Integrated Services in Youth Work Ireland

What do we mean by Integrated Services?In the context of the Local Youth Service integration means combining,bringing together, or integrating our shared values, guiding principles,shared vision, staff, projects, training, programmes, activities, space andvolunteers to ensure that when young people engage with our servicesthey are engaged with as a “whole Young Person” (our model ofintegration is not about crises intervention/management nor is it drivenby crises it is about combining our resources so that we can engage withthe whole young person).Youth Work Ireland believes in a strengths based approach to youth workthat recognises at times the value of supporting young people in need.When we talk about integration we are talking about: How we work.How our work is perceived and understood by young people, families ofyoung people we work with, our staff and volunteers, communities, otheragencies, and fundersThere are some basic but important principles which begin to suggest anintegrated service to us. The view of our services should be seen fromthe perspective of the young people using the service:• Young people engage with youth work not as a problem• Youth work will help young people identify their strengths andresources• Youth work will help them further develop these strengths andresources• Youth work will seek to provide appropriate supports where needed• The whole of service will be open to a young person at any point ofentry to the service8