This programme meets the needs of young people (8-17) and their families by providing an alternative to placement in short-term and/or long-term care by providing a three to four-day (two to three nights) social, educational, cultural and recreational break at an Extern youth facility.

Time out staff engages the child or young person in a range of activities and can help him/her examine lifestyle issues while the social worker intervenes with the carers thus allowing the child or young person to return to their living arrangements with the crisis being averted. This approach prevents breakdown in living arrangements and the child or young person can subsequently be referred to a programme within Extern's continuum of services.

Time Out is a responsive and effective service with high threshold and tolerance levels which aims to avert crisis and prevent reception into residential care. Staff are employed from multi disciplinary backgrounds and work at the young persons pace.

Time Out placements can be viewed as an individual family support intervention package or be used as part of a more comprehensive on-going support within an inter agency provision.

Referral Criteria

The young person must meet one of the following criteria:

• It is the opinion of the referral agent that the young person cannot be maintained in his/her home without inclusion of the programme.
• It is apparent that the young person is engaged in behaviour putting them at risk of immediate placement into care/custody.
• A young person is rejoining the community from residential or custodial care and this is a planned part of the transition.
• Where it is the view of the referrer that the young person would benefit from a period of time out, away from their normal surroundings.
• Young people referred to the service will be assessed as Hardiker level 3 & 4.

The objectives of the service are:

• To give young people emotional support in dealing with difficulties in their lives.
• To provide opportunities to assist young people develop their strengths.
• To develop skills needed for daily living and provide support in resolving problems at home, school and in their community.
• To provide a supportive environment where young people can grow in confidence and self esteem.
• To provide consistent adult role models for behaviour.
• To help alleviate pressure on carers, parents and other family members.
• To gain young persons voluntary consent to attend the programme.

Programme Content

• Nominated key worker attached to the young person for duration of Time Out Placement.
• Individual work focused on specific risks and needs of the young person.
• User participation in programme planning .
• User involvement in completion of social and life skill tasks
• Advocacy role on behalf of the young person if deemed appropriate.
• Ascertain each young persons views and provide comprehensive post placement reports

Working Hours: This is a residential programme.

Staffing Ratio: Depending on the risk assessment the ratio of staff to young people can be 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 or 2:1