Northern MAT draws up Action Plan

The Northern MAT is drawing up its first Action Plan to develop the support and services it provides to communities in the north.

Established by the Isle of Man Government last year to bring about closer co-operation between agencies working with children and families, the Northern MAT meets in Ramsey once a fortnight.

Team Leader Tracy Power said:

‘One of our first tasks has been to draw up an Action Plan specifically around the needs of the local community. That involves us meeting and continuing to listen to the views of local people to establish what they feel is required in terms of preventative work.

‘We aim to provide services and support to people before things go wrong for individual children or families, based around the five outcomes determined by Government that should be attained by all children – staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, prospering and making a positive contribution.

‘We have dealt with about 10 cases since the autumn when we became operational and some are on-going. The Multi-Agency Team way of working means putting the child or family in need of attention at the centre of the MAT network. We can then provide any help and support required, or advise on how to access other services.’

The Northern MAT’s 11 members represent various groups in the north, including social services, police, health, primary and secondary schools, the prison, local authorities and charity/voluntary organisations. More information on the Government website here: www.gov.im/youth/childrensservices/mats/northern.xml

Tracy Power added:

‘We are now ready and keen to receive more referrals from the community, and anyone is welcome to contact me if they have something they’d like to bring to the Northern MAT’s attention.’

Tracy can be contacted by phone on (07624) 460920.