LA Youth Work Leads

 

This group is broadly focused on youth work within the LA sector and aims to bring a regional perspective and strategic overview to government agendas and policy developments affecting youth work and young people.  Further, it seeks to support officers and managers whose primary responsibility is for youth work activity within Local Authorities by facilitating networking, mentoring and the sharing of best practice.

All LAs are focused on delivering Aiming High for Young People, youth matters and Integrated Youth Support as well as fulfill their duty to provide positive activities under Section 6 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.  The statutory guidance published in January 2007 also requires LAs to:

  • Secure access for young people to 'positive activities'
  • Take account of young people's views on activities and facilities available to them
  • Publicise the local offer and keep the information up to date

Agendas are driven by these legislative changes as well as by members themselves and meetings include discussions, presentations, information gathering and analysis and practice-sharing and implemention sessions, as well as working with voluntary sector deliverers, and key partner organisations, both regionally and nationally.

A collection of useful resource materials are held at the YWU and some can be loaded below.

All LAs are currently making structural and strategic changes to better deliver IYS and positive activities - largely but not exclusively seen as about youth work delivery.  These changes led to this group broadening membership to include Integrated Youth Support Leads as well as Heads of Youth Service or equivalent.

After reviewing the effectiveness of this grouping it has been decided to change the group to Youth Work Leads - and leave it to each LA, or key LA delivery body, to decide which officer(s) has the key responsibility for youth work delivery.  IYS Leads will receive information from the YWU to maintain understanding and awareness but it may not be the IYS Lead who attends.  In any case deputies and other senior managers are encouarged to attend to ensure representation from all LAs.

The group will continue to meet quarterly but also may set up additional task groups, focus events, discussion sessions, updates, consultation responses etc. to be undertaken between meetings.  In addition, the group sends a representative to CHYPS (APYCO) and to GO's Youth Board and makes representations as appropriate.  The current Joint Chairs are Jackie Brewis from East Riding and Paul Herring from York, who are both also on the YWU Board.

Recent and current discussion areas are:

  • Integrated Youth Support
  • Positive Activities
  • Friday and Saturday Opening
  • The Youth Offer
  • Quality Standards
  • National Indicators
  • Commissioning
  • Single Satus
  • Youth Opportunities Fund
  • MyPlace
  • YP's Workforce Development
  • Youth Professional Status
  • FPM Leadership and Management Training



LA Youth Work Leads - Terms of Reference

Youth Work Leads - Minutes of Meeting

Commissioning Self Assessment Tool

How to: Commissioning

Friday and Saturday Night Briefing Paper [1]