Aiming Higher
This guide outlines a series of good practice principles identified by young adults (aged 16-24) with multiple needs and practitioners working with them. The guide is aimed at practitioners across all sectors. Young adults with multiple needs experience a number of the following:
- mental health problems
- drug and/or alcohol use
- homelessness
- lack of legitimate income
- family breakdown
- contact with the criminal justice system
- legal problems.
When these needs remain unmet, the interrelation between them often results in a cycle of crisis and crime. The work of the Transition to Adulthood alliance has shown that transitions can be complicated for young adults in contact with the criminal justice system. For young adults with multiple problems, there are often transitions across a range of services. In the light of these multiple transitions, our participants were unequivocal – continuity is an essential principle of work with young adults in transition.
This guide outlines seven good practice themes for working with young adults with multiple needs. Each theme is accompanied by lessons from research and relevant policy messages, providing evidence and further reading. The seven themes are:
- Quality of relationships – the importance of consistent positive relationships based on respect, honesty and openness
- Continuity – underlining the importance of creating and maintaining stability
- Personalised support – including the impact of flexible individualised assessments
- Meeting basic needs – highlighting how doing this enables young adults to address other areas of their lives
- Information, misinformation and challenging stigma – including the importance of effective signposting to services
- Getting involved – including the value of service user involvement
- Aiming higher – recognising that this group of young adults has plans and ambitions for a better future
We hope this guide provides useful guidance, reassurance, and inspiration.
