1 Purpose of Report 3

Contents

1 Purpose of Report 3

2 Recommendations 3

3 Background 3

4 Conclusions 4

5 Members and Witnesses 7

Appendix 1: Scoping Document 9

1  Purpose of Report

1.1 This is the report of the Youth Connexions Topic Group, which looks at the progress that has been made in embedding the new integrated youth support service ‘Youth Connexions Hertfordshire’ since its creation in April 2008.

1.2  The scoping document can be seen at Appendix 1. The papers issued to Members prior to each meeting can be found at:

Youth Connexions Hertfordshire Topic Group Papers

2  Recommendations

2.1 To undertake a further one-day scrutiny of the service in the summer of 2011 (4.1)

2.2  To review existing recruitment and retention arrangements in order to avoid having hard to fill vacancies (4.3)

2.3 To keep Members informed of estate developments, in particular those premises classed as poor (4.4)

2.4 To ensure consistent communications arrangements between Youth Connexions and District Councils (4.5)

2.5 To explore further opportunities for partnership working, such as engaging the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in the work of Youth Connexions to improve participation and outcomes and at the same time improve value for money (4.9)

2.6  To keep Members informed of progress in developing outdoor education centres and in generating additional income at Cuffley Camp and Hudnall Park to make them sustainable (4.11)

2.7 To continue to increase the work the service undertakes on a Friday evening and at weekends (4.13)

3  Background

3.1 Youth Connexions Hertfordshire was created in April 2008 from the merger of Connexions Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire County Council’s Youth Service. This was in response to two key government policy documents, the Green Paper Youth Matters published in July 2005 and Youth Matters Next Steps published in April 2006. Detailed service delivery arrangements were shaped by key local stakeholders, working within the Children’s Trust framework and with the involvement of young people. This response built upon existing partnership practice and developed from arrangements already in place that were working well.

3.2 The consultation on the formation of the new service brought out a number of recommendations which formed the basis of the new service. These included:

·  The Integrated Youth Support Service will take time to be established, and therefore this development needs to be seen as a three year strategy;

·  The importance of a coherent and joined up response to the challenges set out in Youth Matters;

·  The need to develop arrangements which allow universal access to services and recognises the need for differentiated support;

·  Recognition of the importance to being responsive to local community needs and the critical role that District Children’s Trusts will play in co-ordinating and enabling this;

·  The importance of involving young people in helping shape and direct service priorities;

·  Integration and alignment within wider Children’s Trust developments such as the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and Lead Professional, 14 – 19 Learning developments and extended school arrangements;

·  Building on services and activities that are already working well and are valued by young people;

·  Obtaining value for money and the avoidance of unnecessary bureaucracy.

All these recommendations were taken on board. Youth Connexions, which became the service name for the Integrated Youth Support Service, is now approximately half way through its three year development period.

3.3 Further background information on Youth Connexions can be found at:

www.connexions-hertfordshire.co.uk

4 Conclusions

4.1 Members welcomed the progress made by Youth Connexions since its formation in April 2008. They heard of a significant increase in numbers of young people participating and outcomes of positive activities over the past 18 months. The Topic Group heard from witnesses of the variety of services on offer and the different interventions taking place. Members were impressed by the range of work being undertaken. Members recognised that further development is required in a number of areas to ensure consistency of service and approach across the county and felt that a one day scrutiny in the summer of 2011 would enable them to further assess progress. (Recommendation 2.1)

4.2 The economic downturn has put significant additional pressure on all elements of Youth Connexions services though members noted that the percentage of young people in NEET (not in employment, education or training) is reducing again and is now at its lowest rate ever in Hertfordshire and is the lowest county NEET rate in England. Members also heard that staying on rates at 16 and 17 are higher than ever. It is noteworthy that even young offenders who get into trouble with the law return to work or learning in greater numbers than elsewhere in England. At the same time the Youth Connexions service is being given increased responsibilities by government. Concern was expressed that this may make it more difficult for staff to devote the necessary time to maintain the existing partnerships in the county and that it was necessary to manage expectations within the resources available.

