Andy Turvey

Andy Turvey is the Team manager of the Horizons Team, an exploitation and missing team within Sandwell Children’s Trust. Andy has also been a Youth & Community Worker, visiting lecturer & researcher with an extensive history of working with young people effected by child exploitation, youth violence, gangs, and trauma.

Over 15 years’ experience as a youth worker, detached worker, community worker, hospital youth worker within A&E, paediatrics departments & more recently visiting lecture, trainer, guest speaker & researcher. Becoming highly skilled in engaging vulnerable young people, gang effected young people, developing youth violence interventions, youth engagement, community work, training, project management & research. Working throughout the UK in West Midlands, London, Manchester, Scotland within different roles.

Andy has helped create, implement and manage the Horizons Team within Sandwell Childrens Trust alongside Louise Wright (Head of Service) and the team since 2019. Managing a high performing and passionate team to develop strategies to support and empower young people, families and communities to reduce the impact of exploitation within Sandwell.

Sandwell Horizons team have developed and implemented some powerful unique interventions which support young people, families and communities. While developing strong partnerships and interventions Horizons have overseen effective safeguarding of young people at risk of exploitation and disruptions within Sandwell leading to some major arrests of perpetrators of all forms of exploitation.     

The Horizons team have been recognised locally, regionally and nationally by Ofsted, Violence Reduction Partnership, Police and other services in creating unique and effective ways of safeguarding children, empowering communities and supporting police to disrupt perpetrators.  

Horizons have made it their business to ensure that our exploited children are well understood and are recognised as victims of crime first and foremost. They have contributed to a reduction in risk for children who are exploited, and overall, our young people are safer because of Horizons being involved.

Highlights from the past 12 months

• Reduced repeat missing episodes and contributed to the reduction of placement moves and instability.
• Reduced and minimised risk for our “high risk of exploitation” young people.
• Ensured that social workers and partners are fully supported to achieve positive outcomes for our exploited young people.
• Provided information that resulted in several major arrests.
• Ensured the continued safety of our exploited young people.
• Increased knowledge about individuals and the Sandwell landscape, enabling effective planning and co-working with partners to ensure a safer community.
• Developed understanding of our young people through relationship based and trauma informed practice. This helped them to identify their needs and realise their aspirations.
• Nurtured a sense of collective responsibility
• Advocated for all our young people in each meeting and intervention they are involved with.
• Kept the voice of the child at the heart of every action and plan made.

"Life Changing" In our recent Ofsted Inspection, an inspector spoke to Callum’s Mom who described the work that has been completed as “life changing” and stated that “The Horizons Worker has not only saved my son’s life but has also saved my life too”.

West Midlands VIOLENCE Reduction Unit said Horizons are leading the way in demonstrating to how they demonstrate best practice and partnership working to prevent child abuse in relation to child Exploitation.

Title: Reflecting on Sandwell’s exploitation journey

This session will introduce and give an insight to our and the young peoples journey focusing on best practice and sharing ideas which could support young people at risk of exploitation