Intensive family support service

The Council's Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS), alongside the Neighbourhood Support Team, focuses on the rehabilitation and support of families who are either at risk of being evicted or who have already been evicted as a result of antisocial behaviour. The IFSS work with families who are likely to have already used a range of resources and services without evidence of any significant change in behaviour or attitude. All families referred to the IFSS must have children aged 16 years or under living as part of the family. The main focus is to support families to change the behaviour that is putting the security of their tenancy at risk. The IFSS engage in direct work with individual children and adults, family groups and offer group work opportunities on specific themes aimed at changing behaviour.

To be referred to this service, families need to meet the following criteria:

1. Families who have been served with a Notice of Proceedings for Recovery of Possession on nuisance grounds where there is significant and substantive evidence of antisocial behaviour OR
2. Families in temporary accommodation who are seeking permanent accommodation but have a history of serious antisocial behaviour in previous tenancies AND
3. Families who require a more specialised and intensive level of support than the Neighbourhood Support Team (NST) can provide.

The IFSS accept referrals from any source as long as the above criteria are met and all cases will have been the subject of a multi-agency decision-making meeting.