Boundaries and Standards

 

Our goal at Thrive Youth Project is to provide a safe and fun environment for young people to learn. 

The following boundaries and standards are guidelines within which there will be flexibility and understanding.  We do not want to see any young people excluded from Thrive and will do everything reasonably within our power to keep young people in the project.

 

Attendance and Participation

 

Participation is voluntary, however during group sessions active involvement is expected if the young person is choosing to attend the youth project.

 

If a young person is absent from Thrive Youth Project for an extended period, we will endeavor to contact the parents/guardian, this is to keep the lines of communication open.  Thrive Youth Project is a safe place where young people are expected to treat one another and the leaders with mutual respect.  If this is not happening, we would like to be made aware of it.  If a young person is struggling within the group, please speak to one of the team leaders so that the situation can be rectified.

 

Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol Policy

 

There is a zero tolerance to the following: -   

 

No smoking, no drugs or alcohol allowed on the premises.  No one under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be allowed on site.  No weapons or violence allowed.  Anyone breaking these rules will result in automatic exclusion from the project.  This is for the safety of everyone.

 

Other Standards of Behaviour

 

No swearing, no abusive or aggressive language. 

 

Verbal reminders of the above will be provided to the young people throughout the session if necessary, and this will be documented.  Should excessive disregard of the agreement become a problem the following escalations will take place: -

 

Final Verbal Warning – The young person will be removed from the group for a discussion with team leaders regarding the behaviour, and this will be documented.

 

Three Formal Written Warnings – The young person will receive verbal confirmation that they are receiving a formal written warning and that a copy will be sent home.  In this instance the young person’s, parent/carer will receive a copy of the letter.  It will clearly define which points of the agreement have been broken and what verbal reminders and warnings were given during the group sessions.  It will also clearly explain the consequences.  The consequence of a written warning is that the young person will be unable to attend the Thrive Youth Project the following week.  They will be allowed to re-join the group the week after without any further discussion of the events that led to their exclusion for one week.

 

The first and second written warnings are basically the same with the exception that the second will include a reminder that after a third warning the next step will be exclusion from the project.

 

The third written warning is the final opportunity for a young person to remain on the project In addition to missing a week of Thrive Youth Project the young person will need to come in for a meeting with the project team leaders to discuss behaviour and next steps.  They will be reminded that this is their final chance and the next step will be permanent exclusion from Thrive Youth Project.  This level of intervention is rare and hopefully will not be required.

 

Exclusion from Thrive Youth Project – The final step if there is a serious breach of the agreement after the previous warnings have been issued will be the exclusion of the young person from the project.  They will be removed from the group session immediately, and a letter sent home to parents/guardians, clearly defining the steps that have led to the exclusion.

 

In the event that a young person walks off from an arranged activity the parents/guardians will be contacted about the situation.  They will be informed of the situation leading up to the young person leaving.  At the end of the session the team leaders will have a discussion.  If it is felt that the young person’s walking away was a one-off due to personal circumstances that were affecting them that day then they will receive a written warning and have the opportunity to discuss the situation with the team leaders at the next Thrive Youth Project session they attend.  IF the leaders decide that this is consistent with negative behavior patterns that take away from the ability to work with other group members, they may be excluded from the group permanently, in which case the above exclusion protocol will be followed.  If a young person is given another chance it will be made clear to them that choosing to leave the group again will most likely result in permanent exclusion from the project.

 

Despite the formal nature of these boundaries and standards there is room and flexibility in them depending on circumstances and outside factors.  Thrive Youth Project team leaders desire that all young people who start with the project stay with us.  Usually one written warning is enough to correct challenging behavior.  We would like everyone to have a clear understanding of what consequences the action of a young person will have.