Kibble: Interventions for Vulnerable Youth (IVY) Service

IVY is a specialist psychological and social work service which conducts risk assessment, formulation and management for young people up to the age of 19 who have complex social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and who pose a risk to others. The service also extends this support to families.

By providing specialist, therapeutic support, the IVY project aims to ensure the young people and the professionals supporting them have access to the best advice, practice assessment and interventions addressing mental health, psychological and forensic risk and needs.

IVY, which has the only dedicated team of its kind in the UK, has provided support for over 220 children and young people referred by 31 Scottish local authorities during its six years of existence. IVY’s team of psychologists work alongside staff from the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice to provide this highly specialist service to young people. It was founded on the basis that a significant number of young people with severe conduct and offending behaviour problems do not have access to services capable of meeting their level of need. It is a national service which is free for professionals to refer to.