A new A&E hospital programme is set to support children as young as 11 in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe who have been injured or traumatised by violence.
The initiative will see “Navigators” reaching out to young people attending Hull Royal Infirmary, Scunthorpe General Hospital and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby for injuries caused by or linked to violence, including knife crime.
These specially trained navigators aim to build relationships with the youngsters, directing them towards community services and providing support once they leave the hospital, helping them make positive lifestyle changes.
Vicky Thersby, Group Head of Safeguarding at NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: “We aim to support young people who come to our hospitals with violence-related injuries, providing them with support at a critical time, following a violent incident.”
She added: “This is a confidential service providing care, guidance, practical advice and support to help young people tackle problems that might be preventing them from living safe and positive lives. Our Navigators are not there to ask about the incident which has brought a young person to hospital. Instead, our aim is to help the young person take the next steps to create a brighter future for themselves.”
Hospital admissions for assault with a sharp object, including knives, have risen by nine per cent since 2021 across the Humber region. Between a quarter and a third of those admitted to hospital are under 24, according to the NHS Humber Health Partnership.
The group representing Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust and Hull University Teaching Hospitals has been commissioned by the Humber Violence Prevention Partnership. This Home Office-funded Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was established in 2022 to prevent and reduce serious violence.
The group will collaborate with Tigers Trust and The Blue Door to deliver the Navigators programme. Launched at the beginning of this month, the programme targets individuals aged 11 to 35 who arrive at A&E departments following a violent incident or are admitted to hospital wards for treatment.
Navigators can approach these individuals directly, or they can be referred to the service by hospital staff or request support themselves upon arrival at the hospital. The Navigators first assess the young person’s needs to protect them from immediate harm while they recover from their injuries.
They can then make swift referrals to charities and community support services promoting positive lifestyles, such as refuges, housing, and drug and alcohol services. Rather than simply referring the young person to other services, navigators continue to offer support, from informal mentoring to teaching life skills to reduce the immediate risk of future violence, for as long as the person wishes.
Jonathan Evison, Chair of the Humber Violence Prevention Partnership, said: “The Navigators programme is part of the wider work we are doing across the Humber, taking a public health approach preventing and reducing serious violence.”
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
