DEVELOPING SERVICES FOR 13s to 19s

1. Context

The 5 Year Strategy for Children and Learners outlines a new integrated youth offer. It is anticipated that the Youth Green paper will develop this further. The offer includes;

• Access to exciting and enjoyable activities in and out of school and college that enhance personal, social and educational development.
• Easy access to personal advice and support.
• Better and earlier support for those demonstrating risk factors.
• Support for parents and families.
• Opportunities for volunteering and mentoring.
• The chance for young people to have a say in the planning and delivery of services.

2.    Vision of a Youth Support or Development Service

The diagram below outlines the elements of the service.

This includes the following:

• Information and Advice provided from a number of different locations. This might include some  advice shops or centres, sessions offered in schools, community centres, GP surgeries, youth clubs etc. The service will be delivered by a range of service providers and professionals including Connexions PAs, teachers, youth workers, specialist youth advice workers. These services would be available to all young people.
• A range of services and opportunities for all young people. This would be a key part of the youth offer.
• Youth Support Teams. These teams would be integrated multi-agency teams. The focus would be on 13s and 19s who needed additional support. Young people can refer themselves or may be referred by a number of agencies including the courts and schools. The teams would provide support for care leavers and possibly for young people who are “looked after”. Young people will receive an assessment of their needs. This will follow the Common Assessment Framework. Following this a plan will be developed and a lead professional responsible for co-ordinating the work will be allocated. The plan might include a number of other generic and specialist services.

Specialist Youth Services . Access to these services would be via the Youth Support Teams. This means all young people referred will have completed a Common Assessment. These services are likely to undertake more in depth assessment in order to “tailor-make” their responses to meet the particular needs of the young person. The lead professional from the Youth Support Team would co-ordinate periodic reviews to ensure the objectives of the plan developed with the young person are being met.

Governance Arrangements

2.1   Co-ordinated Service Planning

In order to ensure co-ordination of service planning:

• Establish a 13 to 19 Commissioning and Co-ordinating Group. The primary focus of this group will be the 13 to 19 age range but there will be some flexibility around the margins. 
• Strong links will need to be in pace with the Crime and Disorder Partnership.
• Young people’s participation and involvement will be given high priority.
• This group will combine the functions of the following groups.
  • Connexions Local Management Group
  • Youth Offending Team Board
  • Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board
  • Parenting Support for Older Teenagers Group

This will mean these groups will no longer meet and 4 groups will be merged into 1. The remit of the 13 to 19 Co-ordinating Group will need to cover the strategic and any statutory functions of each of these groups.

• The 13 to 19 Commissioning and Co-ordinating Group will also have responsibility for ensuring implementation of the NSF in relation to the 13 to 19 age group.

• The 13 to 19 Co-ordinating Group will report to the CYPSP Chief Officer Group or its equivalent
• Detailed terms of reference will need to be developed but the main functions of the 13 to 19 Co-ordinating Group will be:
  • To develop a commissioning strategy for the   13 to 19 years age range. This will form part of the statutory Children and Young People’s Plan.
  • To ensure the commissioning strategy covers all elements of the Youth Support Service (identified in the diagram of the model above) and priorities outlined in the 5 Year Strategy for Children and Learners, the Children Act 2004 and statutory guidance on this and the Youth Green paper.
  • To make recommendations on service developments including budget proposals and developing pooled budget.
  • To approve annual plans.

2.2   Working Towards a Pooled Budget

There is a clear expectation from the DfES that pooled budgets will be developed. The LAA process and priorities identified adds weight to this.

The diagram on the Youth Support service model identifies service which might form part of a pooled budget developed over time. Pooled budgets could be created for:

• Information and advice services
• The multi-agency youth support teams
• Specialist youth services

2.3   Approach to Planning Services

One of the key responsibilities of the 13 to 19s Commissioning and Co-ordinating Group is to develop a commissioning strategy and contribute to the statutory Children and Young People’s Plan. The Dorset Children and Young Peoples Strategic Partnership has developed a commissioning model for planning services. Guidance on implementing each stage of the model is available.

The 13 to 19s Commissioning and Co-ordinating Group could   use this model to develop the Youth Support Service.

The model is outlined below.

Click here to download Developing Services for 13 to 19 Years Olds