ASSESSING THE NEEDS

OF LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE

Jan Bridget

1987-1997

Developing the NATnIMP Some LGBTQ young people highly

vulnerable Duty to comprehensively assess needs Developed over 13 year period Within context of youth group Importance of assessing need in 2000,

member died of heroin overdose: Julie’s story

Up-dated and added to over the years

Process (1) Membership form; RSE questionniare Examine completed RSE, further clarification

if necessary; immediate action if necessary Conduct full NAT as soon as appropraite Explanation and confidentiality If during interview potentially suicidal take

appropriate action (child protection procedures)

Check young person ok after interview and agree date for follow-up within 2 weeks

Process (2) Print off report, highlight action areas Using model action plan, draw up draft

plan At follow-up meeting clarify issues and

agree actions, e.g. referral to sexual health clinic, etc

Regular review meetings After 6 months, conduct IMP Print off, go through similar process but

highlight achievements

Enables young person Understand whether and how vulnerable Why vulnerable Have some control over what to do about

it

Example of Good Practice I am biased, fine tuned over many years London-based LGBT Mental Health

Service, PACE, identified NATnIMP as an example of good practice

Encourage others to use it, LGBTQ youth groups but also social workers, mental health workers, etc.

Life saver, Spin offs On own can be life saver/life changer Cost? £30 initial set up and £70 per annum for a

typical youth group with about 20 new members per year: works out to under £5 per young person

Huge spin offs from consolidated report (example on NATnIMP website) Funding Evidence of outcomes – example report on NATnIMP

website Help develop appropriate programmes Feed into other investigations Service section identifies gaps in service Use to promote service