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York services for children and young people

There are a number of services in York that are available for Children and Young People in York and their families. These services have been set up to provide support to children and young people and professionals working with children and young people who are able to refer to these services.

Some of these services have been commissioned by the Office of Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning.

Survive and Community Counselling

An all age, counselling and talking therapy service to support victims of crime to cope and recover. The service aims to enable victims to either support themselves independently or be supported through an appropriate peer support network by the end of provision.

Community Counselling deliver adult (aged 18 and over) services in Scarborough and Ryedale as well as a countywide service for young people (aged 17 and under).

Survive deliver adult services in Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, York and Selby.

Referrals are made via the Supporting Victims team.

Contact details:

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Adult Perpetrators of Domestic Abuse service - Foundation +Choices

+Choices (Positive Choices) is a service of Foundation, part of the Inspire North group, which provides award-winning support services and accredited training in areas such as mental health, housing, and domestic abuse across the north of England.

Positive Choices work with low to medium risk perpetrators of domestic abuse, providing an opportunity to recognise, acknowledge and change abuse behaviour.

The Positive Choices programme is available for anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation aged 16 years and over who is a perpetrator of domestic abuse, including repeat offenders and adolescents violent toward parents, who wish to voluntary address their abusive behaviour.

The Positive Choices domestic abuse perpetrator programme is delivered as part of a whole system wherein partners, ex-partners and/or other family members are also offered access to our Integrated Support Service (ISS). A dedicated Victim Liaison Officer (VLO) will be the first point of contact whilst the perpetrator is engaging with the programme. They will work in partnership with other agencies to provide a robust and integrated system of support for the partners and/or ex-partners of the clients that engage with the programme, with the key focus to increase their safety and wellbeing, as well as the safety of any children involved.

Positive Choices is a Respect Accredited service and is a recommended provision of Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (DAPP) support for perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse.

Positive Choices offer:

  • triage and emergency, temporary accommodation for those who do not have access to funds or alternative accommodation
  • one-to-one motivational interventions
  • tailored Choices Perpetrator Programme, group delivery or Respect Accredited one to one for those not suitable to attend group settings
  • support to address wider needs such as housing, finance, substance misuse and mental health through onward referrals and/or liaison with other support services as appropriate

Some individuals may require emergency accommodation as they have been removed from their home due to the risk they pose to their victim and/or family. We will assist in accessing temporary accommodation, with support to report to the local housing office the next working day when longer term accommodation is required.

Once any immediate needs have been addressed, perpetrators will be allocated to an Appropriate Project Officer and a full needs and risk assessment will be undertaken with them to identify the most suitable support to address their needs.

Individuals ready to engage with the core programme will be supported through a tailored package of interventions to meet their individual needs and guide them through the various stages of the group peer support led behaviour change programme. Or Respect accredited one-to-one sessions.

The overall objective of the service is to enable individuals, regardless of gender, who are engaged in abusive behaviour towards their current or former intimate partners, or immediate family members, the opportunity to recognise, acknowledge and change that behaviour. The aim is to prevent the abusive behaviour escalating and/or reduce the risk posed to, whilst increasing the safety of, victims and their children.

Positive Choices referrals

Referrals can be made by agencies and other professionals working with perpetrators, their families, or victims. You can also self-refer, using the Positive Choices online referral form.

Referrals can only be accepted where explicit consent has been obtained from the individual who recognised and accepts their abusive behaviour and is ready to engage in our behaviour change programme.

Not be referred as part of a court ordered activity, where there are ongoing child application arrangements. In such cases a referral to a Cafcass approved provider is needed.

All referrals will be assessed by the appropriate Project Officer, who will review all relevant information regarding risk. They will then complete an initial risk assessment including the individuals' suitability for the programme; identification of their most immediate needs; and any action needed to safeguard the victim from further harm.

Contact details:

Foundation +Choices Perpetrator Prevention Toolkit Workshops

Share your contact details in order find out more about Foundation +Choices Perpetrator Prevention Toolkit Workshops by completing the Enquiry Form on their website.

The domestic abuse perpetrator prevention workshop helps:

  • raise awareness of domestic abuse
  • dispel myths and provide clarity surrounding domestic abuse for both perpetrators and victims
  • recognise the signs of domestic abuse and confidently discuss the issues raised
  • make aware and explain the referral process
  • show employers how domestic abuse is a workplace issue and what can be done to help

If you would like more information on toolkit DA information sessions email: [email protected] to be the first to hear about new projects and opportunities via their newsletter.

