Oxfordshire Targeted Youth Support Service

Statement of Service

We work 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: 

1. Working with young people in small groups, focusing on particular difficulties through adolescence such as: well-being and challenges following 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.
2. Working with young people on a one-to-one basis. 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.
3. 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. This may include focused detached work for a specific time. 

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. 

Engagement is voluntary

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. 

Our aim is to enable young people to strengthen and develop personally, socially and emotionally. 

Support to make positive choices

Our work supports transitions into adulthood, promoting active and engaged future adults, who are able to make positive choices for their lives and communities.