About MST
The key goals of MST are to break the cycle of anti-social behaviour by keeping young people safely at home, in school, and out of trouble.
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive, evidence-based intervention for children, young people, and their families. It is designed for those children who are at risk of being placed in care or custody. MST draws on established approaches, including behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and structured family therapy. Therapists work closely with young people and their families to address the factors contributing to challenging behaviour.
MST works closely with other services to understand how best to help and we will talk to other professionals if we have any concerns. Our priority is to keep children at home safely.
Research shows that MST achieves strong, long-term outcomes for young people and their families - keeping children within the family home and out of care.
In Manchester between July 2016 to August 2024, 284 families received MST support. Of those families 95% completed the intervention.
At the end of support from Manchester MST
95
87
95
Expanding our impact
Building on our success in preventing children from entering care, Manchester City Council has extended our MST remit for an further 12 months. This extension enables us to support the safe return of children from care to their families, where appropriate. With intensive support for the child, family, and care provider, children aged 11 to 17 can return home without the need for long-term care arrangements, reducing costs and improving outcomes.
Accessing MST in your area
To have support by an MST team, the service must be available in the area where you work. It is a service that is commissioned locally and not available to everyone.
MST is highly effective in keeping children out of care. There is a strong evidence base that it saves high cost and improves outcomes for families. If you are interested in MST you can contact the MST UK team.