The MultifunC programme is designed for young adolescents aged 14 to 17 who have severe behavioural issues. These young people require short-term residential care. Young people are marked by a high risk of offending and criminal behaviour. They frequently suffer the consequences of school dropout, low educational attainment, and poor cognitive skills. Adolescent problems typically manifest themselves in schools, employment, the family environment, or public life. Most of the time, the difficulties are so severe that neither home-based treatment nor temporary placement in a professional foster family is deemed adequate.
The programme consists of a time-limited stay in a residential home (6-7 months) followed by an aftercare period, which is frequently held in the home. The total intervention period for each individual young person is determined on a case-by-case basis, but it is typically between 10 and 12 months. The young person's participation in education, employment, and the local community is actively encouraged throughout the programme.
The involvement of family members and prosocial peers is central to community inclusion. Family members, particularly parents, are involved in the treatment process from the start.
Strong efforts are made to ensure that the young person attends school. A place in a school must be secured in cases of prior school drop-out. If necessary, the local School Board will assist in securing a place in a local school. In some cases, the schools are regular schools, while in others, they are special schools with an emphasis on inclusive education.
Internships in private companies are available as part of the programme. Supervisors in those internships can play important roles in providing guidance at work as well as orientation in life.
The methods used are organised and based on cognitive behavioural theory and social learning theory.
Throughout the intervention, including both residential treatment and aftercare, the focus will be on changing the young person's behaviour in various spheres of life, including school, work, family, and peer circles.
Young people can participate in the programme as part of it. When you start the programme, you'll be given an action plan to follow. This action plan was developed in collaboration with the family and the young person. Each young person's treatment plan is developed with a focus on risk factors, assessing the user's social skills, cognitive capacity, educational attainment, mental health status, and overall well-being.
Efforts will be made to create a treatment that balances the need for control and autonomy. The young person is actively involved in the program's implementation.
A weekly schedule provides detailed guidance on what the young person must do each day. Feedback is constantly provided. The staff makes certain that the daily schedule is followed. Compliance with the schedule, along with positive behaviour, is rewarded via a point system with progression elements.
Parents are regarded as important figures for their children and are actively involved in their care. The MultifunC programme is specifically designed for troubled families with multiple needs. The programmes employ family-oriented therapy approaches to improve children's and parents' relationships and communication. To that end, parents are involved in treatment planning and receive ongoing support.
A quality assurance team evaluates MultifunC's practical performance. The quality assurance team works for a national agency, the National Board of Social Services, and provides guidance and assessment on the MultifunC concept's implementation. This advice applies to both general aspects of structures and specific procedures. This collaboration is expected to ensure the integrity of the MultifunC concept and treatment coherence.