caterpillar Projectalso run a group for young people in <strong>the</strong> localTier 4 CAMHS unit.The Neville Street Project <strong>of</strong>fers a range <strong>of</strong>services including an advocacy service for Black <strong>and</strong>minority ethnic children in education, including those atrisk <strong>of</strong> school exclusion or experiencing problems withracial teasing or attacks. O<strong>the</strong>r activities include aBoys <strong>and</strong> a Girls Group, each for 11 to 16 year-olds,meeting once a week on different evenings. Boys’activities include: photography sessions, football <strong>and</strong>cricket, attending community based events <strong>and</strong> trips;girls’ activities include art <strong>and</strong> craft, eg. tie-dye, batik,games, trips <strong>and</strong> visits to places <strong>of</strong> interest within<strong>the</strong> community. (continued on next page)Elements <strong>of</strong> good practice1Projects <strong>and</strong> services atTier 1 include universalservices such as maternity<strong>and</strong> early years <strong>and</strong> youthservices, as well as thosethat <strong>of</strong>fer help tovulnerable groups such as<strong>the</strong> homeless <strong>and</strong> youngpeople leaving care. Inboth types <strong>of</strong> situation,mental health needs canbe identified by staff with<strong>the</strong> appropriate skills <strong>and</strong>experience in a nonstigmatisingmanner.Staff in <strong>the</strong>se services ‘pickup’ on problems in aflexible <strong>and</strong> informalmanner <strong>and</strong> can<strong>the</strong>mselves carry out workin meeting mental healthneeds that are not severeor complex.They are wellplaced to advise <strong>and</strong>support young people infinding more specialis<strong>the</strong>lp as indicated.2 A key element in goodpractice by Tier 1 servicesis to foster a trustingrelationship <strong>and</strong> to engageclients with helpingservices. For young people<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir families, services<strong>of</strong>ten achieve this bypresenting a voluntarysector ‘shop window’, so asnot to be seen as <strong>of</strong>fputtingly<strong>of</strong>ficial <strong>and</strong>formal.The service may belocated where local youngpeople generally hang out,<strong>and</strong> open as a drop-in athours that are likely to beconvenient for <strong>the</strong>m.Theseservices are well used if<strong>the</strong>y operate as a ‘OneStop Shop’, providing avariety <strong>of</strong> services underone ro<strong>of</strong>, including social<strong>and</strong> recreational facilities.Access to <strong>the</strong> service isnot limited to <strong>the</strong>duration <strong>of</strong> a ‘problem’,allowing time for needs tobe identified <strong>and</strong>acknowledged <strong>and</strong> for <strong>the</strong>establishment <strong>of</strong> a securebasis for <strong>the</strong>rapeuticintervention. In addition,<strong>access</strong> is not rigidly limitedby age so that youngpeople older than <strong>the</strong>cut-<strong>of</strong>f ages for provisionby mainstream services,can find support o<strong>the</strong>rthan in services for adultswhich may not be suitable.3 In promoting mentalhealth <strong>and</strong> earlyintervention, good practicein planning <strong>and</strong> provision <strong>of</strong>local services requiresmultiagency collaboration,including with BMEcommunity groups.Thismay require sensitiveproactive <strong>and</strong> painstakinggroundwork.4For BME young people,good practice in Tier 1depends upon widespreadcultural awareness amongstaff <strong>and</strong> close <strong>and</strong>respectful workingrelationships with localBME groups <strong>and</strong> agencies.Wherever possible,provision should be by staffwho come from <strong>the</strong> localBME communities <strong>and</strong>BME voluntary sectoragencies. O<strong>the</strong>rwise,interpreters can breakdown <strong>the</strong> language barriers<strong>and</strong> empower families tochallenge issues that affect<strong>the</strong>m. Receiving help fromstaff who are interested<strong>and</strong> aware <strong>of</strong> religious <strong>and</strong>cultural differences <strong>and</strong>needs <strong>and</strong> who do notmake assumptions about ayoung person’s situation ishighly valued.A staffgroup that reflects <strong>the</strong>local communitygives a welcoming ‘feel’to <strong>the</strong> service.5 Tier 1 services shoulddevelop, in collaborationwith parents <strong>and</strong> youngpeople from <strong>the</strong> local(including BME)communities, written <strong>and</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r types <strong>of</strong> informationraising awareness <strong>of</strong> mentalhealth issues <strong>and</strong> explainingwhat services can do.10