Targeted Youth Support Service

The Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS) works with young people preventatively to reduce the escalation of statutory involvement and negative impact on their lives. Our work has the aims of enabling increased aspirations and resilience by working alongside social and emotional needs.

We do this by: 

• Working with young people in small groups, focusing on particular difficulties through adolescence such as: well-being, challenges following Covid disruptions, young people on the edge of the criminal justice system and those finding it difficult to engage with other support around them. Groups are focused, time limited and available in school and community settings. 
• Working with young people on a one-to-one basis for up to 12 weeks. A youth worker will work with a young person to set up a bespoke programme of support that enables the young person to grow and develop socially and emotionally to access wider support around them in their community.
• Working with communities in addressing wider issues relating to young people such as Anti-Social Behaviour, lack of local youth provision, responding to violence in a community or other sudden trauma. Often this includes focused detached work for a specific time. 

Take action: You can refer a young person or get in touch by completing this short form.  

Who our service is for

As part of the Targeted Youth Support Service we offer group work and one to one support to any young person aged between 11-18 seeking support with social and emotional development. Our support extends to anyone aged up to 25 with an EHCP or has been part of Children We Care For. 

Find out more: You can download this information flier to find out more about the service and share this Oxfordshire Targeted Youth Support Service Poster on noticeboards.

About youth work

Youth work is a unique approach of engaging with a young person that is solely built on the relationship between the worker and the young person. Both parties learn, grow and change as a result of the work.

The young person is an equal partner in the work and the young person’s engagement in the work is voluntary. Through this partnership a worker helps a young person to build life skills, develop healthy relationships and make decisions that are right for them. 

Find out more: You can download the Targeted Youth Support Service Statement or download this information postcard.

Positive changes

Our aim is to enable young people to strengthen and develop personally, socially and emotionally. Our work supports transitions into adulthood promoting active and engaged future adults, who are able to make positive choices for their lives and communities. 

You can refer a young person via short form here, or by contacting your LCSS worker or school.

Got any questions? If you have any questions you can contact the Targeted Youth Support Service directly via email tyss@oxfordshire.gov.uk 

How the TYSS can help 

Hear what people have to say about the Targeted Youth Support Service:

Sometimes finding positive, safe ways forward can be a challenge. The TYSS can help a child find more positive interests:

"TYSS worked with the young person to find some potential interests and made arrangements to attend local football sessions. TYSS also supported them to get a library card to access cookery books to support their college course."

Help for where there are lots of questions or complexities:

"Thank you for the calmed, respectful, funny if required & friendly conversations you have with M. And thank you that you are listening and trying very hard to help us, try to find solutions or give advice to our many many many questions. Thank you, we really appreciate your help."