Services for young people

Memorandum submitted by Kent and Medway NAYCEO

The relationship between universal and targeted services for young people;

Most young people want to fit in, therefore universality means that all young people have access to participate and therefore interventions are seen to be "normalised"

Universal services still have to differentiate to meet diverse needs. Universal does not mean one size fits all. Therefore the mixed economy of universal services meets the needs of different young people and their communities.

Universal services have a preventative role so young peoples’ needs are not escalated so that they need targeted services

Targeted services focus on those in greatest need and when young people move from these they can go to and from universal provision.

Universal provision serves the community engagement, which enables young people to feel part of something bigger than their own worlds at home or within friendship groups.

Universal provision opens up new opportunities to young people who would not otherwise have them. e.g. outdoor education, Duke of Edinburgh, theatre Without universality these opportunities would be only open for those with a certain socio - economic background

How services for young people can meet the Government’s priorities for volunteering, including the role of National Citizen Service;

Services for young people engage them in a variety of voluntary activities, which invariably involve developing leadership qualities, as senior members or empowered to take ob decision-making processes through a youth council, and accept the consequences of their directives. Managing and running junior club programmes in youth centres is a core ingredient to the development of young peoples’ voluntary commitment to their community; where options to understand the consequences of responsibility and ownership are measured against their success and consequential satisfaction at a job well done. This belonging enables them to have a sense of ownership and responsibility and thus leads to them actively to make a difference in their communities.

Examples include Kemsley, Parkwood, Ditton , Hadlow , Tonbridge etc. (Can provide cases if KCC happy with)

Which young people access services, what they want from those services and their role in shaping provision;

As statutory youth provision is often targeted in areas where there are "poverty" hotspots. Majority of young people who use universal services often cannot afford or whose home culture is not accepted within organised clubs and societies. Universal services proactively involve these young people as the majority, however, exclude none. Anyone in a locality or who chooses to travel to that locality is included.

Young people want somewhere to go and talk to their friends, enjoy activities, have someone to talk too, and learn new skills. They know there is somewhere they are welcomed, safe and either very cheap or free to be, which may be an alternative to the patterns of their daily lives.

Young people shape their provision by being involved in idea development, organising, fundraising, participating, evaluating and generating new ideas in what they do. We are often interested in the negative experiences to ensure involvement in the future is enhanced, and the positive aspects built upon.

The relative roles of the voluntary, community, statutory and private sectors in providing services for young people;

It is a mixed economy meeting the needs of diverse young people as with the services provided to the rest of the age groups in society. The statutory services provide the strategic lead and direct resources in areas of greatest need, and can be directed as such. The voluntary sector has the freedom to develop services in respect of interest groups and around communities. The statutory sector provides professional support, intervention and funding to this sector as necessary. The private sector delivers services that individuals are willing to pay for and meet direct needs of families; child care, health interventions, education coaching.

The training and workforce development needs of the sector;  

The work force needs to become better equipped with technology and upgrade facilities so that provision is more attractive, to really pull in more young people

Workforce needs to become wider viewing and dynamic in regard to outside forces. More political and economic development of staff so they can enable young people to explore mindsets.

The impact of public sector spending cuts on funding and commissioning of services, including how available resources can best be maximised, and whether payment by results is desirable and achievable;

How to measure results. Recorded and accredited outcomes, numbers using (perhaps with no impact). If universal preventative how do you measure.

How local government structures and statutory frameworks impact on service provision; and

Children’s trusts development and integrated teams has enabled all statutory agencies to have responsibility to act around the whole family. This has resulted in Youth workers who are also working in universal services having an official caseload. However, these young people and families are often who they were working with These interventions are now being recorded and coordinated – which could be more effective, if the individuals are encouraged to take greater responsibility to lead what interventions they are in receipt off.

How the value and effectiveness of services should be assessed.

Should be assessed around:

Footfall

Case studies and evidence of change for individuals and if necessary communities (could be owned through a number of different agencies)

Diversity of provision, and usage

How users and carers feel the impact of involvement has had.

Ask stakeholders so what?

December 2010