AGENDA ITEM 6

BOROUGH OF POOLE

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

21 JANUARY 2014

IMPROVING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS PROJECT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN: YES

STATUS (Strategic, Service Delivery Information)

  1. PURPOSE

1.1To update Elected Members on the outcomes and lessons learnt from the Employability Skills Projects that were delivered in Poole during 2012/2013.

  1. RECOMMENDATION

2.1Elected Members to scrutinise the outcomes of the improving employability projects developed using the £100,000 allocated to this work from Council from April 2012.

2.2Elected Members to request that the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (through the Employment Skills Board) should include the employability of young people in the Dorset Skills Plan (2014-16).

  1. BACKGROUND/INFORMATION

3.1Council allocated £100,000 to be co-ordinated by the Bournemouth and Poole 14-19 Team to projects for supporting Poole young people who might otherwise become NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) or enter a JWT (Job Without Training).

3.2The activities were to raise young people’s aspirations, identify and break down barriers and enable young people to engage in education, employment or training.

3.3Overall Aims for Use of the funding can be summarised as:

  • To equip some of our most vulnerable young people to progress into permanent employment.
  • To focus on the work-readiness skills of young people, and to enable them to gain an understanding of the requirements of work and employers.
  • To raise aspirations of young people, especially for those from workless households, hence breaking a cycle of unemployment within families.
  • To build confidence, resilience and coping strategies for young people who will have experienced little or no previous achievement.
  • To build on the good practice gained from the previous 14-19 projects and ensure that a variety of progression pathways are in place.
  • To ensure that projects complement and build on current provision without duplication.
  1. THE IMPROVING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS PROJECTS

This report will describe each project, including their budgets and management. The outcomes, challenges and lessons learnt will then be discussed for each project.

4.1Decisions Decisions

A guide was created with our local businesses and educational and training providers to help students to take their first steps on the career ladder and open their eyes to possible career paths within Poole.

  • The budget for this project was £12,943 and was aimed at 5,000 young people aged 14-18. The project was managed by Economic Development.
  • The guide was produced and distributed to schools during Autumn Term and was well received.

4.1.1Outcomes

It is difficult to co-ordinate impact and the guide from stakeholders within the given timescale. Economic Development and the 14-19 Team will need to evaluate the effectiveness of the guide three months after it has been distributed to young people. It has however received very good informed feedback from a variety of services (young people, professionals and employers).

4.2Schools Employability Programme

This was a programme of eightsessions;each with a specific focus designed to improve the young person's employability and life skills and was supported by local business volunteers. Each young person acquired a greater understanding of what employers require, what education or training opportunities are available and the benefits of these, as well as gaining key finance and budgeting skills.

  • The budget for this programme was £8,500 and was aimed at 150 young people aged 16-18. The programme was managed by Economic Development.
  • Year 12 students from Corfe Hills, St Aldhelm's Academy, Poole High, Ashdown (now Magna Academy) and St Edward’s took part, supported by 25 local business volunteers.
  • The programme started in January 2013 and required the recruitment, training and on-going support of many volunteers across multiple schools so Young Enterprise staff or other volunteers covered early sessions where necessary. The 1:1 intervention of local business volunteers enabled students to have a much better understanding of the workplace and what was required.

4.2.1Outcomes

80% of students felt that they had improved in confidence,"can-do" attitude, team work and communication skills by the end of the programme. 97% of students felt that they were now better prepared for work or further education by taking part in the programme.

4.2.2Lessons Learnt

Planning activities with schools in the summer break is obviously difficult so ideally needs a longer planning time.

4.3 Looked After Children Event

  • An event was held at the Arts University where 'Looked After Children' could undertake architecture, illustration and performance related activities. Young people had the opportunity to focus on key employability skills, problem solving, leadership and team work in a creative and encouraging setting.
  • The budget for this project was £2,200 and was aimed at eleven young people aged 13-17. The project was managed by Children, Young People and Learning.

4.3.1Outcomes

Elevenyoung people took part in three practical workshops. The young people said that they had gained communication, creativity, problem solving, team work and leadership skills. They felt that they were now more inspired, confident and knowledgeable. Four young people rated the day as excellent and five rated it as good.

4.3.2Lessons Learnt

Historically there has been difficulty in engaging looked after children in employability events. Information about the event wassent to social workers and foster carers as well as to the young people themselves resulting in a better than expected uptake. It proved extremely difficult to provide a targeted activity for the cohort as they do not generally like to be grouped together or identified as different from other young people. Looked after children may be more likely to engage in activities if organised through schools for all students. Link teachers could be asked to monitor the effectiveness of a future activity on looked after children.

