TASS in action

Mental health awareness continues to be a significant topic of conversation in a range of multi-agency forums and in particular how we support parents and professionals to recognise signs of distress and signpost appropriately to local specialist support.

Working with local commissioners, the District Councils and third sector partners, Suicide First Aid face-to-face training was sourced and arranged for our workers in the voluntary sector in both Fylde and Wyre as a response to these concerns. As well as raising an individual's understanding of their own mental health and needs, this is part of a longer-term vision to create more awareness in communities of how to recognise signs of suicide, support and signpost appropriately, with face-to-face training being provided firstly to third sector, then to community members and schools, parents and governors on a voluntary basis. It is also the hope, that by running the programme face-to-face, we will establish a network of support across agencies and the community. Alongside this programme, on completion of training, participants can apply to become Orange Button Holders, and support the community by being recognised as trained individuals.

So far representatives from housing, churches, RNLI, Homestart, AFC Fylde, Groundworks to name a few, have been trained in Fylde. Fylde council will continue to publicise the Orange Button Scheme and further work is planned in the new year for wider community training across Fylde and Wyre.

Alternative Provision

As part of their role, the EPO for the Morecambe Bay locality attends the Children and Young People Multi Agency Forum (CYPMAF).  CYPMAF is made up of statutory, voluntary, community and youth work partners.  This forum allows partners to network, and share emerging themes & trends, funding opportunities and share best practice.

At a recent meeting, the forum discussed the lack of Alternative Provision in the district and how there is interest from the sector to support the development of new provision.

The EPO was able to engage with colleagues at Lancashire County Council, who have the remit for Alternative Provision and will look to arrange a meeting with the community, and voluntary sector to explore this interest and see if anything can be developed to support local young people.

Addressing the increased incidents of youth ASB (anti-social behaviour) across Bamber Bridge

Following workshops delivered by 'Wot Wud U Do' education support services with approximately 40 pupils in two South Ribble high schools, a booklet of feedback and pupil voice was compiled. This booklet is a rich insight into the experiences of young people living and growing up in Bamber Bridge.

A presentation of the booklet was delivered by the young people from Brownedge St Mary's to partners from South Ribble Borough Council, the Neighbourhood Police team, Child and Youth Justice team and the VRN. The pupils were clear and confident in their delivery and in responding to questions from the audience.

From the presentation a number of actions were agreed for partners to ensure a meaningful response to the young people and continuing collaboration. The booklet will be shared far and wide with key partners and used with groups of other young people engaging in ASB in the area. The local PCSOs agreed to have a presence outside of school and SRBC colleagues agreed to share the themes with wider SRBC teams for consideration. The pupils were also asked to form a Youth Council to continue the conversation.

'Brownedge St Mary's involvement in the TASS project on antisocial behaviour in Bamber Bridge has been instrumental in ensuring that our young people have a platform to express their thoughts and share their experiences. Thank you for allowing our pupils the opportunity to engage meaningfully with the project and for valuing their input throughout. Their enthusiasm and honesty in discussing the issues were greatly appreciated, and it was clear they felt empowered by being heard. Last week’s session at Brownedge was a fantastic example of collaboration, and our Year 8 pupils, I believe, shone in their contributions.

Listening to the young people, the key themes identified include addressing concerns around vaping and easy accessibility of vapes sold by local shops, providing more opportunities for young people to play football or engage in other social activities and for those adults interacting with our young people (police or otherwise) to get to know them more and build a relationship with them.

I’d like to think all the agencies involved for their attendance at the presentation and to Dave and Alison for their input in providing our young people’s voice to be heard. Let’s hope it continues.'

Mrs N Oddie Headteacher Brownedge St Mary's Catholic High School

Response to schools in relation to young people's use of THC in vapes

Concerns were raised following a specific incident which left a pupil vulnerable and school dealing with an emergency situation. The head requested a TASS approach to address concerns, recognising the importance of partners working together around such an issue.

Key partners around the school were invited to look at immediate and more longer-term solutions to this ongoing and increasing challenge, particularly around sharing information and intelligence, education and preventative work with young people and accessing the right support.

A one-off short meeting was held with Preston representatives from Police, Trading Standards, Public Health, HCRG- school nurses, We Are With You, and Preston Community Safety Partnership (CSP)

Details were shared and different partners contributed from their agency perspective. Schools were offered support from all agencies and reassurance of ongoing support. The CSP identified a role around further awareness raising awareness across Preston agencies in supporting schools but also safeguarding communities and young people.

The TASS model worked well in this case, where partners responded in a quick and efficient way to an immediate need. Communication between all those with a remit around the issue was key.

Making connections between services providing interventions in schools and the role of the Community Alcohol Partnership

With the development of the Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) across the county and more recently in West Lancs, it became evident that the use of alcohol and vapes by young people is being highlighted by providers of emotional well-being and mental health interventions in schools such as Compass Bloom, Primary Mental Health Workers and CFW. Alcohol and vapes feature as part of the conversations with young people in schools as a coping mechanism at times and it is recognised that for these services having up to date knowledge around support available and plans for the local CAP for partners is vital for a whole school and partnership approach. The CAP regional lead will plan to offer briefings for these partners to ensure they are aware of the support available for young people, understand how to offer advice to schools around reporting and how they can engage with the CAP.

Developing primary resources relating to weapons and staying safe

Under the Living Safely in East Lancashire priority, Pennine EPO's have facilitated a working group to support primary education settings having access to appropriate materials to raise awareness of, and to intervene effectively in instances relating to weapons and staying safe. To achieve this, EPO's reached out to UCLAN at the start of the year for help with the weapons project and to create film content to support the PSHE curriculum, as this was identified as a gap in primary settings. A third-year film student volunteered his time having previously supported LCC Public Health colleagues to capture the benefits of Play Streets in East Lancashire and he joined the working group in March 2024 alongside officers from the VRN, headteachers from primary settings and the LCC PSHE Consultant.  

The addition of the film student to the working group made the project come to life with the creation of simple storyboards which helped prepare the pupils to engage in the project. The filming took place in early June at a local school and in the adjacent park and was led by the film student and supported by the working group. The performances of the children involved were unscripted and genuinely co-produced and the performances were outstanding.

The working group are now developing a PSHE lesson plan around the film which will be shared with all primary settings in the autumn. The children co-produced the content during filming which was very encouraging and prompted this quote from the headteacher:

"I am very proud of them - they were totally brilliant and so invested! It has been a pleasure working with [the working group] - even if all I did was to provide some very talented pupils".