Young People’s Service

The Young People’s Service provides support to young people aged 12yrs -18yrs who display severe challenging adolescent type behaviour. This includes young people who have complex mental health needs, drug addiction, criminal behaviours, or suffering/at risk of suffering from Child Sexual Exploitation.

The service will provide the young person and their family advice, guidance and support through 1-1 visiting and coordination of support services. The aim of the service is to help young people be supported within their community and prevent the need to be admitted into the Care System. The team will also support young people in care and who are on the child protection register with the aim to enable them to secure a safe and stable future achieving their potential. The team is multi-disciplinary and comprises of social workers, youth workers and family support workers.


  • Eligibility

    A young person should be referred to the Young Peoples Service when an assessment of the young person behaviour has been carried out and they are exhibiting 2 of the following behaviours.

    • The young person is involved in habitual substance misuse which is having a severe adverse impact on their health and well-being and/or family life.
    • They are persistently involved in criminal behaviour resulting inn police/ court action.
    • They are displaying a range of severe disturbing and /or self-harming behaviours placing them or others at risk.
    • Psychological/psychiatric difficulties leading to family dysfunction.
    • Risk of CSE and on the CSE register
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Contact Details

Colin Family Centre

Pembrooke Loop Road
Dunmurry
BT17 0PH

Call us(028) 91301828

Family Resource Centre

James Street
Newtownards
Co Down
BT23 4EP

Call us(028) 9181 8518

Children’s Services

Downshire Estate
Ardglass Road
Downpatrick
BT30 6RA

Call us(028) 4461 3511

Monday to Friday: 9.00am to 5.00 pm (excluding Public and Bank Holidays)

For emergencies outside of Young People’s Service operational hours please contact the Regional Emergency Social Work Service on:

Call us0800 197 9995