The Accelerated Support Team (AST) provides a rapid-response to young people aged 11 to 17, and their families.
What the team does
The team can mobilise quickly to give intensive support for up to nine months to help with problems such as:
- family relationship breakdown
- children being reluctant to live within parental boundaries
- communication issues
- children going missing from home
- emotional difficulties
- difficulty managing addiction
- children involved in crime and gang-related worries
The AST aims to work with every member of the family to help resolve their issues.
They also provide an out of hours service Monday – Friday 5pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Eligibility criteria
To receive support, a young person must meet certain eligibility criteria. The team can accept a referral if:
- a young person aged 11-17 years old is at imminent risk of entering care OR is at risk of contextual harm (serious youth violence, gang affiliation, county lines, CSE)
- is homeless or at risk of homelessness (if aged 16 -17 years old)
- there is an a imminent risk of family breakdown because of a parent/child dispute, such as the parent asking the young person to leave or the young person is refusing to return home)
How to access the AST
Parents and carers can make a referral to the service as well as professionals.
This can be done by contacting Brent’s Family Front Door on 020 8937 4300 or you can email: family.frontdoor@brent.gov.uk