Archived decisions

Standards of Youth Work Provision

Objective 1

Authorities must specify their key target groups, and identify and plan the range of interventions designed to promote their personal and social development.

Youth Standard 1:

Clear Definition of target group, by age and any other relevant characteristics, including ethnic diversity.

Youth Standard 2:

Clear Specification , in a planning framework, of the needs and of the range of opportunities for personal and social development to which young people in the target group have access (to include cultural activities; counselling; international and residential experiences; sport and outdoor adventure; voluntary action)

Youth Standard 3:

A defined curriculum framework document which links YS1 and YS2 in 90% of the provision secured by the local authority.

Objective 2:

Authorities must secure convenient and suitable access for young people to high quality youth work in safe, warm, and well-equipped locations and secure adequate opening of youth provision within these locations.

Youth Standard 4:

Percentage of youth population within a safe 30 minute journey time to youth work provision.

Target

    · 100% of young people in inner London

    · 95% of young people in outer London and Metropolitan District Areas

    · 85% of young people in Unitary Authority areas.

    · 80% of young people in County Council areas.

Youth Standard 5:

Opening hours of provision.

Target

    · All youth provision per 1,000 youth population is accessible for a minimum of 4 hours per week

    · 90% of larger youth provision are open at least 24hours per week

    · 80% of larger youth provision is open for 80% of school holidays, and weekends.

Youth Standard 6:

Electronic access to youth information.

Target

    · 80% of youth access points which are open more than ten hours per week have access to on-line youth information services.

Objective 3

Authorities must secure provision, including detached and outreach work, which is attractive and relevant and hence promotes access to and participation in the youth service.

Youth Standard 7:

Number of contacts per thousand youth (13-19) population

Target

    · 25% of total youth population

Youth Standard 8:

Number of individuals involved at least four times per month

Target

    · 15% of total youth population

Youth Standard 9:

Number of individuals worked with intensively

Target

5% of total youth population

Objective 4

Authorities must ensure user satisfaction with the youth services provided.

Youth Standard 10:

Eighty-five per cent of contacts report satisfaction with youth services offered.

Objective 5

Authorities must demonstrate clear arrangements for involving young people in democratic processes.

Youth Standard 11:

Self indication by authority if its position on the LGAs Standards for Democratic Involvement (`Hear by Right, LGA/NYA July 2001)

Objective 6

Authorities must promote achievement

Youth Standard 12:

Participants can identify what they are achieving as a result of engaging in youth work and a proportion gain a youth achievement award e.g. Duke of Edinburgh's Award or similar.

Target

    · 90% of Youth participants can identify own achievements and 10% gain a specific award.

Youth Standard 13:

Percentage of sessions rated satisfactory or better by Ofsted.

Target

    · 90%

Objective 7

Authorities must provide sufficient financial resource to secure an adequate youth service.

Youth Standard 14:

Youth Service spending per head of population aged 13-19 years.

Target

    · At least £100 per head per annum (with additional funding for intensive work and disadvantage, including scarcity)

Objective 8

Authorities must provide sufficient numbers of skilled staff reflecting social diversity of area

Youth Standard 15:

Number of qualified staff by 13-19 population

Target

    · 1 FTE nationally qualified per 400 of 13-19 youth population.

Youth Standard 16:

Local authority spending on professional development of its staff

Target

    · 5% of total youth service budget

Youth Standard 17:

Local authority spending on initial training for volunteers for 13-19 age group.

Target

    · £100 per person

Objective 9

Authorities must have formal arrangements, in cash or in kind, which define the youth policy areas, including those with:

Youth Standard 18:

a) the assisted (voluntary) sector

Youth Standard 19:

b) the Connexions Service

Youth Standard 20:

c) Crime and disorder and community safety strategies

Youth Standard 21:

d) Schools and Colleges

Objective 10

Youth Standard 22:

Authorities must secure an authority-wide review and scrutiny group for young people's issues usually within a local strategic partnership.