United Kingdom (Scotland): Successful Inter-professional practice in Dundee

Dundee is Scotland’s fourth largest city. Out of the 976 most-deprived of Scotland’s 6505 data zones, 53 are in the Dundee City Council area. Over a quarter (28.4%) of Dundee’s population lives in these data zones. There is a high rate of unemployment and a third of localities have more than twice the national average unemployment rate. Dundee City also shows higher than national average rates of drug misuse, smoking, teenage pregnancy and pregnancy termination.

“The Corner” young people’s health and information service (http://www.thecorner.co.uk) is a working partnership involving Dundee City Council, the regional National Health Service (NHS) health board (NHS Tayside), the Scottish Government and young people. It provides a unique and integrated range of health and information services through its high-profile city centre drop-in facility and outreach work in local communities.“The Corner” has developed its practice based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The multi-agency partnership at “The Corner” is committed to ensuring that services are relevant and youth friendly, and that they are continually reviewed and refined. Young people have played, and continue to play, a major role in shaping, designing and influencing services and direction. One in three young people from the main target group (11−18 years) in Dundee have used the drop-in facility. Services are all free, informal and confidential.

“The Corner” recognizes the challenge of balancing national priorities and targets with young people’s health priorities. By firmly placing young people at the core of its work and seeing them as part of the solution rather than the problem, “The Corner” is well equipped to deal with dilemmas and sensitive issues in constructive ways.