Pathfinder overcomes the challenge of targeted youth support (TYS) being seen as "just another initiative"

How a pathfinder authority overcame the challenge of targeted youth support (TYS) being seen as "just another initiative", with the associated risk of little being achieved, and increased the awareness of its potential priorities and target benefits for and among senior managers, operational and frontline staff.

As with many authorities, this pathfinder was full of local, regional and national initiatives. There was a risk the TYS pathfinder would be seen as the same as many others that had not delivered benefits quickly or had not reached a conclusion through a lack of momentum.

Frontline feedback during the initial stages of the pathfinder communicated a feeling of initiative overload. Additionally, the challenge of effective multi-agency working was highlighted as a significant challenge to the process of not just this pathfinder, but other changes. 

A strong momentum for change was built by highlighting the positive feedback and responses about the process from frontline practitioners to senior management in the Decision Point 2 presentation.

This also demonstrated how the resolution of issues around multi-agency working were as much about finding an effective vehicle (ie multi-agency workshops) as they were about resolving the issues around pooled budgets, integrated working and governance (ie responsibilities of senior management).

Comments
It is important to address the emotional and political elements of any change process as well as the rational (ie. pooled budgets, governance etc).

Further information
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