Countywide Initiatives - G.R.I.P.

What is Grip?

GRIP (Group Intervention Panel) is a multi-agency, short term, early intervention initiative that works with children and young people believed to be at risk of becoming involved in crime or anti-social behaviour. It aims to divert children and young people from developing patterns of persistent or more serious offending.

What are the aims of GRIP?

To prevent crime and anti-social behaviour amongst children and young people aged 5 to 13 (inclusive). (5-17 in some areas)
To make sure that agencies work together in the best possible way with children and young people at risk of becoming involved with crime and anti-social behaviour.

How does GRIP work?

In each of the six GRIP areas a multi-agency panel meets on a regular basis. The panels have representatives from Education, the Police, Social Services , Health and GRIP.

Professionals wishing to make a referral to GRIP should contact their agency representative or local co-ordinator.

If the referral meets with the GRIP criteria the referrer should contact the child/young person and their parents/carers to see if they either wish to have a referral made to the GRIP panel, or would like to meet with GRIP staff for further information.

If the young person and their parent/carer(s) give their consent, the referring agency should complete a:

Referral Form - agency (word file - 640 kb)

Referral Form - non-agency for parents and carers (word file - 618 kb)

and sent it to the GRIP Co-ordinator for discussion at the panel.

Parents or carers who wish to make a referral to the panel should complete the ‘non agency form' and send it to their nearest GRIP office. Any of the GRIP staff will be willing to answer any queries if a parent or carer is unsure about completing the form.

The panels meet every three weeks to share information and develop short-term focused action plans after consultation with children and their families.

Action plans may include:

Ensuring children/young people and their families have a clear understanding of the impact of their behaviour on others and the possible consequences to themselves in continuing such behaviour.
Helping children/young people develop strategies for avoiding crime.
Supporting parent/carers in appropriately managing their children's behaviour.
Encouraging and enabling children/young people to take part in planned out of school activities.
Helping children/young people and their families access appropriate services.
Supporting their education placement.

When can someone be referred to GRIP?

If they are aged between 5-13 (inclusive). 5-17 in some areas
When it is recognised that the interventions required are not available within the range of services provided by the referring agency, or the child/young person does not qualify for that agency.
When there is a belief that short-term intervention will have a positive effect.
When the parent/carer and child/young person are willing to take part and give consent for the referral.

And:

Where there are concerns over involvement in criminal and anti-social behaviour and the child/young person is experiencing factors that tend to lead to such behaviour, or
There is known offending up to a Police Reprimand, or
There is Referral from the Police Youth Referral Scheme.

There are 6 GRIP teams in Lancashire:

Burnley & Pendle
Chorley, South Ribble & West Lancashire
Fylde & Wyre
Lancaster & Morecambe
Preston (5-17)
Hyndburn, Rossendale and Ribble Valley.

Newsletters

Issue 07 - October 2006

Early Intervention News (Pdf file - 196 kb)

Issue 06 - April 2006

Early Intervention News (Pdf file - 209 kb)

Issue 05 - November 2005

Early Intervention News (Pdf file - 302 kb)

Issue 04 - April 2005

Early Intervention News (Pdf file - 316 kb)

Issue 03 - October 2004

Early Intervention News (Pdf file - 169 kb)

Issue 02 - April 2004

Issue 01 - October 2003

Group Intervention Panel - The First Six Months (Pdf file - 115kb)

Download GRIP Leaflets

Lancashire County GRIP Contact

Judith Gluyas,
Lancashire County GRIP Manager
Tel: 01772 531488
Fax: 01772 532969

GRIP Area Contacts

**Preston**
Co-ordinator	Lisa Gregoire
Support Worker	Lynne Catterall (Full Time) Kelly Simpson (Part time)
Address	St Luke’s Resource Centre 161 Ribbleton Lane Preston PR1 5ST
Telephone	01772 654971
Fax	01772 654762

**Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire**
Co-ordinator	Manda Edwards
Support Worker	Jan Edmeads
Address	Yewlands Drive Day Nursery, Yewlands Drive, Preston, PR25 2TN
Telephone / Fax	01772 435603

**Burnley and Pendle**
Co-ordinator	Joanne Stephenson
Support Worker	Liz Bullock (full time) Neil Baxter
Address	Easden Clough, Morse Street, Burnley, BB10 4PB
Telephone	01282 830790
Fax	01282 835458

**Lancaster and Morecambe**
Co-ordinator	Josh Gifford
Support Worker	Charlotte Temple
Address	Skerton Family Centre , Sefton Drive, Lancaster
Telephone	01524 65520
Fax	01524 65530

**Hyndburn, Rossendale and Ribble Valley**
Co-ordinator	Andy Jones
Support Worker	David Aspinall (full time)
Address	Silver Birches , Atlas Street, Clayton le Moors, Accrington, BB5 5LT
Telephone	01254 392251
Fax	01254 397599

**Fylde and Wyre**
Co-ordinator	Jackie Threlfall
Support Worker	vacant
Address	The Anchorage Family Centre, Rothwell Drive, Fleetwood, FY7 8FF
Telephone / Fax	01253 686892

GRIP is supported by:

Children's Fund
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
Government Office North West
Lancashire County Council
Lancashire Constabulary
Lancashire Fire & Rescue
Burnley Borough Council
Chorley Borough Council
Fylde Borough Council
Hyndburn Borough Council
Lancaster City Council
Pendle Borough Council
Preston City Council
Ribble Valley Borough Council
Rossendale Borough Council
South Ribble Borough Council
West Lancashire District Council
Wyre Borough Council
Blackpool Borough Council
Barnados.