IDAS Children and Families Domestic Abuse Service

The IDAS Children and Families Domestic Abuse Service can help children to make sense of their feelings and manage their emotions following domestic abuse. IDAS also empower non-abusive parents, carers, and the family’s wider support network to support children with the impact domestic abuse may have on their relationships, emotions, behaviour, and education. Commitment from the non-abusive parent is vital to ensure effective support can be provided to the family.

IDAS' support includes:

  • direct support for children aged 10+, alongside parental commitment
  • one-to-one support for children
  • group support for children
  • parent support sessions
  • drop-in groups for parents
  • indirect support via the non-abusive parent for younger children
  • advocacy and working with other agencies and organisations supporting the family

IDAS can support:

  • children who are victims in their own right by witnessing domestic abuse perpetrated by their parent, their parent’s partner, ex-partner, or family member
  • young people who are victims of controlling, coercive, violent, or abusive behaviour in the context of a romantic relationship with a peer
  • children (aged 10+) exhibiting controlling, coercive, violent, or abusive behaviour towards family members or carers, but not elsewhere
  • parents who have been subjected to domestic abuse and their children are victims

If support is required for children under the age of 10, this may be provided indirectly via the non-abusive parent.

IDAS work with the family in a flexible, semi-structured way to improve feelings of safety, manage emotions, reduce anxiety, and promote positive communication and healthy boundaries. The support recognises and builds on families’ strengths and supportive networks, including extended family members where appropriate, to help increase resilience and help families to cope and recover following domestic abuse. Often other support services may be involved, IDAS can assist with coordinating support and will work collaboratively with other agencies in consultation with, and advocating for, the family.

IDAS can provide information and support on the phone, online, in person, in group settings and by email.

Children often benefit from in person support at a time and a place that feels comfortable. This could be at school, at home or in another safe location such as an IDAS office or community building.

To support families, IDAS require consent from both the non-abusive parent carers and the child.

If you as a professional are seeking support for a family, or for someone you know, you can contact IDAS directly.

Contact details:

Domestic Abuse Victims Community Based Support services - IDAS

Delivered by Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), support is available for anyone aged 16 and over who is a direct victim or survivor of domestic abuse. Support is available for all genders and regardless of sexual orientation. The services offer:

  • community engagement and Champions training to raise awareness of all forms of domestic abuse
  • early intervention and prevention advice and support
  • one-to-one emotional and practical support, including support through any police investigation and/or court proceedings
  • target Hardening where necessary to help victims remain safely within their own homes
  • supported group work and peer support networks
  • onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate

The overall objective of the service is to enable all victims and survivors of domestic abuse to cope with the immediate impacts of crime and recover from the harm experienced, and reach out to more people who are victims and survivors of domestic abuse through targeted community engagement to encourage an increase in self-reporting to access support. The aim is for victims and survivors to be and feel safer in their own home, and to be able to support themselves independently, or through an appropriate peer support network by the end of the provision of support.

Referrals can be made by police officers and other professionals working with victims and survivors as well as self-referrals, and support is available whether individuals want to make a formal report to the police or not.

Contact details:

A live web chat facility is also available via the IDAS website.

All referrals will initially be reviewed by specialist domestic abuse staff in a centralised referral hub who will complete an initial assessment looking at risk and need, providing triage, immediate advice, support and safety planning including arranging personal or home security equipment as required. For those that require further support, the hub team will refer on to a Safe Lives Accredited (Independent Domestic Violence Adviser accredited) Domestic Abuse Practitioner to provide specialist one-to-one support, peer support group and/or to an external agency.

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The Gate York

The Gate York offers a range of support for children and young people up to 25 years affected by their own or someone else’s substance use.

Their aim is to provide young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to identify and appropriately respond to risks associated with substance use.

To find out more or request an appointment, get in touch via the online form or contact the team:

York information about the whole range of support around drug and alcohol use, including for people of all ages affected by someone else’s substance use is kept up to date at: Help for drugs and alcohol use from Live Well York.

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This following services have been commissioned by the Office of Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning.

