ANDREW SIMMONS DEPUTY DIRECTOR – SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE CHILDREN, SCHOOLS & FAMILIES

1. ANDREW SIMMONS DEPUTY DIRECTOR – SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE CHILDREN, SCHOOLS & FAMILIES YOUTH CONNEXIONS HERTFORDSHIRE INITIAL BRIEFING FOR HCC – SCRUTINY PANEL 5 OCTOBER 2009

2. Overview BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT STRUCTURE & ORGANISATION PERFORMANCE AND BUDGETS SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES

3. BACKGROUND TO YOUTH CONNEXIONS • Youth Matters, Green Paper – July 2005 • Youth Matters – Next Steps – April 2006 • Aiming High for Young People – 10 year strategy for Positive Activities - July 2007

4. NATIONAL POLICY DRIVERS Four key strands of policy • Positive Activities for young people • Information Advice and Guidance – including careers education and advice • Targeted Youth Support – focus on vulnerable young people • Involvement and making a positive contribution ( Volunteering ) BUT clear message about LAs leading andjoining up strands into a coherent young person centred approach

5. LOCAL CONTEXT – Developing IYSS Developing Hertfordshire Integrated Youth Support Services – consultation June 2007 • Key Messages from response • Development needs to be seen as a three year strategy • The importance of a coherent and joined up approach • universal access to services but recognised the need for differentiated support. • Responsive to local community needs • Involve young people in helping shape and direct service priorities. • Build on services and activities that are already working well and are valued by young people. • Value for money and the avoidance of unnecessary bureaucracy.

6. YOUTH CONNEXIONS – Organisation • Youth Connexions – established 1 April 2008 • Hertfordshire County Council, Youth Service • Connexions Hertfordshire • Organisations merged to form new INTEGRATED YOUTH SUPPORT SERVICE within CSF • Delivery restructured to align with District Council boundaries – 10 integrated teams under single management • Youth Connexions now part of Services for Young People portfolio – from September 2009

7. YOUTH CONNEXIONS - People Staffing and Resources (FTE) 08/09 09/10 ‘Connexions’ Activities 160 146.5 ‘Youth Work’ 98 103 Projects 8 8 Integrated Management admin & support 49 49 TOTAL 315 306.5

8. PERFORMANCE – PositiveActivities & TYS POSITIVE ACTIVITIES • TARGETED YOUTH SUPPORT • Performance measured through Children & Young People’s Plan

9. PERFORMANCE – NEET Rate & IAG NEET RATES BY DISTRICT SCHOOL FEEDBACK INFORMATION ADVICE AND GUIDANCE

10. VALUE FOR MONEY – Positive Activities

11. VALUE FOR MONEY – Connexions Grant

12. YOUTH CONNEXIONS - Resources BUDGET HEADLINES 08/09 09/10 Area Based Grants £8,767k £8,469k (Connexions and PAYP) HCC Youth £4,650k £4,882k Total Base Budget £13,417k £13,352k Other funds £2,854k £2,570k Total Income £16,272k £15,922k

13. SERVICE DELIVERY – The Youth Offer A coherent package of services to help all young people achieve their potential Delivered directly by Youth Connexions and by partners working through District Children’s Trust Partnership 11 – 19 Groups and 14 – 19 Strategic Area Partnership Groups of schools and colleges (SAPGs) • Positive Activities • Targeted Youth Support • Information Advice and Guidance • Volunteering & making a positive contribution • 14 – 19 Learning Provision

14. SERVICE DELIVERY – Wider support to Youth Sector • Voluntary sector support - work through Pro-action to build capacity and capability • Lead Channel Mogo and Mogozout developments – Hertfordshire’s Youth Portal • Manage Youth Opportunities Fund and Youth Capital Fund – C£1m of DCSF funding per annum • Working with and through District Children’s Trust Partnerships

15. SERVICE DELIVERY – Youth Involvement • Hertfordshire Children’s Trust Youth Board • Members of the Youth Parliament • Youth Advocates, Youth Councils and Youth Forums • Direct involvement in service planning • Support young people in advocating on key issues • Support and advise on Youth led events

16. SERVICE DELIVERY - Premises Inherited stock of premises in need of refurbishment or replacement against Aiming High criteria • New builds in • Hemel Hempstead ( My Place ) • Watford ( DCSF Funds) • Borehamwood ( new central Youth Connexions Centre) • St Albans ( part of Ariston redevelopment ) • Small works improvements e.g. • Bishop’s Stortford (youth gym) • Three Rivers (new astroturf pitch) • Hatfield (integrated Youth Connexions Centre) • Cheshunt (one stop shop) BUT building time lag slows visible signs and still significant work to undertake

17. YOUTH CONNEXIONS - Progress • Significant increase in volume and outcomes of positive activities over past 18 months • More holistic integrated approach to supporting young people – staff working across previous boundaries • Continued low NEET rates despite recession • Quality assessments of IAG remains strong • Local partnership arrangements generally developing well • External funding to support infrastructure developments

18. YOUTH CONNEXIONS – Key Challenges • Embedding effective partnership arrangements in some areas • Opportunities for further coherence through ‘Services for Young People developments • 14 – 19 Learning developments including the raising of the participation age in 2013 • Managing expectations within the resources available • Consistency of approach – whilst recognising local needs • The economic downturn • Recruitment and retention of staff • Further improvement in quality and appropriateness of premises • Further growth in participation and outcomes • Outdoor Education developments

19. YOUTH CONNEXIONS –Parents & Carers We know from Sian's involvement how much time and effort went into the production - we've seen how much she's grown as an individual and the reaction from the audience on both nights shows how well it was received. It's a string to her bow and opportunity that she grasped with both hands. From a member of the audience, thank you for the entertainment; from a parent, many thanks for all of the team's efforts in getting the performances put on. Friday's ovation for all involved shows how everybody's efforts were appreciated with the Snappy G's team deserving so much credit. William’s mum came to say ‘Thank you’ after staff got him ‘out of a pickle’ the day before ‘What a wonderful time my son had' and ‘how enthused he is do some more’. Mum commented that this was the first time that James had achieved and passed anything so he felt really good and confidence had increased. Six months later James secured a job with the local swimming pool as a Life Guard and passed his First Aid Certificate and Health & Safety training and was in the local press for saving a child from drowning. Mum commented that “James is feeling good about himself and happy at work” “James feels that he has achieved at last and can move on with his life”