Manchester City Council Item 5 Young People and Children Scrutiny Committee 4 September 2012 Manchester City Council Report for Information Report to: Young People and Children Scrutiny Committee - 4 September 2012 Subject: Progress Report on the Valuing Young People’s Strategy Report of: Director of Children’s Services Summary This report outlines the progress of the first year of the Valuing Young People’s Strategy (VYPS). The report has a focus on the first strand of the VYPS – My Life, Universal and Targeted services for Young People (YP) Recommendations Young People and Children Overview and Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the information in the report. Wards Affected: All Community Strategy Spine Summary of the contribution to the strategy Performance of the economy of Funded Youth Groups are now expected to create the region and sub region opportunities for YP to develop employability skills and to focus on NEET YP. Reaching full potential in Youth Organisations are aware of their role in the education and employment implementation of the attendance strategy. Individual and collective self It is well documented that high quality youth work esteem – mutual respect can increase the confidence and self esteem of YP. The VYPS promotes mutual respect. Neighbourhoods of Choice Developing the youth Offer in each of the 5 SRF areas will contribute to Neighbourhoods of choice Full details are in the body of the report, along with any implications for: Equal Opportunities Policy Risk Management Legal Considerations Financial Consequences – Revenue The revenue budget for the Valuing Young People’s Service (VYPS) in 2012/13 is 8 Manchester City Council Item 5 Young People and Children Scrutiny Committee 4 September 2012 £2.2m which includes £250k for management and governance of the VYPS and £1.950m for commissioning youth service with partners and other third sector organisations. Financial Consequences – Capital None Contact Officers: Name: Anthony DeCrop Name: Elaine Morrison Position: Assistant Director Position: Head of Commissioning 10 -19 Telephone: Telephone: E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Background documents (available for public inspection): Valuing Young People: Future Provision of Youth Services. Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee 21st June 2011 Engagement Progress Report Young People and Children Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 9 Manchester City Council Item 5 Young People and Children Scrutiny Committee 4 September 2012 1.0 Introduction 1.1 A report was presented to the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee in June 2011 outlining new proposals to discharge the LA obligation to secure a sufficiency and adequacy of youth provision. 1.2 This report provides an update on the progress of the new approach with a specific focus on Youth Provision. The specific areas requested by Councillors are covered in the body of the report. 1.3 These include: Gaps in provision (both geographical and thematic), progress in aligning youth and play commissioning processes while retaining separate budgets and the contribution of funded groups to the youth engagement process. 2.0 Background and Context 2.1 This last year has seen the publication of a number of national policy statements and guidance relating to the lives of young people. ‘Positive for Youth’, (December 2011) confirmed the Governments intention to retain the duty of LA’s to secure practicable, sufficient services and activities to improve the ‘wellbeing’ of young people (Section 507B of the Education Act 2006). Positive for Youth was a cross departmental policy statement covering every aspect of young people’s lives aged 13 – 19, clarifying the role of local and national government, parents, charities, businesses and young people themselves in working towards a society that is positive for youth. 2.2 In June 2012 the DFE published their revised Statutory Guidance for LA on Services and Activities to improve Young People’s wellbeing. The guidance outlines the responsibility of the LA in the context of ‘Raising the Participation Age’, the development of Health and wellbeing Boards and the duty to develop a joint strategic needs assessment. 2.3 Both ‘Positive for Youth’ and the statutory guidance emphasise the requirements on LA’s to take into account the views of YP in the planning and commissioning of services and publicising what is available. 2.4 The current economic downturn, and consequent increase in youth unemployment, has highlighted the need to ensure that young people have the skills needed to help them access the labour market. The City Deal, as negotiated between the government and the sub region, will create new employment opportunities for young people across the area and it is therefore a top priority for MCC to ensure that our young people are work ready and able to take advantage of these opportunities. This includes creating opportunities for YP to develop their employability skills outside of school hours in a wide variety of settings. 3.0 Valuing Young People Strategy - Governance and Management arrangements 3.1 The Valuing Young People Board is the strategic partnership providing the 10 Manchester City Council Item 5 Young People and Children Scrutiny Committee 4 September 2012 vision and steer on the VYP strategy and has the oversight of commissioning plans and decisions relating to YP services. The Board is chaired by the Executive Member for Youth and is made up of representatives from a wide range of partner agencies including GMP, the Voluntary and Community Sector and Public Health. The Board has met three times this year. The primary purpose and ambition of the Board is to help generate the creation of a positive narrative around young people which places them at the heart of the Community Strategy and, in so doing, helps to tackle some of the major issues around image, perception employment. 3.2 The Youth Project Board, set up to oversee the closure of the Youth Service and chaired by the Deputy Chief Executive for Neighbourhoods, has continued to provide the governance to support the transition from provider to commissioner of services for young people. Corporate Property has a plan for the disposal of the last four Youth Service Buildings and this will mark the close of the project. However the Youth Project Board will continue to meet to oversee future Youth Fund Commissioning arrangements, (see section 5) and the development of the Neighbourhood Youth Offer. 3.3 The Valuing Young People Development Group is a group of young people (aged 17 – 21) who have been brought together to support the development of the VYPS and the Manchester Youth Council. The group meet twice a month and send representatives to the VYP Board. The group has been effective in bringing a young persons perspective to the governance arrangements and have informed commissioning plans and decisions. It is imperative that the perceptive voice of young people is heard as services are both commissioned and decommissioned, ensuring that we are using limited funds in a way that has value and relevance to the people for whom it is intended. 3.4 The Valuing Young People Team is made up of a Head of Commissioning 10– 19 (25), four Valuing Young People Strategy Managers and the Engagement Manager. The team is based in Children’s Services but works closely with colleagues across all directorates and partner agencies to ensure that the strategy is owned by all key stakeholders. 3.5 An additional resource to support the development of the Neighbourhood Youth Offer has been commissioned by Children Services. Five ‘Youth Inclusion Leads’ (YIL’s) have been appointed to work in each of the five SRF Areas. These posts are part of the Neighbourhood structure and responsible to the Area Manager who has a citywide lead for Young People. The YIL’s will lead, within a SRF neighbourhood, the delivery of the VYPS ensuring there is a neighbourhood focus on improving outcomes for young people. This role will translate the strategy into local actions and key tasks to ensure plans are embedded into neighbourhoods and localities. Additionally, the YIL’s will add value to the shape of the current Community and Cultural Services workforce and provide a connection between the third sector youth organisations and broader youth activity. 4.0 Neighbourhood Offer – Universal and Targeted Services for Young People 11 Manchester City Council Item 5 Young People and Children Scrutiny Committee 4 September 2012 4.1 One of the key priorities, during the first year, of the Valuing Young People Team, has been the need to raise awareness and test out a new approach to the development and delivery of services for young people. This has been presented in the broader context of public service reform, reduced budgets, the need to target resources to the most vulnerable and the need for stronger links with the Voluntary Sector and the Business Community. 4.2 It is worth noting that the valuing young people strategy is being developed alongside some encouraging progress with young people across the city. NEET (not in employment, education or training) figures remain low despite rises in other parts of the country, more young people are taking up apprenticeships and the number of young people entering the criminal justice system continues to fall. The fundamentally positive nature of young people was clearly demonstrated following the disturbances last August when many took to the streets to help clear up. 4.3 Overall the new approach has been welcomed by partners and young people. Breaking down the strategy into four strands; My Life, My Future, My Voice and My Place has helped partners to connect with the breadth and ambition of the ‘offer’ to young people. There continues to be a real commitment to ensure high quality services are available at both citywide and neighbourhood level.