4.4One Community

  • This programme had four elements: Launch events which were held at Poole High and Ashdown schools to introduce the programme to local businesses and pupils; Learn to Earn which wasan opportunity to discussaspirations, employability skills, cost of living and job prospects; Personal Economics which wasa session with interactive educational games and activities to increase understanding of key financial terms and budgeting; Entrepreneur Masterclassto encourage innovation, creativity, finance, communication, team work and decision making. Poole High students were also given opportunities to visit Bournemouth University, Poole Civic Centre and The Dolphin Centre.
  • The budget for this project was £20,000 and was aimed at 228 young people aged 14-15. The project was managed by Economic Development.

4.4.1Outcomes

At the launch events students from Poole High and Ashdown schools were introduced to over 20 business partners. 91 Poole High students and 137 Ashdown students engaged on the programme with the support of 14 business mentors. At the end of the Learn to Earn sessions 80% of Poole High students and 80% of Ashdown students said that they had a better understanding of jobs and qualifications needed. At the end of the Personal Economics sessions 77% of Poole High students and 75% of Ashdown students said that the sessions had helped them consider how to manage their money in the future.

4.4.2Lessons Learnt

There were some difficulties in co-ordinating the needs of the schools with the availability of business volunteers but the end result was rewarding in both schools. The challenge is now to maintain and build further employer relationships between schools and the local community.

4.5Employability Course for Care Leavers

  • This was a12 week employability programme. Care Leavers worked towards a full or partialnationally accredited employability skills qualification at either entry level, Level 1 or 2. Care Leavers were instructed by their Pathways co-ordinator at Holly Lodge and registered for qualifications through Skills & Learning.
  • The budget was £5,404 and was aimed at 6 young people aged 16-19. The project was managed by Children’s Social Care.

4.5.1Outcomes

Six young people completed the programme and have achieved a level 2 award in employability, four applied to college, one applied to higher education and one applied for employment. Two of the young people were referred to the Care2Work co-ordinator for work placements. In general the learners engaged very well and completed the required tasks. Once they moved past the initial stages of the course, they became increasingly more self motivated and confident and took pride in their work.

4.5.2Lessons Learnt

  • With some learners the challenge was punctuality and attendance due to poor sleep patterns, substance misuse and negative influence of peer group. Sessions had to be fitted around learners’ other commitmentswhich was possible because 1:1 mentoring allowed for a flexible approach. Occasionally it was a challenge to get the learner to volunteer answers or opinions but this was overcome with lots of praise and positive feedback. 1:1 tuition works particularly well with care leavers who, as highlighted above, are not particularly keen on group work. Once a care leaver had completed the course they were more likely to access mainstream post-16 education or training. This built on a previous programme funded by the 14-19 Team and is planned to continue next year.
  • A typical learner was a young person who lacked direction after having dropped out of college six months earlier. The project enabled them to re-focus on their possibilities within education and employment. They re-applied to the Bournemouth and Poole College and are undertaking a work experience placement with Borough of Poole Beaches Team through the Care2Work programme.

4.6NEET Mentoring Service

This is a professional 1:1 mentoring programme to motivate young people to engage in learning and employment activities.

  • The budget was £20,000 aimed at 30 young people aged 16-19. The project was managed by Children, Young People and Learning.
  • The Care2Work mentoring framework has been adapted for partner agencies to work with NEETS. Mentors are currently being recruited for training so that referrals can be made.

4.6.1Outcomes

Finding a suitable external provider to deliver to the required model was a challenge but resolved by resourcing internal delivery mechanisms. It is too early to evaluate this project but monitoring is being carried out by Skills and Learning and the Targeted Support Team with an interim report expected in December.

4.7Young Carers’ Residential Events

  • Three, 3 day residential events provided an environment where young carers were able to relax with their peers and share thoughts about future plans, facilitating transition to learning and employment and raising aspirations. The events allowed a targeted approach to life and employability skills by building confidence and self-esteem. The events were run in partnership with Bournemouth & Poole College, Quay Advice, Targeted Services, Duke of Edinburgh, Princes Trust, Adult Carers, Health and Sexual Health andYoung Adults Drug and Alcohol Service (YADAS).
  • The budget was £9,813 aimed at 73 young people aged 14-18. The project was managed by Children’s Social Care.