North Yorkshire SOS+ St. Giles Trust

North Yorkshire SOS+ St. Giles Trust is delivering North Yorkshire SOS+, an exploitation support service for children and young adults in York and North Yorkshire. The SOS+ service will:

  • Support those aged 10-25 who have been victims of, or are at risk of all forms of exploitation, and those who repeatedly go missing
  • Focus on early intervention and prevention via community outreach and awareness raising across youth and educational settings
  • Provide support to victims of exploitation to cope with the immediate impacts of the crime and to rebuild resilience from the harm experienced
  • Provide bespoke support via keyworkers, who will establish the most appropriate type of support dependent upon needs, support can be offered via brief intervention or longer-term support
  • Include support from those with lived experience of exploitation
  • Capture the voice of the child/young adult and ensure this is fed into local arrangements
  • Raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of all forms of exploitation
  • Improve outcomes for the individuals supported by the service, across a range of pathways.

If you have any queries please contact the St. Giles Trust Service Manager [email protected].

To make a referral, complete the St Giles Trust referral form.

Ivison Trust

Ivison Trust (formally known as Parents Against Child Exploitation – PACE) offers a Parent Liaison Officer (PLO) support service in North Yorkshire for parents and carers of children who are, or who are at risk of being, exploited by individuals from outside the family. This includes all the main forms of child exploitation, including child sexual exploitation (CSE) child criminal exploitation (CCE) modern slavery, human trafficking and criminalisation (including county lines) and those who repeatedly go missing from home. The service deals with medium and high risk referrals, which can be referred into Ivison Trust by statutory and third sector agencies, self-referrals are also welcome.

Ivison Trust also run online webinars to work with low-risk parents/guardians to help them recognise the signs and symptoms of child exploitation.

The PLO service accepts self-referrals or agency referrals. For further information or to self-refer contact Leah Taylforth on email: [email protected].

To make a referral please complete the Ivison Trust referral form.

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Crossroads: Adult Diversion Scheme

Provided by Waythrough, the Crossroads Adult Diversion scheme goal is to prevent or intervene early to divert people from the criminal justice process by addressing the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. The overall aims of the Adult Crossroads Diversion scheme are to:

  • reduce the number of first-time entrants into the Criminal Justice System
  • reduce re-offending and antisocial behaviour
  • assess the needs of those on the scheme across the criminogenic pathways and evidence positive progress to address those needs

The Crossroads Adult Diversion scheme works with women and men aged 18 and over to offer trauma-informed support to address underlying causes of offending. Each individual will receive a tailored support package, the intensiveness of which will be responsive to their assessed needs. A dedicated keyworker will be allocated who will provide direct interventions, advocate and signpost into specialist agencies where necessary.

The scheme has 2 elements, a Community-Based Support Scheme and a Pre-Court Diversionary Support Scheme.

Community-Based Support Scheme

A Community-Based Support Scheme, for adult women or men who may be at risk of entering the Criminal Justice System or are known to North Yorkshire Police. The scheme will engage with individuals, at an early stage before criminal behaviour becomes habitual, to improve circumstances for both them and the local community.

Engagement will be on a voluntary basis. The community-based scheme is open to those who are not offending or have been involved in antisocial behaviour or committed very low-level offences. Various agencies may be working with individuals at this stage, and any agency can refer to this element of the scheme.

You can make a referral online. You will be required to enter your email address and then you will be sent an email, click on the appropriate link for the Crossroads Adult Diversion scheme. Once submitted, the referral form will go directly to Waythrough who will then make contact with the individual to arrange an appointment.

Referrals can also be made via a referral form and Waythrough also welcome self-referrals. To self-refer, request a referral form or for further information contact email: [email protected], or call telephone: 07939 209087.

Pre-Court Diversionary Support Scheme

A Pre-Court Diversionary Support Scheme, for adult women or men at point of arrest or voluntary attendance at police custody. This is an alternative to prosecution, and if the individual accepts the referral to the Crossroads Adult Diversion scheme, engagement will be mandatory, otherwise the individual may be referred back to North Yorkshire police to face prosecution. Only North Yorkshire Police are able to refer to this element of the scheme.

Change Direction: Young People’s Diversion scheme

Provided by North Yorkshire Youth, the Change Direction Young People’s Diversion scheme goal is to prevent or intervene early to divert young people from the criminal justice process by addressing the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. The overall aims of the Change Direction Young People’s Diversion scheme are to:

  • reduce the number of first time entrants into the Criminal Justice System
  • reduce re-offending and antisocial behaviour
  • assess the needs of those on the scheme across the criminogenic pathways and evidence positive progress to address those needs

The Change Direction Diversion scheme works with young people aged 10 to 17, to offer trauma-informed support to address underlying causes of offending. Each individual will receive a tailored support package, the intensiveness of which will be responsive to their assessed needs. A dedicated keyworker will be allocated who will provide direct interventions, advocate and signpost into specialist agencies where necessary. The Change Direction Young People’s Diversion scheme is for 10 to 17 year olds who may be at risk of entering the Criminal Justice System or are known to North Yorkshire Police.

