This report will consider the options available at the end of the current contract with Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership.

Councillor Tony Smith introduced a report by the Director of Children’s Services that set out options and recommendations for the commissioning of a targeted information, advice and guidance (IAG) service for young people from 1 April 2014.  The Cabinet was informed that the current contract and service had commenced on 1 April 2010 and had included annual service reviews.  The service was currently delivered by Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership (GMCP).  This contract with GMCP expired on 31 March 2014, therefore, the Cabinet was asked to give consideration to options for delivering and commissioning a new 2014/15 service. 

The Cabinet noted that the current contract had been commissioned by Halton Borough Council, in partnership with the other five Liverpool City Region (LCR) Local Authorities (LAs).  The service was a targeted careers information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) service, specifically for those young people not in employment, education and / or training (NEET) or at risk of becoming NEET and those who were identified as vulnerable. 

It was noted that the national policy landscape had changed significantly, during the life of this contract, and the current service reflected this.  The 2013/14 service delivery was more flexible, based on a peripatetic basis and had evolved to be more aligned to the Council access strategy.  However, in planning for a 2014 redesign of the service, greater consideration needed to be given to the young people’s participation (Raising of the Participation Age 2013 for young people aged 17 and 2015 for young people aged 18) and youth agendas.

The Director’s report detailed proposed approaches to the delivery of information, careers information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) for young people aged 14 to 19.  The Cabinet noted that the 14-19 Team was seeking permission to take forward the following recommended approach:

(1)  Continue with a LCR LA led approach to jointly commission a Participation and Engagement Service, as a response to the Council’s new statutory duty in respect of Raising the Participation Age 2013 and 2015.

(2)  Develop a LCR LA shared data tracking and monitoring software system commissioned by a lead LA.  A Client Case Software System (CCIS) is required to make the monthly statutory data returns to the Department for Education.

(3)  Re-configure the 14-9 Team to locally manage the LCR shared data tracking system, provide reports and quality assuring the rigour/robustness of the data.

RESOLVED:

That the following be agreed:

(1)  Participation Service - Work in partnership with other LCR LAs to jointly commission a participation advisor service from an external agency; and

(2)  16-19 Data Hub - Access a shared service delivered by a lead LCR LA.  Shared service to include direct access to a CCIS compatible software data system necessary to enable statutory Department for Education data returns to be made.