The Progress of the Integrated Youth Support and Development Service

BOROUGH OF POOLE

CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG PEOPLE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

29TH SEPTEMBER 2009

REPORT BY THE HEAD OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S INTEGRATED SERVICES

THE PROGRESS OF THE INTEGRATED YOUTH SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE

PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLANYES

STATUS SERVICE DELIVERY INFORMATION

1. /

PURPOSE

1.1 / To inform members of current progress of the Integrated Youth Support and Development Service.
2. /

DECISION REQUIRED

2.1
2.2 / Members support the current progress that has been made towards an Integrated Youth Support and Development Service.
Members note the External Review of the Youth Service.
3. /

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

3.1
3.2 / In June 2007 the Children’s Overview Group received a report on the Integrated Youth Support and Development Service (IYSDS)
The vision for the IYSDS in Poole is
“We should ensure that young people in Poole flourish and succeed through active participation in the life of the town and are valued and supported by co-ordinated, accessible, flexible services providing resources to enable young people to shape their own future and that of their communities.
Within Poole we are aiming to create an integrated framework encompassing the 4 elements of IYSDS underpinned by a robust Participation Strategy

Targeted Youth Support (TYS)
Information Advice & Guidance (IAG)
Positive Activities
Volunteering

Current arrangements are that the youth service element of the work is delivered by the in house Youth Service and the Connexions element of the work are the subject of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Ansbury which delivers Connexions Services across Dorset Bournemouth and Poole
.
The SLA is due to be commissioned and next arrangements put in place for April 2011, subject to cabinet approval. The proposals for these arrangements will need to be subject of a report to Overview and Scrutiny at a later stage in the Commissioning Cycle
The report details progress to date.

PROGRESS REPORT

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4 / Targeted Youth Support (TYS)
The Poole approach to Targeted Youth Support is being delivered collaboratively through a range of core services:- Connexions, Youth Services, Education Welfare Service, Social Care, Youth Offending Team, Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Services, School Nurses, Schools, Exclusions Team, Housing Support Services. Other agencies involved, include the Police, Community Safety and Locality Managers. There is dialogue re how best to work with CAMHS and Drugs and Alcohol Services.
Key themes of the service are:

Early identification of need and intervention
Common Assessment
Lead Professional/Key Worker
Clear integrated planning with the participation of young person in decision making
Team around the young person and family
Identification of local issues that are affecting young people, in order to respond to issues rather than just individuals

The targeted group was identified as those who are:-
- Likely to become NEET
-Unlikely to achieve the 5 ECM outcomes
-not responding to current interventions or initiatives
-any multi agency plan or intervention is not delivering positive outcomes
-PA (persistent absentees – i.e. school attendance at less than 80%)
The young people targeted may not meet traditional thresholds for statutory or specialist services or have not engaged with services and provision which may help them. The key issue is that, without co-ordinated support, this group are at risk of further problems such as substance misuse, youth offending, teenage pregnancy and homelessness.

A Team around the School (TATS) approach has been developed. Schools involved to date are, Rossmore, Ashdown, Carter, Learning Support Service and Poole High. A core team of professionals from the Children’s Trust works with the school to look at each case and:-

-Shares information and tightens up existing practice
-agrees on a lead professional if there is not one already
-ensures that there is a clear integrated plan for each young person involving all appropriate agencies
-Initiates ‘team around the child or family’ meetings where needed
-identifies local issues which are affecting young people and responds to issues rather than just individuals.
By May 2009 10 meetings had been held in schools and 58 young people discussed. Meetings have focussed on who is best placed to engage with the young person, consider the best way to ensure the voluntary engagement of the young person and provide an informal quality assurance function to ensure plans and reviews are in place and to check that young people’s circumstances have improved. A pilot took place the previous year in Rossmore and in 2008 fewer young people left Rossmore Year 11 to become NEET (Not in employment, education or training).
Other key outcomes have been:
-Identification of issues for vulnerable young people in transition from school to college.
-Localised responses to anti social behaviour issues.

A similar approach is being taken with young people who are NEET this is known as Team around the NEET (TAN). Where the young person’s needs are thought to need a multi agency approach, those professionals currently working with the young person, or who have engaged successfully with the young person in the past, meet in an informal session with the young person and their parent carer to draw up a person centred, integrated plan. This has resulted in outcomes to employment, education and training (EET) or identified approaches to take so that the young person will be able to access EET at an appropriate time. This approach is to be rolled out to young people who are completing Young Offenders’ orders and are NEET.
Connexions has run 4, week long Jumpstart programmes with a total of 36 young people who are NEET. These have been funded through the positive activities budget and engaged young people in Team building, self esteem and confidence building exercises and preparation for the world of work. 81% of the young people taking part had outcomes into EET.Contributions to the programme were made by a range of organisations including the Territorial Army, Employers and Training Providers, Sexual Health Workers and YADAS.Further programmes are underway including a 3 week LEAP programme which enables young people who are NEET to achieve an accredited qualification.
3 Young parents’ groups are running, one in each locality. Young parents are able to access help and support with a range of issues and to participate in activities for them and their baby/toddler.

