New targeted Specialist Behavioural Support Service for Young People

Norfolk County Council (NCC) is pleased to share that a new specialist service has been commissioned to support a specific group of children and young people and the community around them. It is expected to support up to 15 children and young people a year across Norfolk.  

This service is for children and young people identified by NCC Family Help teams as at risk of requiring long-term residential care placements in future, due to their frequent demonstration of intense behaviours such as aggression, property destruction and/or self-injury.  

The behaviours will be having a substantial impact on the child's quality of life, and potentially also on the wellbeing of their families, carers, peers and school staff. Without targeted intervention, the child may be at risk of exclusion from home, school or both. The aim of this new service to prevent the young person from reaching that crisis point. 

Please note, this is not a service that school staff or parents/carers can refer a child to. If the service is planning to support one of your children, your school will be contacted directly with further information. 

The cohort is likely to include children and young people who may present with a range of needs including autism, ADHD, other forms of neurodivergence, trauma, attachment difficulties, or emerging personality-related challenges - including those without a formal diagnosis.  

It is important to note that this is a long-term, relationship-based intervention focused on sustainable behavioural change. It is not a crisis response service, but rather one that works gradually and intensively with the child and the network around them. A dedicated practitioner will accompany the child across all their settings, including school.   

If you would like to learn more about this service and hear first-hand the difference it has made for mum Gillian, Jensen her son and his school, please take a moment to watch this video.

If you have any questions at all - please do not hesitate to contact Lisa McLean, Service Development and Commissioning Manager at Norfolk County Council - [email protected].