NORTH SOMERSET YOUTH OFFER
Integrated Youth Support and the Youth
Offer
Integrated Youth Support is about providing co-ordinated
services to all young people according to their needs in a variety
of locations and at times that suit them, with more flexible
provision, shaped by their interests, wishes and aspirations.
There are four key elements to the "Youth
Offer", which include:
- Universal access to improved information, advice and
guidance (IAG) on education, employment and health
issues
- Providing increased opportunities for positive
activities and personal development ... more places to go
and things to do
- Intensive targeted support for vulnerable
young people with complex needs
- Encouraging more young people to volunteer and
become involved in their communities
Integrated Youth Support is driven by the same principles as the
Every Child Matters reform: inter-agency governance, integrated
strategy, integrated process and integrated frontline delivery-with
the same focus on outcomes: the positive impact it will have on
young people both in relation to their present day experiences and
life chances. It is the sum of the work provided by
multi-agency services, including the voluntary sector. The
Youth Offer is the menu of provision available to young people.
Youth Support is the "how"we, as practitioners, deliver
the "Youth Offer"... the "what"... to young people.
TARGET GROUP
Our objective is that all young people aged 11-19 (and some
older with particular needs) should access the Youth Offer.
It is, however, recognised that some of the key services target
more specifically the 13-19 age range.
PRINCIPLES
We believe that all children and young people in North Somerset
should be:
- Confident and healthy individuals
- Responsible citizens
- Successful and life-long learners
- Informed and able to make safe choices
- Enabled to become economically independent
In order to achieve these principles, the following outcomes
have been identified in relation to each component part of the
Youth Offer. A number of the outcomes are integral across the
different areas but have only been highlighted in one.
OUTCOMES
Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)
Young people will have access to high quality and impartial
information, advice and guidance when and where they need it in
order to:
- Help them succeed in education and continue to participate
until 18 years old
- Raise their aspirations and fulfil their potential
- Overcome barriers that may prevent them from releasing their
potential
- Make informed decisions about their careers and be prepared for
the demands of working life (including awareness of issues around
equality and diversity, stereotypes, local market information and
economical independence)
Children and Young People's Services staff are trained to
understand the importance of information, advice and guidance and
the role that they play in supporting and raising aspirations of
the young people that they work with and their families and
communities (helping to tackle issues around social mobility).
Parents and carers understand what information, advice and
guidance is, what the different learning pathways are and where
they can access support and advice. This will enable them to
support their child to make informed decisions and choose the style
of learning that is right for them (helping to remain engaged in
education and their longer term success).
Schools will be supported by the local authority to meet the IAG
National Strategy and the Statutory Guidance for Impartial Careers
Education.
Young people's views are incorporated into the development of
information, advice and guidance services.
The local authority will work with the third sector and
voluntary services to raise awareness around information, advice
and guidance, how it can support young people and additional
sources of support.
POSITIVE ACTIVITIES
- Young people are able to access a range of positive and
informal learning activities throughout the year
- Young people become confident and healthy individuals
- Young people are able to contribute to the design and
development of the programme of activities
- Young people are supported by adults who are qualified to
provide activities and offer support
- Staff are able to provide the necessary support, to anybody who
needs it, in order to access these opportunities
- Safe, positive environments are provided in which children and
young people can grow and develop
TARGETED SUPPORT
- All children and young people are able to access a range of
positive activities and opportunities through attendance at both
universal and targeted activities
- North Somerset Local Authority will provide targeted youth
support to vulnerable young people who are at risk of not achieving
the five 'Every Child Matters' outcomes, including a personalised
package of support, IAG and learning and development opportunities
(with support from their parents and carers as appropriate).
- Targeted support will be given to young people Not in
Education, Employment or Training or in Jobs Without
Training to ensure that as an authority we are continuing to
reduce numbers in NEET/JWT and we are supporting these young people
towards positive outcomes.
- All young people receive information, advice and guidance to
help them achieve their true potential.
VOLUNTEERING
Involving the third sector will be an important element of the
North Somerset offer
- Young people are given positive opportunities to develop
knowledge, skills and experience to enable them to become
responsible citizens
- Young people can access good quality advice about
volunteering opportunities
- Organisations will offer meaningful volunteering
opportunities
- Raise the profile of volunteering, ensuring that practitioners
actively promote voluntary activity