During the development of TYS we received quarterly visits from Govt. of the South West to review progress. The programme was signed off as developed and embedded earlier this year.
Information Advice and Guidance (IAG)
The introduction of the IAG standards has enabled us to raise awareness of the importance of accurate, impartial, up to date, IAG delivered by appropriately qualified advisers.

Ansbury is currently contracted to deliver Connexions (IAG) services across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole until March 2011. All its Personal Advisers hold or are working towards degree level (level 4) qualifications in IAG and its Support Advisers hold or are working towards level 3. Every secondary school in the Borough and the FE College has one or more Connexions Advisers. Young people’s views on the 1:1 interventions received from these advisers are attached as anappendix 1.

Secondary and Special Schools have been supported by Ansbury (Connexions) and the Bournemouth and Poole 14-19 team to self assess their provision of IAG and Careers Education programmes against the national standards and to develop an improvement action plan.

A programme of professional development IAG qualifications and workshops has been developed by Connexions for school staff working in the design and delivery of Careers Education and Guidance (CEG) programmes. Places on the courses will be funded through the 14-19 strategy across Bournemouth and Poole. These will be rolled out from September 09 to all Poole secondary schools. The offer also includes support for schools to gain an Investor in Careers national quality standard. Only two Poole schools currently hold this award and Bournemouth and Poole College has begun work towards achieving it.

Ansbury (Connexions) offers 2 free days of INSET training per school to support their IAG/CEG programmes.

3Youth workers have begun working towards the NVQ level 3 and 4 in IAG to enhance their work in the Quay Advice Centre and on the Mobile Unit. A member of the Pathways Team in C&YP Social Care is also working towards level 3.

Connexions undertook a survey with school staff to assess satisfaction levels with Connexions services in schools. Responses were extremely positive and enabled schools and Connexions advisers to work together on any areas for development in partnership agreements.

An independent consultancy report was undertaken across Bournemouth and Poole by IGEN (working on behalf of the DCSF) to assess IAG provision and its way forward within the new 14-19 diplomas. The resulting action plan is now being considered for implementation.

A Bournemouth and Poole CEIAG sub group has been formed with representatives from schools, employers, Ansbury (Connexions) and the 14-19 team. The role of the group is “to ensure learners are getting high quality consistent messages and impartial information, advice and guidance”. Representation from Bournemouth schools has been high on this group but only one Poole School has engaged to date. Work is ongoing to encourage more representation from Poole schools.

A Key Stage 4 engagement programme of vocational opportunities has been offered in National Challenge Schools to young people in Year 10 who are identified with the risk factors of becoming NEET. The Risk Factor tool was developed by Ansbury (Connexions) using their detailed Client Contact Information system.

The Area wide on line prospectus of post 16 opportunities can be found at Data shows that use of the on line prospectus is increasing. There is a need for the schools and colleges to ensure that the course details on the site are up to date to meet IAG quality standards.

The National Apprenticeship Service was launched in 2008. Ansbury (Connexions) advisers worked in partnership with the LSC to influence development of the website and ensure it meets the needs of local young people and advisers. Advisers are highlighting the opportunities available at and promoting use of the site to schools and young people to enable them to make informed choices about work-based learning.

More IAG on employability skills has been identified as a key need by young people and employers in the borough. In response to this funding was gained from the Learning and Skills Council. Young Enterprise & BOP Economic Development Dept. in consultation with Ansbury (Connexions) developed an employability programme for 30 year 10 students. This is being delivered by employers in schools across Dorset. Rossmore was included in the programme for 2008/9 and will take part again in 2009/10. The programme is to be rolled out to Carter Community and Poole High School for 2009/10.

After school sessions at Creekmoor Youth Club in the summer term were used to engage Year 11 leavers in activities, job seeking and IAG. 80 young people received support. Bourne Valley Youth Club has an evening IAG session monthly from Connexions.

A programme of group sessions called “Leaving Home” is to be delivered in schools from September. Representatives from Housing Services, Connexions, Youth Service and the Quay Foyer will work with Year 11 and 12 students to help them understand the challenges facing young people if they choose to/have to leave home and live independently. This measure is seen as preventative (for Targeted Youth support) but also informs young people on the services they can go to for help should they find themselves homeless.

Ansbury in partnership with special schools, B&P college and Poole Formal Assessment Team has developed a web based tool for use by tutors, parents and advisors supporting young people with learning difficulties or disabilities which covers legislation, progression rates, information on disabilities, opportunities available, funding, strategies and good practice, plus signposting to other organisations who may be able to help. The tool is launched in January 2010

The number of young people who are NEET has continued to fall in Poole, despite the economic downturn. This is in contrast to our statistical neighbours and the very large increase in adult claimants of Jobseekers allowance in Poole.

Positive Activities

The Implementation Plan for the Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities was published in Oct 08 and it outlines the key actions, which need to be taken over the next 12 months. It is intended to be of use to all agencies and professionals working to improve the outcomes for young people and will be a live document, updated regularly to reflect progress and new developments.
The 6 key objectives from Aiming High are:

Rebalancing the public narrative about young people
Empowering young people to increase their influence over the design and delivery of services for them
Increase the number of local places for young people to go
Removing barriers and supporting young people to access local opportunities and services for them
Improving the capacity and quality of services for young people
Supporting and developing the youth workforce to employ the very best practice in working with young people

Achieving these objectives will be dependant on securing contributions from the full range of local partners through integrated services. These include LA, YOT’s, Sports and Arts Bodies) such as Sport England and the Arts Council) PCT’s, Schools and Colleges, Third sector organisations and Young people and their communities. For maximum effect everyone will need to ensure implementation is aligned with and compliments the wider package of measures intended to increase opportunities in particular.

Progress to date

Poole was identified as one of 10 LA’s receiving funds to pilot local events to celebrate young peoples achievements. These events took place in Feb 09 with a local event at Carter Community College & the joint Bournemouth & Poole Event at the Bournemouth International Centre (Anthony to add data)
Relationships are being developed with the the Editor of the Echo – the Echo team ran a work shop with young people at the Annual Young Peoples conference in Oct 08 and regular meetings now take place. Update workshops are being planned for the 09 conference. The recent revamp of Poole News has a dedicated area for young people and a commitment for space in each edition for the member of youth parliament & deputy to provide an update of their work.
Work continues to increase young peoples influence by implementation of the Participation Strategy published in Nov 07 and reviewed in Apr 09 – Agenda item at Overview & Scrutiny July 09
In Nov 2008 the Youth Services was commissioned to conduct a large-scale consultation that reached approx 10% of the 13-19 population in Poole. The report provides with a wealth of information about young people’s views on existing activities & provides clear guidance for improvements. Agenda item Overview & Scrutiny July 09. Full report available at boroughofpoole.com/research
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is offered by 16 units under the Borough’s Licence and currently has around 750 active participants. In 2009, 223 participants completed their award

(Bronze 181, Silver 30, Gold 12) representing an 84% completion rate, which is the highest in the South West and way above the national average of 43%.

The Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund continues to reach wide numbers of young people across the Borough distributing funds to support the development of ‘places to go’ and ‘things to do’ for the 13 – 19 year olds. In 2008/9 18 projects were supported. 12 young people were involved in the decision making panel, 77 young people made bids and almost 3000 young people were recorded as having direct benefit from the funding
Young people continue to be supported to be involved in the recruitment and selection of staff. Key staff have attended a Regional Training event and utilised the training pack to train young people in the recruitment and selection process. Recent interviews include the Director of Children’s Services, the Strategic Manager Localities and Child Care, Senior Officers in SQI, Health Service staff and various Youth Support worker posts.
The Governance Board arrangements have been revamped putting young people at the centre – the communication between the Board and the Young People Shadow Board has been strengthened to ensure that dialogue occurs on a regular basis and in a way where the young people feel able to interact as equals with the decision makers.
Myplace bid for the development of the 13 –19 hub at Limelights was submitted and although unsuccessful was viewed as a high quality application and we were invited to look at other sources of funding via the DCSF. The Management Committee and Members of the sub- group are now considering alternative ways of pursuing a smaller scale scheme to achieve the creation of an integrated youth support hub for 13 – 19’s.
Two mobile units are now operational and between Oct 08 and July 09 they have visited 23 different sites reaching 1240 individual young people and making 3587 contacts.

Positive Activities Steering Group formed and continues to map provision across the Borough. Positive Activities Conference for providers across the Voluntary, Statutory and Private Sector planned for Oct 09

Within ‘Targeted Youth Support’ with individuals and groups, there has been many examples of enabling and supporting young people to access positive activities where otherwise they would have remained isolated and unable to access opportunities. The work with Learning Support Service, Focus Football, linking with the D of E scheme and the outcomes from both Locality and Team around the School (TatS) meeting have all contributed to this. For example partnership projects have been developed in the Rossmore area focusing on young people at risk of offending, partners involved include ASB team, Police, Housing and Community, PHP, Yadas, Magistrates Court and Rossmore Community College
Development of inclusive summer holiday scheme published in the Summer Sizzler offering opportunities that range from golf and horse riding to a music ‘gig in a week’ at Mr Kyps, several residential opportunities as well as a climbing wall in Falkland Square. In total over 500 young people have participated in the scheme this summer.
Information Duty Funding was identified in 2008 and phase one of the development was to work with young people on building their own website; we are now at the point were we have purchased the search engine and have almost completed the work on the front page. Groups have been identified who wish to develop their ‘page’ and partners who deliver services wish to link their sites in. The website will be launched in Oct 09.

In order to progress this element of the IYSDS a working group has been formed including all partners as previously identified to work on the implementation plan for Poole.