4.3 Members were concerned that in the past there had been vacancies in the Youth Connexions service in areas particularly close to London as London authorities pay a higher salary and a larger London weighting. (Recommendation 2.2)

4.4 Members were pleased to hear of the progress in developing district

centres and the success of the service in obtaining external and internal funding to rebuild or refurbish some premises. They asked that communities that could not easily access the main centres continue to have access to more local provision. The Topic Group heard that significant further work is required to improve the stock of buildings and facilities. Members were concerned that one third of the 30 venues Youth Connexions owns, manages or has responsibility for are in poor condition. (Recommendation 2.3)

4.5 Members heard that the establishment of Youth Connexions had improved communications at strategic level; however there remain issues at a local level around communications with some district councils. They also heard that communication through District Children’s Trust Partnership (DCTP) arrangements is variable. (Recommendation 2.4)

4.6 They noted that young people have played a critical role in shaping how the youth offer is accessed in Hertfordshire. In particular they have had an important say in the development of Channelmogo and Mogozout (the Hertfordshire Youth portal and activity information website) and in improving service provision across the network of One Stop Shops and Youth Centres. Members heard evidence that Channelmogo was seeing increased use and was valued as a means of communications for young people and, in addition, is welcomed by professionals in different organisations.

4.7 As well as access through premises within the community and through the use of the internet, Youth Connexions also has access points across all maintained secondary schools, Further Education Colleges and there is a Personal Adviser (PA) link with each of the Learning and Skills Council funded work based learning (e2e) providers. The role of the Personal Advisor was welcomed. Members heard anecdotal evidence that the young people valued the non-judgemental support they gave.

4.8 Members welcomed the fact that partnership working was strong in Hertfordshire compared to other authorities. They heard that there was a more holistic, integrated, approach to supporting young people with staff working across previous boundaries. Members felt that the challenge for Youth Connexions is to build on this, bring more agencies together and keep everyone working together. In particular they asked that ways of better involving the Primary Care Trusts be explored.

4.9 Members heard of the positive relationship between District Children’s

Trust Partnership (DCTP) and Youth Connexions. This has led to District Children’s Trust Partnerships having an enhanced role in planning and coordinating the delivery of local activities. The DCTP’s 11-19 sub groups are chaired by Youth Connexions and is the fora in which they share/disseminate information. Members heard that Youth Connexions’ partnership arrangement with Pro-Action (the new youth voluntary sector umbrella organisation), has already led to improvements in both the capacity and capability of the sector to deliver. This has enabled a joint approach to extending provision in areas that cannot be directly supported solely by Youth Connexions staff. (Recommendation 2.5)

4.10  Members were pleased to hear of the ongoing Outdoor Education

programme and welcomed the variety of projects being undertaken. Members heard that the activities being undertaken were a vehicle to improving motivation, working relationships, self esteem and help improve their life skills.

4.11  Members heard that in 2009 Cuffley Camp, Hudnall Park and

Astonbury Woods had been added to the Youth Connexions portfolio joining the existing sites of Herts Young Mariners Base and the Snowdonia Centre. They were made aware of a number of issues around Cuffley Camp and Hudnall Park including the need to generate significant additional income to become sustainable. All the current centres are primarily used by schools during the summer period; however Youth Connexions aims to develop these facilities so that they can be used all year round and developed to support the informal learning of young people aged 13-19. Members asked to be kept informed of progress in developing the centres so they can be used throughout the year to generate additional income to enable Cuffley Camp and Hudnall Park to become sustainable. (Recommendation 2.6)

4.12 Members welcomed the work of LDD (Learning Difficulties/Disabilities and the support they gave to disabled young people. Members expressed concern that some young people may ‘fall through the gap’ when they reach the age of 25 when Youth Connexions funding support ends and the user may not be eligible for support from ACS or other bodies.

4.13 More recent service developments have included new and additional provision on Friday evenings and at a weekend, which not only supports the crime prevention agenda, but enables young people to access fun activities, which were not previously available in the past. Members were pleased to hear the Youth Connexions service is looking to increase further the work it does on a Friday and Saturday evening. ( Currently 18% of positive activities are now delivered on a Friday evening and at a weekend. Youth connexions have moved from a figure of 3% to 18% in 18 months and are aiming to reach 25%) (Recommendation 2.7)

4.14 Members took evidence from a number of District Councils. It varied

from district to district as to their perception of the Youth Connexions Services, some feeling very positive, others less so. There was a recognition by all that the ‘Youth Offer’ has improved – this includes all partners not just Connexions. Other issues raised included:

·  Staff vacancies in the south of the county (see 4.3)

·  Access to services, particularly for those in rural areas (see 4.4)

·  Core resources being drawn away from the traditional ‘youth type’ services to fund more structured outcome based activities (see 4.5 and 4.6)

