Abstract for free paper Julia Waldeman

Title:	challenging behaviour in young people - whose challenge is it?

Professionals working across disciplines in Southampton and the New Forest (south of England) found that the resources and expertise of social, health and education services were being severely tested by a small number of young people with challenges in their emotional and social development that presented in the form of extreme behaviours. These behaviours were destructive and distressing for the young people and also placed intensive pressures on their families, carers and the professionals working with them.

Yet the difficulties presented by the complex needs of small numbers of young people are not unique to Southampton. The rise in recorded incidents of young people presenting apparently extreme forms of behaviours that pose risks to themselves and others appears to be a trend affecting the UK and other Northern countries.

These special young people need a special response. With the benefit of local and national funding, Southampton and the New Forest has established a unique initiative to deliver a focused, intensive multi-professional programme to support these young people and their carers through a community-based and residential provision. The Behaviour Resource Service aims to bring young people in from the margins of society and increase their life chances and choices through a flexible, person-centred and individually-tailored programme

This paper explores explore some of the issues associated with young people presenting severe challenging behaviour, particularly the way some young people’s behaviour is constructed and defined as anti-social, mental illness or out of control and how services may reinforce & use these labels. It will go on to look at whether the approach the Behaviour Resource Service is using with young people in Southampton and the New Forest is effective in deconstructing some of these labels.