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