Issue - meetings

The report was presented by Marina Kitchen, Head of Service: Early Help & Targeted Support and Dave Jones, Service Manager - Targeted Support Team.  The report was in relation to the Targeted Youth Support Offer and included information in relation to the Offer to Schools.

A summary of the Targeted Youth Support work was given to the Committee confirming that the service works with 11 to 18 years olds and can only be delivered with the young person’s consent.

Recent introductions to the service and the support it can offer includes service delivery in the evenings, at weekends and at settlement hotels.  The service is currently staffed at its highest capacity for 8 years.

It was confirmed that currently, demand for the service is high and that is proving to be a challenge.  At the time of the meeting the waiting list for support was 180 children and young people, but this number is increasing.  Anyone who calls the service looking for support is put through a triage process and will be signposted to other services for support while waiting for one-to-one support from the council.  Following a question in relation to the triage process, it was confirmed that any one who is identified as needing immediate support will be prioritised.  Those whose needs could be better met sooner, and potentially more appropriately, will be signposted to other options.

The recruitment of qualified youth support workers has been particularly difficult; the last role took four campaigns before successfully recruiting.  It was noted that this is a national issue and not just a Warwickshire issues.  There are three vacancies currently.  It was confirmed that there is a degree apprentice programme in place which is a positive step.

The Committee received positive confirmation that the young people must agree to accept a referral.  It might be recommended to the, but ultimately, the decision is theirs.  A youth worker will contact the young person directly and explain the full process to them; it is also exploratory work for the youth worker who may be able to identify alternative solutions.  Youth Workers must be seen as non-confrontational.

Following a discussion in relation to graduate recruitment, it was confirmed that up until 6 or 7 years ago, there was very little investment in youth and community service.  The National Youth Agency recommended a Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) qualification for Youth and Community Workers.  John Coleman, Director of Children & Families Service confirmed that “growing our own” youth workers is the best way forward for the council and that the team has been making links with universities to ensure the qualifications are made available to people.  It will be a long-term project, and the council will only employ JNC qualified workers (not all authorities do).

In relation to funding support, it was confirmed that four years ago, there were bigger grants available that helped to kick start programmes, develop existing projects and create policies and procedures. The council continues to support and monitor the spending of funding to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7