Targeted youth support: Discover - achievements
This page explains how you will know you have completed the Discover stage of the targeted youth support (TYS) change process. The achievements are linked to the activities for this stage.
Click to access the activities for the Discover stage which are referenced below. You can also access case studies relating to this stage.
At the end of the Discover stage...
1. The TYS project team is assembling a body of evidence that
describes the truth about today to present to the senior management group at
the end of the Deepen stage of the process (Decision Point 2). The
presentation should reflect the data, views and opinions that have been
collected through focus interviews, multi-agency workshops and young
people's engagement.
How will you know you have achieved this?
- The methodology for collecting and selecting evidence meets accepted
quality standards, so that decisions can confidentally be based on it.
- The collected evidence comes from interviews and other forms of direct
engagement, so there should be nothing that is not defendable.
- All evidence is verified as being an accurate reflection of the views and
opinions collected.
- Existing needs analyses and other relevant sources of data, such as public
health reports, are referenced and built on where appropriate.
- Existing sources of data are recent and the data meets the following
principles:
- gathered from practitioners who feel that their views have been fully heard and will be acted upon;
- feedback from children and young people is fully representative of targeted youth clients, especially the hard to reach;
- cuts across all relevant agencies, from senior management to practitioner;
- meets standards accepted by the authority's analytical services team.
- A first version of the Decision Point 2 presentation is prepared to focus the data collection and analysis and help formulate some early hypotheses.
Activity to support this:
- Developing a Decision Point 2 straw model
2. There is increased awareness of potential priorities and target benefits for senior managers, operational and frontline staff. Discovering more about the current situation creates an increased awareness of where priorities lie and what the potential benefits might be. It is, however, important not to jump to solutions yet.
How will you know you have achieved this?
- Output from the multi-agency workshop and young people's engagement
shows a growing consensus regarding priorities and target benefits.
- The hypotheses in the draft Decision Point 2 presentation have been
refined.
- Early consideration is given to the performance indicators that may be used to evaluate the success of the project.
Activities to support this:
- Holding a multi-agency workshop
- Engaging young people
3. The project team and key agencies know and understand the views of senior managers, frontline workers, young people, their families and local communities. The main focus of this stage is to seek a wide range of views. Decision Point 2 should contain a fair and accurate reflection of these views.
How will you know you have achieved this?
- People who have contributed to your data verify that it is accurate.
- The majority of stakeholders have taken part in project activities and have reported increased understanding.
Activities to support this:
- Conducting focused interviews and workshops
- Engaging young people
- Holding a multi-agency workshop
4. Representatives of all agencies involved in the project scope are engaged in the change process. It is vital that all key stakeholders continue to be involved and informed.
How will you know you have achieved this?
- The lists of invitees to multi-agency workshops reflect key stakeholders,
including service providers and community organisations.
- A range of engagement methods are used.
Activity to support this:
- Holding a multi-agency workshop
5. Data and opinions have been collected in many different ways. The pathfinder children's trusts have engaged with service personnel and young people in a range of ways, for example focused interviews, multi-agency workshops, youth clubs, special focus groups and on school buses. The engagement is more insightful when both the means and the range of approaches to gaining people's views are tailored to the way they live and behave.
How will you know you have achieved this?
- Participants are engaged in a variety of ways, which are
reflected in the project plan.
- Alternative ways of engaging people are suggested by a range of people, including practitioners working with young people.
Activity to support this:
- Engaging young people
- Conducting focused interviews and workshops
- Holding a multi-agency workshop
6. Participants in the change process have broadened their understanding of what is working, as well as what is not working well.
How will you know you have achieved this?
- Evidence about what is working well and not working well comes out of
multi-agency workshop activities.
- Good practice is presented as part of the Decision Point 2 straw model.
Activities to support this:
- Developing a Decision Point 2 straw model
- Holding a multi-agency workshop
7. The local authority has greater awareness of how other initiatives including the Common Assessment Framework and the lead professional improve the experience of services for young people.
How will you know you have achieved this?
- Evidence from focused interviews and multi-agency workshops emerges about
how relevant initiatives are impacting or are planning to impact
services.
- Impact of other initiatives is presented as part of the Decision Point 2 straw model.
Activities to support this:
- Conducting focused interviews and workshops
- Holding a multi-agency workshop
Click to access the activities or case studies for the Discover stage, or to go on to Deepen.
This page was last updated on 19 May 2006








