Integrated Youth Support Services - The Next Steps

A conference was held on the 5 February 2007 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull to stimulate thinking on the development of integrated youth support services.

The event, which was attended by over 200 people, was targeted at senior managers from local authorities, elected members, Connexions chief executives and chairs of Connexions partnership boards.

Beverley Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children and Families, opened the conference by outlining the government's vision for integrated youth support services. Anne Weinstock, Director of the DfES Supporting Children and Young People Group, spoke about the importance of effective transition. 

You can read Beverley Hughes' speech on integrated support on the DfES website.
 
A series of workshops were provided to give delegates the opportunity to explore some the issues raised in the speeches, and to share their wide ranging experiences. Copies of these presentations are avaiblable to download above.

Key messages from the conference included the need for DfES to:

• Provide further clarity on policy about the performance and inspection regime in order to assist the whole process of service redesign and commissioning
  
  
• Highlight models of good practice (particularly in relation to the balance between developing effective partnerships and the need to adjust structures)
  
  
• Recognise that universal and targeted services are all connected, avoiding the pitfall of thinking about individual silos
  
  
• Make more explicit links between services for 14-19-year-olds and extended schools
  
  
• Resolve differences in approach between the youth offending teams' agenda and the DfES agenda for youth (working in conjunction with the Home Office)
  
  
• Recognise that reform on this scale takes time and requires thorough consultation to inform effective delivery

A letter has been published to accompany the new guide on targeted youth support, explaining how the guide relates to the overall delivery of integrated youth support services.

The publication of the guide, together with the quality standards on information, advice and guidance and the statutory guidance on positive activities, will form the basis for integrated youth support services. This should go some way towards addressing the range of issues raised at the event.

DfES is also looking at emerging practice, particularly around the commissioning process and will consider how best to disseminate this in due course.

Click to download the targeted youth support guide.