What we do

PACT offers accommodation, assessment and a range of support services to young women and their children. The residential element of the project is staffed by social workers and other experienced staff. The project provides 24 hour support with each family having contact at a minimum level of every 2 hours while they are in the unit.

Referrals are made by Social Services and are accepted for:

• pregnant young women 6 weeks before the birth
• new mothers who are experiencing difficulty caring for their baby
• mothers who wish to resume care of their baby after a period of separation.

The babies or young children are often deemed at risk of significant harm by Social Services and may be the subject of a care order or have spent a period of time in care.

Priority will be given to mothers aged 16 to 24 years and children aged from birth to 3 years. These will primarily include young women who:

• have had experience of living in care
• have experienced abuse
• have experienced difficulty caring for their child in the community
• have difficulties in maintaining and establishing relationships
• have lack of positive support
• have where there are concerns about the mother’s ability to care for the child.

Placements can last from 12 weeks up to 18 months.

At present it is not possible for fathers to be resident within the project. They can be included in the work that is undertaken at PACT and have a significant role in the assessment process. This is an area of ongoing development.

Following the residential assessment at PACT, an After Care Service is provided for up to 9 months. The main aim of this service is to support families in the community and young women whose children no longer live with them. This is developed through establishing a working relationship with the families and individuals involved, to enable parents to provide an appropriate standard of care, develop community support and continuing care of their children if appropriate.

From April 2005 to March 2006, 22 young women and their child(ren) undertook residential assessment at PACT. During the same period, there were also 5 day placements.  

PACT After Care service has visited 30 families and individuals, during the period April 2005 to March 2006. These families and individuals previously had residential placements at PACT.