Hampshire County Council

South Central Connexions Partnership - Sub-contract

Development update

It is just over a year since the delivery model was agreed and the budget confirmed. The first adverts to start recruiting staff were placed on 5^th September 2002.

Current staffing levels:

¬ Staff have been appointed to all the District Co-ordinator posts. The East Hampshire post has been filled on a temporary basis until alternative arrangements are made.

¬ All bar one half time Personal Adviser posts have been recruited and most are in post.

¬ Two Personal Adviser (Information) post holders have resigned and one vacancy has been advertised the other will be shortly

¬ The Finance and Administration Officers are in post though one has just verbally accepted another post and is expected to resign

¬ One Administrator post is filled and the remainder have been filled on a temporary basis. The temporary posts have been advertised.

 One stop shops:

Young people are being involved in the development of these projects as was reflected in their involvement and commitment at the Applemore opening.

Alongside these projects a number of projects / Information Points are being established with other agencies that will be supported by Connexions staff

District Forums and District Management Groups (DMGs)

These are being worked on in every district and are progressing

¬ Test Valley and Winchester has established a District Managers Group across the two districts. This will be a meeting of senior operational managers for young peoples services across the two districts working with young people from 0 -early 20's. The first meeting was in June and will meet quarterly to co-ordinate plans and operations.

District Youth Councils

Staff are working to ensure young people have the opportunity to be involved in youth councils within each district. Examples:

· Eastleigh District

Staff are working with Eastleigh Borough Council and the Hampshire County Youth Service. They have worked with three different youth forums to establish an Eastleigh Connexions Youth Forum.

· New Forest District

Connexions staff have worked with New Forest District Council and the Youth Service. They have established a group of young people that have been meeting at the Applemore Connexions Centre. They have been planning the development of a New Forest Young Peoples Forum. The group intends to ensure a true cross section of the young peoples community in the New Forest area are able to and do become involved.

Work with young people - Mini Case studies:

Work is being delivered with and to young people. The following 5 mini case studies reflect a small number of the people we are involved with from one district:

1. A young man aged 17 years was out of education for 18 months. He did not want to go into training or employment. He had lots of issues at home and was a very angry young man. He has now enrolled in FE college on an IT course.

2. A young woman just turned 16 years has not been at school for 10 months and not taken exams. She has severe mental health problems and has been unable to leave the house since then. The Connexions PA forged a relationship with her and encouraged her to walk with her to buy an ice cream. This was an enormous hurdle  for her to overcome. The work continues.

3. A young man aged 16 years was at risk of permanent exclusion from school. He is now being supported to do his final year at FE College. An example of partnership working between the Connexions PA, EOTAS, School and FE College.

4. A young woman aged 17 estranged from her parents, living in an abusive relationship with an older man on whom she was financially dependant. She found the courage to leave him. Her Connexions Personal Adviser supported her move into Supported Accommodation. She then applied for benefits and was turned down. The PA challenged that decision and benefits were subsequently granted. The young woman finished her college course and starts university in September.

5. A young man who had been beaten up and thrown out of his home by his father, was living in very unsuitable hostel accommodation where he was being pushed to use drugs by other `residents'. Several agencies were noting their `concern' on their records but taking no action and his social worker had closed the case because he `no longer met their criteria'. Some very intensive chasing, badgering and sheer determination on the part of a PA has enabled him to move from the hostel into more suitable accommodation. Another agency is helping him with the equipment he will need to semi-independent living. The case progresses but is still on a knife-edge.

Young people and staff are actively supported to develop, deliver and be involved in events that widen the range of opportunities available to young people and develop their skills:

· Hart and Rushmoor young people and staff were heavily involved in Launch Week event.

· The Gosport young people and staff were involved in a major music event in Gosport

· A Personal Adviser has been interviewed by Sky Television  

Agreements between SCCP and Educational Establishments

To date: 64 are signed

43 are expected to be signed shortly

10 have issues that are being worked on and we are hopeful that most will be progressed quickly too.

Conclusion

· These developments have been delivered against a background of staff teams coming into place,

· where staff are working in environments that are challenging because facilities do not all come on stream at the appropriate and required time,

· in conjunction with colleagues from other agencies that are being required to change working patterns and all the insecurity that is the result,

· working with establishments that have a range of knowledge and commitment from extremely welcoming to the other extreme.