MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY

The Brandon Centre is providing a new way of helping families in which parents or carers are struggling with a teenage child who is in trouble with the authorities for breaking the law or acts of antisocial behaviour. This help is called Multisystemic Therapy or 'MST' and all referrals are made by professionals from either Haringey or Camden Youth Offending Service.

WHAT IS MST?

MST lasts for between three and five months and involves the young person and her/his parent or carer. MST believes that the best way of reducing the chances of young people breaking the law or engaging in anti-social behaviour is by helping parents or carers with specific and practical advice and guidance about how to set and put into effect rules aimed at improving different aspects of the young person's behaviour that are contributing to her/him getting into trouble. For instance, if the young person is getting into trouble because she/he stays out very late at night, the MST Worker might be able help the parent or carer with a workable plan that limits how late the young person stays out. If there are disagreements between family members, the MST Worker can help them to find ways of getting on better with each other.

The MST Worker will usually go to the family home two to three times a week as part of supporting the parent or carer in her/his efforts to help the young person and will also telephone the parent or carer regularly. If the young person has been having difficulties attending school, we can give the parent or carer and the young person advice about this and work with both of them so that the young person attends regularly. We also can help the parent or carer and the young person find activities that young people enjoy, such as sports, so that she/he mixes with young people who aren't getting into trouble with the police and courts.

MST recognises that parents and/or carers of young people who are in trouble, especially if they are bringing up a child without help and are also working, need support. For example, without the help and support of a close relative or friend it may be impossible for a parent or carer who lives alone with her/his child to take or collect the child from school if this is needed because there are worries that the young person misses school when going on her/his own. The MST Worker can work with the parent or carer to identify and approach close relatives or friends who might help out. We can also help the young person learn new ways to deal with angry feelings and to reduce the use of drugs and alcohol if these are problems.

In the three to five months that the parent or carer and the young person get the MST programme, the MST Worker can work with them on these different areas so that by the end of the programme the improvements at home, at school, in social activities and in the young person's behaviour reduce the chances of her/him getting into trouble with the police and courts.