4.7.1Outcomes

  • 28 young carers attended the first event at Worth Matravers Outdoor Centre in August 2012. The next two events took place at Butchers Coppice with 20 young carers attending in February and 25 in April 2013. All the events went very well with each young carer being individually assessed so that their progress could be monitored. Where a young carer had shown a particular interest in a career path a meeting was arranged with a professional from that area of work. 60 young carers attended a follow up careers event at the Holiday Inn in May 2013.
  • There were many young people helped by this project but one example was a 16 year old who had started as a carer when he was 6 years old. His mother had MS and sadly died when he was 11 years old. He then went to live with his grandparents who found the death of their daughter very difficult and did not speak of her very much. When he was 14 years old he reappeared as a young carer now caring for his grandparents who had their own physical needs. In year 11 at school he decided that he would like to join the police force as a career but unfortunately his grandfather died which put pressure on him. He attended the first residential where he took part in the activities and discussions about where he would like to be in 5 years time. Since then he has started a level 3 Public Service course at Bournemouth and Poole College. He also works part-time in a shop and does some voluntary work with Young Carers when he can. Sadly his grandmother has now died but he still wants to attend Young Carers.

4.7.2Lessons Learnt

It was a real challenge to fit in threeresidentials and a follow up event within the allowed timescale. The project identified the need to put a long term plan in place for the 14+ age group, to help assess their educational needs and support their transition between school to college or the work place.

4.8Young Parents Employability Project

  • Flexible bite-sized targeted opportunities enabledyoung parents to access appropriate skills to improve their employability prospects and confidence and gave them realistic expectations of what it means to be an employee by achieving identified goals related to future employability.
  • The budget was £3,500 aimed at 37 young people aged 16-22. The project was managed by Children, Young People and Learning.

4.8.1Outcomes

  • Of the 50 young parents targeted to explore readiness for employment or training 37 engaged in a 1:1 session with a project worker, 24 had a second session and 15 had a third session. 19 young parents agreed an action plan and are now working towards achieving outcomes. 17 young parents have engaged with the ‘ROUTES’ programme at Bournemouth Churches Housing Association which has the additional benefit of allocating a mentor to support them to access and maintain employment or learning opportunities over a period of time. So far four young fathers have gained employment (one as an apprentice) and five young parents are at College.
  • An example of a young person who benefited from this programme was a young mother who has now started at the Bournemouth and Poole College. She received support and guidance from two separate mentors whilst on the programme with the aim of benefiting her decision making. Her level 2 qualification explores the understanding of children’s social and emotional development. She is being supported around her childcare needs and arranging funding for her child. During the sessions this young parent was mentored through the project to ensure a ‘can do’ attitude and ‘pro-active’ approach towards her education and wider life.

4.8.2Lessons Learnt

Young parents are a difficult cohort to engage with and the process of building relationships and trust within the groups took time. Attendance was sporadic at some venues so it was more challenging to sustain engagement in some areas. Future programmes would benefit from a longer lead-in time to build relationships and trust within the group. The mentor support provided to the young parents on this programme has been hugely instrumental in them achieving their goals.

4.9Moving On –Young Women’s Motivational Project

  • A group work programme increased the motivation and employability skills of a group of young women who were NEET or at risk of disengagement during transition on leaving compulsory education.
  • The budget was £4,500 and was aimed at 6 young people aged 16-18. The project was managed by Children, Young People and Learning.

4.9.1Outcomes

Six young women took part in a range of activities to increase their confidence, self-esteem, raise aspirations and build a portfolio of employability skills. These activities ranged from big tree climbing, raft building, money management, assertiveness training, CV writing and interview skills. Similar programmes are planned with more young people.

4.9.2Lessons Learnt

It was a challenge getting the young people to the point where they would engage with the programme and was expensive for such a small group. It is essential to have prior knowledge and full understanding of the individual young person and is absolutely dependant on relationships between the staff and the young people.

4.10Inside Out Project: Young Adults Drug and Alcohol Service (YADAS)

  • This project had two elements, firstly delivery to NEET young people with drug and alcohol misuse issues to get them ready for employment, education or training; secondly research and evaluation on the group to identify their characteristics and their history, what interventions may have helped earlier and the effectiveness of the project.
  • The budget was 13,081 and was aimed at 21 young people aged 16-22. The project was managed by Commissioning and Improvement.

4.10.1Outcomes