·  Communications, as some districts felt they did not always know what was happening in their area (see 4.5)

5 Members and Witnesses

Members:

David Andrews
Nicky Betteley / (Parent Governor)
Rose Cheswright
Geoff Churchard / (Chairman)
Maxine Crawley
Terry Price / (Vice-Chairman)
Colette Wyatt-Lowe
Alan Searing / (Chairman, Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

Officers:

Tom Hawkyard / Head of Scrutiny
Emma Lund / Democratic Services Officer

Witnesses:

Anne Andrews / Chairman, Dacorum Children’s Trust Partnership
Richard Beechey / Constabulary Inspector, Hertfordshire Police
Liz Bell / Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Manager
Sheila Burton / Councillor St Albans District Council
Pauline Butcher / Youth Work Team Leader Three Rivers
Ivon Carnall / Chairman, Youth Connexions Hertfordshire Advisory Board
Caroline Collins / Chief Executive, Ridgemond Training
Martin Cooke / Partnership Manager, Learning and Skills Council
Lynne Coulthard / Head of Strategy and Development, Youth Connexions
Lindsay Edwards / Head of Young People’s Substance Misuse and Crime Reduction Services
Jannette Fullwood / Personal Advisor, Welwyn Hatfield, Youth Connexions
Simon Gentry / Performance Improvement & Business Planning Manager, Youth Connexions
Matthew Green / District Manager, St Albans, Youth Connexions
Patricia Halliday / LDD Team Manager, Youth Connexions
Linda Haysey / Councillor, East Herts District Council
Tim Hutchins / Chief Executive, Herts Chamber of Commerce
Abid Hussain / Director of Student Services, North Herts College
Peter Hosier / Head of Operations (West), Youth Connexions
Stuart Izzard / Acting Head of Community Development and Cultural Services, North Herts District Council
Jonathan Jack / Youth Engagement Manager, Youth Connexions
Andy Manson / Head of Operations (East), Youth Connexions
Anna Morrison / Work Based Learning Provider Manager, Learning & Skills Council
Ian Orton / Director of Community Services, Broxbourne Borough Council
Sarah Parkhouse / Youth Work Development Worker, Youth Connexions
Heidi Preston / Personal Advisor, North Herts College
Mekhola Ray / Community Projects Team Leader, East Herts District Council
Matt Rayner / Youth and Sport Partnership Manager, Welwyn Hatfield District Council
Paul Seeby / Councillor, Broxbourne Borough Council
Andrew Simmons / Deputy Director, Services for Young People
Heidi Snowdon / Personal Advisor, St Albans, Youth Connexions
Sue Stevens / District Manager, Welwyn Hatfield, Youth Connexions
Nick Webb / Chief Executive, Pro-Action
John Weinstock / Outdoor Education Youth Worker
Jed Whelan / Head Teacher, Fearnhill School
Phil Willerton / Chairman, Watford District Children’s Trust Partnership
Simon Wright / Youth Work Development Worker, Youth Connexions

8

SCRUTINY REMIT: YOUTH CONNEXIONS HERTFORDSHIRE Topic Group

OBJECTIVE:
To establish the progress that has been made in embedding the new integrated youth support service ‘Youth Connexions Hertfordshire’ since it was created in April 2008 through merging the resources of the Hertfordshire County Council Youth Service and Connexions Hertfordshire.
QUESTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED:
How has the establishment of the new service helped to improve young people’s access to the ‘Youth Offer’, particularly those that are less likely to achieve their potential?
Has this development led to an improvement in the responsiveness of the service providing, with partner organisations, a more varied and targeted range of positive activities for young people across Hertfordshire?
What are young people’s views about the range and appropriateness of information, activities and support that Youth Connexions Hertfordshire provides?
What challenges exist for the new service and how can these be addressed?
OUTCOME:
Members are content that Youth Connexions Hertfordshire is making good progress in improving young people’s access to the ‘Youth Offer’ in line with the Government’s integrated youth support service strategy. Specifically that Members are satisfied that young people value the service and those less likely to achieve their potential are being helped and supported.
Evidence of continuous improvement in the quality and range of positive activities that young people wish to participate in.
Youth Connexions Hertfordshire demonstrates that it works with a broad range of partners to deliver the ‘Youth Offer’, and can evidence that it provides young people with access to effective multi-agency support.
There is clear evidence that young people are provided with access to impartial information, advice and guidance that enables them to progress through the 14-19 phase of learning and achieve their potential.

CONSTRAINTS: