To update Members on the progress of the Youth Service in adapting to the changes in youth work particularly the increased emphasis on Targeted Youth Support (TYS) for vulnerable young people and new legislation on the provision of Positive Activities.

The Committee were updated on progress of the Youth Service in adapting to the changes in youth work particularly the increased emphasis on Targeted Youth Support (TYS) for vulnerable young people and new legislation on the provision of Positive Activities.

The Community Youth Service Manager presented a report setting out: the service objectives in terms of the Every Child Matters (ECM) Outcome Framework; the government policy initiatives ‘Targeted Youth Support’ (TYS) and ‘Positive Activities – Aiming High’; implications for the service and how the service had responded to date.  The Community Youth Service Plan 2008-9 was appended to the agenda report.

The Community Youth Service Manager highlighted: that there was no new money to support these government initiatives; increasingly work was being devoted to target areas, particularly preventative work in collaboration with Community Services; investigations were underway (resource need and likely hood of winning) concerning a possible bid under the DCSF ‘My Place’ scheme for finance to build a youth facility.  In relation to the Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) government initiative that teenagers have ’things to do and places to go’ he reported that currently the focus was on improving the ‘youth zone’ on the web site to inform young people of what’s going on in their area.  He anticipated that next year there would be a budget to support the further development of this work.

During the course of debate the following principal points were noted:

• In the interests of engaging with young people, full time youth workers go out on the streets to talk directly to youths, however, due to limited resources this can take resources from providing courses at youth centres.
• In response to a request for details about the numbers of young people accessing each youth centre and the location of these centres the Committee were informed that approximately 2,660 individuals used the facilities but further detailed information would be provided to Members.  Concern was expressed that this represented a low proportion of young people in the County.
• Responding to questions on the equality of accessibility of facilities throughout the County e.g. were all youths offered courses in sailing, Members would be provided with further information on this issue.
• Out of necessity in a number of cases some youths looked after younger siblings.  As part of trying to attract the older youth to attend and socialise, the Committee questioned whether any provision was made for the younger sibling in such instances.  The Committee were informed that suitable support for younger siblings was not always available but this was being looked at as part of the ‘Team around the Child’ service provision. Further information would be provided to Members on this issue.
• While noting that the report specifically contained information about the Council’s youth provision, the Committee requested further information on the voluntary sector provision and in particular the links and services provided and their location.
• Under a new ‘contract’ a clear picture of individual needs would be established using the Common Assessment Framework.
• Recruitment and retention in the Youth Service was a national problem.  Following job evaluation salaries were on the local pay structure.  Many part time staff entered the service to gain experience before moving on to other authorities.
• Concern was expressed regarding a rumoured reduction in financial support to Close House, Hereford.  The Director of Children’s Services and the Community Youth Service Manager reported that Close House received no direct funding from the Service, however, a number of facilities were rented from them.
• It was suggested that by failing to engage with youths at an early stage through an adequately resourced Youth Service, the Council and its partners may experience greater youth related problems in the future.
• Referring to action planning emerging from parish plans (previous agenda item Children and Young People’s Directorate Plan 2008-2011 section 2.6 on page 10) and a question how parish councils could or should be involved in youth provision the Committee noted that through the precept the City Council had earmarked funding to youth projects.  Noting that youth facilities were frequently mentioned in Parish Plans, Members requested further information on the links that could be made with parish planning work.
• The Committee noted that a lot of good work was undertaken by extended schools, which was outside the scope of this report.

The Director of Children’s Services reported that this was a large and complex area of work which was limited by budgetary constraints.  The Service was working with partners to maximise its use of resources.  New initiatives driven by the Government agenda were proving to be challenging particularly in view of the change of emphasis towards becoming a commissioning service and the wider ‘Team around the Child’ service provision.  While a scrutiny review of the service could be undertaken she strongly suggested that the new Head of Community Operations be given time to ensure that links were established into the strategic thinking for the ‘Team around the Child’.

RESOLVED: That

a)      the report be noted and Committee Members be provided with the various information requested; and

b)     it is recommended that the Cabinet Members for Children’s Services give further consideration to how the Youth Service engages with the youth in the County.

At this point the Committee adjourned for 5 minutes and reconvened at 12.25pm