Presentation.

Ms Lindsay Davidson, the Senior Manager Targeted Services – Integrated Youth Support introduced her presentation that provided Members with an update on ‘Edge of Care’ – Preventing Family Breakdown i.e. keeping children safe in their communities and living with their families.

Ms Davidson informed that her presentation would also focus on adolescent youths and the work of the Targeted Youth Support Service for 13-19 year olds, an area that hadn’t received detailed service review since 2012.

The presentation informed that the review offer for young people, that now included 11 and 12 year olds, would be:

• Modern and fit for purpose;
• Would have synergy with edge of care service – providing a seamless range of services; and
• Resources would be targeted where most needed.

The Senior Manager Targeted Services – Integrated Youth Support explained that the current offer included:

• 4 Youth Outreach Teams;
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award support and validation;
• Creative Youth Development (also lead on engagement and participation/GIRLS Project);
• Civic Award Scheme; and
• Public Health funded projects – Health Services in Schools, GIRLS Project.

Ms Davidson’s presentation detailed how proposals for the future services centred around:

• Outreach – 3  geographical teams
• Key Worker
• Participation and Engagement
• Youth Arts
• GIRLS Project
• Life Skills
• Health Services in Schools
• Civic Award Scheme

The presentation further detailed that direct support be withdrawn from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and how this programme would be managed by the NW regional office, continuing support to schools for the scheme.

The Senior Manager Targeted Services – Integrated Youth Support informed the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the approach consisted of distinct but interlinked components of an overarching strategy to prevent family breakdown, utilising an adolescent support team, respite, family mediation, parenting programmes, and family intervention and support for pre-birth to 5 years.

Members questioned the Senior Manager Targeted Services – Integrated Youth Support on details of her presentation seeking assurance of effective monitoring, recognising the need for review, and the need to rebalance the system to target those most vulnerable. A Member questioned the Senior Manager on how the revised system would provide early identification of issues and how the programme would aid elder siblings, often impacted by factors affecting the family as a whole. Ms Davidson informed that dedicated workers would handle all members of the family, and programmes would be planned and monitored prior to final sign-offs, thus preventing possible escalation of problems.

Members also questioned Ms Davidson on key points within her presentation regarding the establishment of an Adolescent Support Hub (ASH) to provide a range of support services for young people 11-19 years in respect of an Edge of Care Service and Targeted Youth Support projects/activities, in addition to group work / programmes, regular drop in sessions involving youth workers and partners, with key staff co-located in a central office.

The Senior Manager Targeted Services – Integrated Youth Support informed that consultation with staff on the revisions to the service had commenced in early December 2017 and would run until mid-February 2018.

The Chair questioned the Senior Manager seeking clarification on the housing / homeless gateway and obstacles presented to 16-17 year olds. The Senior Manager explained that a Homeless Protocol was under review and work was being undertaken across departments in this respect. She informed that the best solution was often mediation to help young people stay at home, but emergency accommodation could be provided if this was not possible.

The Chair thanked Ms Davidson for her detailed presentation, and indicated that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee may consider a review of progress as part of its future work programme, if time permitted. 

Resolved – That the presentation be noted.