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YOUNG PERSONS’ OUTREACH SERVICE
The aim of the service is to reduce the number of teenage conceptions
and to enhance young people’s knowledge for them to have sexual
experiences in a safe, non-threatening environment.
The objectives are
To encourage multi-agency working
To signpost services for young people
To offer health promotion to individuals either one-to-one or
in a group
To improve access to health services by teenage males who are
traditionally accessing services provided
To improve access to sexual health and other health issues by
socially excluded young people
This confidential service employs experienced nurses with skills
in sex and relationship education. The nurses takes their skills
and expertise directly to young people, working in partnership
with Youth Workers and other agencies in a range of settings,
for example, youth clubs, schools, or any area where young people
congregate.
The clinics offer confidential advice, condoms, emergency contraception,
pregnancy testing and specialist sessions to raise awareness
on sexual health, contraception and relationships, sexually
transmitted infections, safer sex, self esteem and a range of
other health related issues.
The service enables the staff to tailor the information to the
varied needs of a group, for example dealing sensitively with
specific issues within a particular ethnic group or young people
with specific needs, eg learning difficulties or those in care.
In addition, the service acts as a signposting service to other
agencies, ie CASH (contraception), Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM),
surgeries and other professional agencies.
There is potential within the service to make a real impact
on teenage pregnancy rates locally and to provide young people
with the foundations for positive, responsible, caring, emotional
and physical relationships in adulthood.
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