The scheme will engage with young people, at an early stage before criminal behaviour becomes habitual, to improve circumstances for both the young person and the local community. The young person’s engagement with the Change Direction scheme will be on a voluntary basis. The scheme is open to those who are not offending or have been involved in antisocial behaviour or committed very low level offences. Various agencies may be working with young people at this stage, and any agency can refer to the scheme.

Refer someone to the Change Direction: Young People’s Diversion scheme. You'll be required to enter your email address and then you will be sent an email, click on the appropriate link for the Crossroads Adult Diversion scheme. Once submitted, the referral form will go directly to North Yorkshire Youth who will then make contact with the individual to arrange an appointment. Alternatively, you can request a referral form from our Youth Development Manager by email: [email protected]. Referrals are welcome from a range of agencies including schools, colleges, Community Safety Hubs and North Yorkshire Police; as well as parents and guardians.

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Adult Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Mountain Healthcare

The Adult Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provides crisis support and forensic medical services to collect any evidence for all adult victims of rape or sexual assault. The Office of Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning for North Yorkshire, NHS England, Humberside PCC, South Yorkshire PCC, and West Yorkshire PCC have jointly commissioned a single Regional Adult SARC Service for the Yorkshire and Humberside region. The service is delivered by Mountain Healthcare. Support is available for any victim of rape or sexual assault aged 16 years or over. Support is available for all genders and regardless of sexual orientation. The service offers:

  • immediate triage, advice and support
  • specialist one-to-one Crisis Support
  • forensic medical examination if appropriate to collect any forensic evidence
  • onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate

Referrals can be made by police officers and other professionals working with victims as well as self-referrals, and support is available whether they want to make a formal report to the police or not.

Contact details:

All referrals are initially screened by a specialist hub worker who will provide immediate advice over the phone and make any onward referrals into our Independent Sexual Violence Adviser service and/or Sexual Health services where required. If appropriate, a forensic medical examination will be carried out by Forensic Nurse Examiners at North Yorkshire’s specialist SARC premises where any physical forensic evidence will be collected; if a victim does not wish to report to the police, any forensic samples collected are securely stored for a period of up to 7 years to allow the individual time to consider if they would like to report at a later date.

The services are available 24/7 including Bank Holidays, however examinations are usually booked for daytime weekday hours (9.00am to 5.00pm) wherever possible and in agreement with the victim. Victims from North Yorkshire are able to be seen at any of the three other regional SARC premises.

Child Sexual Assault Assessment Service - Mountain Healthcare

The Child Sexual Assault Assessment Service (CSAAS) provides crisis support and forensic medical services to collect any evidence for all child victims of rape or sexual assault. The Office of Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning for North Yorkshire and NHS England have jointly commissioned a single CSAAS for North Yorkshire. The service is delivered by Mountain Healthcare. Support is available for all children and young people aged 0 to 16 years who have disclosed sexual abuse or assault, or where it is suspected that it has happened. Older young people up to their 19th birthday may also be seen by the CSAAS if they have additional needs or it is deemed to be clinically appropriate. The service offers:

  • immediate professional advice and support
  • specialist one-to-one Crisis Support
  • forensic medical examination if appropriate to collect any forensic evidence
  • non-forensic medical examination if appropriate
  • onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies for aftercare and support services as necessary

Referrals can only be made by police officers or Social Workers; it is not a self-referral service.

Both forensic and non-forensic medical examinations will be carried out at North Yorkshire’s specialist SARC premises which will include a full detailed clinical history and examination. Young People aged 13 years or over can be seen by specialist Forensic Nurse Examiners 24/7 including Bank Holidays, however examinations are usually booked for daytime weekday hours (9.00am to 5.00pm) wherever possible.

Children aged 12 years or under are seen by specialist Forensic Paediatricians at weekly clinics at North Yorkshire’s specialist SARC premises, or West Yorkshire CSAAS premises if an urgent examination is required outside these hours.

Further information regarding Forensic CAMHS is available within the CYSCP One Minute Guide:

Independent Sexual Violence Adviser service - IDAS

Delivered by Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), support is available for any victim or survivor of all forms of sexual violence or abuse, including historic child sexual abuse. Support is available for all ages and genders, regardless of sexual orientation. The service offers:

  • immediate advice, support and safety planning if required
  • one-to-one emotional and practical support, including support through any police investigation and/or court proceedings
  • support for (non-abusing) parents/guardians of young victims aged 12 years or under
  • supported group work and peer support networks
  • onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate

The overall objective of the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service is to enable all victims and survivors of sexual abuse, assault and rape to cope with the immediate impacts of crime and recover from the harm experienced; and reach out to more people to encourage an increase in self-reporting to get the help they need. The aim is for victims and survivors to be able to support themselves independently or through an appropriate peer support network by the end of the provision of support.

Referrals can be made by police officers, SARC or CSAAS and other professionals working with victims and survivors as well as self-referrals, and support is available whether individuals want to make a formal report to the police or not.

Contact details:

A live web chat facility is also available via the IDAS website.

All referrals will initially be reviewed by specialist staff in a centralised referral hub who will complete an initial assessment looking at risk and need, providing triage, immediate advice, support and safety planning as required. For those that require further support, the hub team will refer on to a Lime Culture Accredited ISVA to provide specialist one-to-one support to meet their individual needs.

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YorSexual Health (YSH) provides free and confidential sexual health services. Booking for virtual and face-to-face consultations is via the central booking telephone: 01904 721111.

A mobile phone text contact point is available for those aged 17 and under. They can text: 0797 377 5692 to seek guidance and be signposted appropriately. The service is monitored Monday to Thursday 8.15am to 5.00pm, and Friday 8.15am to 3.30pm, but a young person can text anytime.

YSH also have a dedicated Young Persons Clinic at York. This is a drop-in clinic every Tuesday from 4.00pm to 6.30pm, specifically for under 18s.

YSH have a clinical outreach team that complement the face-to-face clinical services. They deliver outreach care for vulnerable and at risk groups within the community facilitated by a professional referral. They provide consistency and continuation of care to build trust and provide timely support to facilitate sexual health care and attendance at face-to-face clinical services. The online referral process to SCCOT for professionals is via the YSH website:

For those who are HIV positive, YSH offer treatment services. They also offer well being support for carers and for HIV positive individuals via social support groups and one-to-one support. This can be accessed via the YSH website.

Yor Sexual Health (YSH) runs a free and confidential counselling service for people of all ages living within York who wish to seek support around different aspects of sexual health. This can be accessed via self-referral or professional referral on the YSH website.

Further information and useful links for professionals is available on the professional arm of the YSH website. This includes links to clinical and virtual training that they deliver.

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Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire

Supporting Victims is a telephone based service providing support for anyone affected by crime in North Yorkshire, whether reported to the police or not. This includes victims, bereaved relatives, those under 18 with consent, parents or guardians of victims under 18 and members of staff where a business has been a victim of crime.

Individuals can self-refer to Supporting Victims and agencies can make direct referrals.

Contact details:

Supporting Victims is also the Independent Reporting route for victims of hate crime (whether reported to the police or not).

Victims will be asked a few questions to find out how they have been affected by the crime and to identify the support that can be provided. This includes immediate practical and emotional support over the phone; onward referral into specialist services, including those commissioned by the Office of Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning; and signposting to other support organisations as appropriate. Supporting Victims staff are trained and experienced in helping victims understand what has happened and supporting them to cope with the immediate impact and recover from the harm experienced.

Independent Victim Adviser service - Victim Support

The Independent Victim Adviser (IVA) service is provided by Victim Support. It provides face-to-face support in the community for victims of serious crime, vulnerable, persistently targeted and young victims (excluding sexual or domestic) whether or not they have made a report to North Yorkshire Police. The service provides a range of practical and/or emotional support for victims of in order to help them to cope and recover.

Referrals are made via the Supporting Victims team.

Contact details:

Alternatively, individuals can create a free account on My Support Space - an online resource containing interactive guides to help manage the impact that crime has had.

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Youth Commission - Leaders Unlocked

North Yorkshire Youth Commission (NYYC) was established in 2015 with Office of Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning grant funding. It enables young people aged 14 to 25 to inform decisions about policing and crime prevention in North Yorkshire using a peer-research and engagement approach.

NYYC offers young people the opportunity to influence the work and direction of the Office of Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning, North Yorkshire Police and associated partners based on the key priorities young people have reported affect them.

These priorities are:

  • Young People’s Relationship with the Police
  • Hate Crime
  • Drugs and Alcohol
  • Abusive Relationships
  • Missing and Exploitation
  • Mental Health

Any young people aged 14 to 25 interested in getting involved with the Youth Commission should email: [email protected].

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